Job Description

Posting number: 2026-00151

Department: Office of Workforce Development

Job classification: Director of Research and Evaluation

Posting type: Open

Categories: Research

Summary

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Center for Working Families, the Director of Research and Evaluation will oversee Cabinet-wide work to generate, manage, and share reliable information and knowledge that contributes to policy development and improves the performance of our core services.

The Director of Research and Evaluation is responsible for a broad range of activities, including performing data analysis, developing feedback and learning systems, conducting program/project evaluations, and providing technical assistance to support the Cabinet’s commitment to evidence-based policy and planning. The Director of Research and Evaluation will oversee research and analytics staff and establish functional capacities, policies, and protocols to enhance research, analytics, and evaluation support and resources across the Cabinet.

Examples of duties

Leadership:

• Provide leadership, coordination, consultation, assistance, strategic oversight, and direction over the Cabinet’s research, analytics, and evaluation support work.
• Supervise assigned research and analytics staff and provide functional and technical direction to Cabinet staff, consultants, vendors, and contractors engaged in research, analytics, and evaluation activities.
• Produce, oversee, and track the unit’s budgets and metrics to ensure that goals and objectives are met. Compile reports as required.
• Advise Cabinet leadership in the development of policy objectives and use research, data, and evaluation findings to advance the City's workforce development priorities.
• Coordinate with the Planning Department and other City of Boston departments on department objectives related to research, evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Analyze policies, programs, and initiatives to understand how they can support the Cabinet's strategic objectives.
• Resolve staff managerial/administrative issues. Work with the Human Resources Director on departmental human resources issues.

Research and Evaluation:

• Direct advanced research/evaluation activities to plan new strategic initiatives that meet the current and future needs of the offices that comprise the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, including identifying potential projects, directing the design of sound research/evaluation project plans, monitoring the quality of project implementation, and summarizing the results for a variety of audiences.
• Develop requests for proposals and oversee vendors and contractors to support research, analysis, and evaluation as needed.
• Provide statistical consulting and data analysis to support grant development.
• Provide technical direction to staff on specific evaluation and research activities.
• Assess the alignment of research and analysis portfolio priorities related to the Cabinet’s strategic plans. Identify critical priorities and knowledge gaps, and provide clear direction to meet those information needs.
• Lead dissemination and eminence-building activities (e.g., presentations, conference presentations, publications, site visits).
• Develop, enhance, and maintain the Cabinet’s data infrastructure that enables the collection, analysis, and synthesis of data to monitor the performance of its grantees, programs, strategies, and overall leadership. Embed new analytic solutions to inform policy-making and service design.
• Advance knowledge management by supporting cross-team and cross-department learning.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders to share knowledge, identify and validate effective practices, disseminate learnings from research, and identify future research topics.
• Represent and expand the Cabinet’s position as a knowledge leader and advocate at meetings, networking events, conferences, and other relevant meetings and events (with Federal government, private, and non-profit stakeholders).
• Perform related work as required.

Qualifications

• At least five (5) years of direct experience in research, data analytics/data science, workforce development research, or other related fields.
• Master's degree in social science, data analytics/data science field, or other related fields; Ph.D. preferred. Master's degree may substitute for three (3) years of the required experience.
• Content knowledge in workforce development systems, including the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, regional community college systems, union apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeship programs, and sector-based workforce development initiatives.
• Demonstrated record of using a variety of program evaluation/research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).
• Demonstrated track record in disseminating evaluation/research findings to various audiences through publications, presentations, policy briefs, webinars, and other mechanisms.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and establish productive, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in a research and analysis role, preferably with government stakeholders and projects.
• Demonstrated success in securing funded work through grants and/or contracts.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex research, evaluation, or data analytics initiatives, including establishing project priorities, directing methodologies, managing multiple stakeholders, and translating findings into actionable policy or operational recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership based on complex quantitative and qualitative analysis.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MM2-10

Hours per week: 35