Co-Director of MEL: Internal Programs

Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs - we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.

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Role Summary

The Co-Directors of MEL Internal Programs lead the implementation, analysis, and continuous

improvement of evaluation initiatives that measure the impact of MAP’s core programs. This role

will lead a small team of data analysts and collaborate closely with the Chief of MEL, program

implementers, and executive leadership to refine research methodologies, strengthen

organizational capacity for core program evaluations, and generate evidence to inform strategic

decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Implementation and Refinement of Evaluations

• Lead the implementation and refinement of evaluation plans for MAP’s core programs.
• Collaborate with core program implementers to ensure smooth, collaborative
  
  

implementation of data collection tools, to iterate on pilot evaluations, and to ideate

additional indicators, where relevant.

• Manage a smooth, transparent, and rigorous analysis to communication pipeline,
  
  

ensuring results are interpreted with the appropriate level of certainty and that all

stakeholders receive the information they should.

• Uphold and enforce strong research ethics, including upholding MAP’s legal, regulatory,
  
  

and data security obligations.

Capacity-Building

• Collaborate with the Chief of MEL on capacity-building to work toward more rigorous
  
  

evaluation mechanisms, such as quasi-experimental designs or RCTs, where relevant.

• Collaborate with the Chief of MEL on identifying and partnering with organizations for the
  
  

use of administrative data, where appropriate.

Skills & Qualifications

• Graduate degree or in final years of a graduate degree in fields related to public policy,
  
  

education, economics, psychology, or a similar field, with a focus in evaluation methods

preferred.

• Understanding and appreciation of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong understanding of the assumptions, strengths, limitations, and components of
  
  

different evaluation designs.

• Strong understanding of the capacities and priorities of community or grassroots
  
  

organizations.

• Prior experience designing and running field research end-to end, with a preference for
  
  

projects focused on program evaluation.

• Prior experience with research focused on education or social-emotional wellbeing, in
  
  

your own research or in significant coursework.

• Prior experience working with disadvantaged populations.
• Strong analytical, project management, leadership, and communication skills.
• CITI Human Subjects Research certification