Director, Evaluation

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We are advocating for policies to protect them, working to radically improve the health care they receive, pioneering research to find solutions, and empowering families with programs, knowledge, and tools to have healthier pregnancies. By uniting communities, we are building a brighter future for us all.

We are dedicated to hiring a diverse workforce that fosters opportunities for personal and professional development. We provide a collaborative and supportive environment built upon our fundamental core principles where each employee is valued. Join us in the fight for healthy moms and strong babies.

Scope of the Director, Evaluation Role

Reporting to the Senior Director, Applied Research & Evaluation, the Director, Evaluation is accountable for ensuring evaluation findings are timely, actionable, and meaningfully inform program design, scaling decisions, funding strategy, and policy positioning. This role has decision-making authority over evaluation standards, prioritization, and methodological rigor across the organization. This position oversees a team of direct reports and drives the strategic direction of evaluation initiatives across the organization. The Director will work closely with the Director of the Perinatal Data Center to align evaluation strategies with broader organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision & Planning: Develop and execute long-term evaluation strategies aligning with the organization’s mission and goals, driving innovation in practices and methodologies. Set annual team goals to align with broader objectives and maintain leadership in the field. Translate evaluation findings into clear recommendations for leadership, including implications for program refinement, scale, sustainability, and equity impact.
• Leadership: Lead and manage the evaluation team, providing guidance and support for successful execution of evaluation projects aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic goals. Foster a collaborative team environment and ensure continuous improvement in evaluation practices.
• Collaboration: Work with interdisciplinary teams to design and implement evaluation plans and measures. Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to advance evaluation efforts. Facilitate collaboration across Mission and Market to ensure alignment and integration of evaluation strategies. Serve as a trusted thought partner to program, policy, and market leaders, helping teams articulate learning questions and use evaluation findings to guide strategy.
• Project Management: Oversee the compilation of budgets for evaluation projects, ensuring efficient resource allocation. Manage timelines and resources effectively to ensure project goals are met. Establish clear evaluation workflows, timelines, and decision points that balance rigor with organizational pace and operational realities.
• Quality Assurance: Provide expert input on grant applications, manuscripts, reports, and other organizational outputs. Ensure that all evaluation components are robust, ethical, and aligned with the latest research and best practices. Set and enforce organizational standards for evaluation ethics, data equity, transparency, and appropriate interpretation of findings.
• Data Management: Develop measures and data collection strategies for programs, initiatives, and pilots. Lead mixed methods data collection and analysis efforts to provide comprehensive evaluation insights. Ensure data collection approaches are equitable and minimize burden on communities and partners whenever possible.
• Reporting: Contribute to the professional and scientific community through reports, manuscript publications, and presentations related to the organization’s programmatic and evaluation activities. Develop executive-ready briefs, dashboards, and presentations that translate evaluation findings for internal leadership, funders, policymakers, and external partners.
• Learning & Impact: Lead a culture of continuous learning by embedding evaluation findings into planning cycles, strategy discussions, and decision-making processes. Partner with senior leadership to assess program effectiveness, scalability, and return on investment. Identify cross-cutting insights and lessons learned across initiatives to strengthen organizational impact.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) or a related field
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in evaluation and research, preferably within the maternal and infant or child health space
• Proven experience managing projects, including budget compilation, detailed evaluation planning, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Experience in mixed methods data collection and analysis, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data to inform evaluation findings
• Strong leadership skills with a history of managing direct reports and fostering a collaborative team environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with a strong focus on detail and accuracy
• Familiarity with data analysis software, evaluation frameworks, and methodologies
• Experience with grant writing and providing input on research manuscripts and reports
• A commitment to the mission of improving health outcomes for moms and babies, with a passion for making a difference in the community

Desired Skills

Hard Skills

• Expertise in designing and implementing evaluation frameworks and methodologies
• Proficiency in data analysis and survey software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R, Excel, Tableau, Qualtrics, Survey Monkey)
• Strong project management skills, including budget planning, timeline management, and resource allocation
• Experience in mixed methods data collection and analysis
• Familiarity with large government databases and public health datasets
• Experience in grant writing and contributing to research manuscripts and reports
• A deep understanding of DEI principles and the ability to apply them in evaluation work

Soft Skills

• Proven leadership abilities with experience managing and mentoring direct reports
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information to diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across different levels of the organization
• Ability to lead meetings effectively, including setting agendas, facilitating discussions, and driving decisions
• Conflict management skills, with the ability to navigate and resolve disagreements constructively
• Adaptability and problem-solving skills to address challenges and identify creative solutions
• High attention to detail with a commitment to quality and accuracy in all work
• Collaborative work style with the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Success in this Role

Success as a Director, Evaluation looks like evaluation findings consistently informing strategy, strengthening programs, supporting funding and policy efforts, and advancing health equity. The Evaluation team is seen as a trusted, high-value partner that brings clarity, rigor, and actionable insight to complex questions across the organization.

Key skills/competency

• Evaluation Strategy
• Mixed Methods Research
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• Team Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Public Health
• Health Equity
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Reporting & Presentation