Associate Director of Research and Evaluation

WHO WE ARE Third Plateau is an impact consultancy partnering with philanthropy, nonprofits, and communities to build the infrastructure of change. We are one of Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators!   OUR APPROACH Third Plateau is built on a simple premise: creating lasting social good requires more than good intentions. Society’s most complex challenges are deeply rooted, interconnected, and resistant to quick fixes. Philanthropists, foundations, and nonprofit leaders know this and are up for the challenge, bringing their passions and ambitions day in and day out. To realize that potential, they’re looking for a partner who brings the experience to design great strategies and the capacity to see them through. Third Plateau was built exactly for this work. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more about our approach and our company values.  OVERVIEW The Associate Director on the Research & Evaluation team designs and conducts research projects while managing research coordination and client relationships to keep projects on track. They work closely with our researchers and strategists to help our nonprofit, foundation, government, and private sector clients bring bold visions to reality and drive social change. Associate Directors often serve in a mix of roles across their client and internal project portfolio. On some projects, they provide client and project leadership while also conducting and supporting research. On others, they lead research streams within a philanthropic advising or strategy project. In some cases, they primarily serve in a coordination role.     Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:   Design and Implement Research and Evaluation Projects  Engage with clients to understand their research needs and determine methods and methodologies to best answer clients’ research questions. Design qualitative, quantitative, and participatory tools for research implementation. Identify and develop the most relevant and appropriate research methods to answer research and evaluation questions, and to make sound methodological justifi cations for using them with minimal support. Data Collection and Analysis Lead and support primary and secondary research and draft research findings on a variety of topics including client markets, landscapes, and issues in various fields. Coordinate and conduct interviews and focus groups. Support with related external communications related to this type of data collection. Design and disseminate surveys to constituencies, audiences, or stakeholders. Conduct and support data analysis (interview analysis and coding, descriptive statistical analysis through being profit client with tools like NVIVO, MAXQDA, R, Excel, etc.). Analyze, synthesize, and organize quantitative and qualitative data, and facilitate meaning making with clients  Project and Client Management Produce initial drafts of facilitation guides, project and/or research plans. Manage project timelines and workflow. Lead on client communication, relations, and management for a portfolio of projects, with minimal support. Support client communications (email, agenda setting, etc.) on other projects. Facilitate research presentations, meaning making sessions, breakout groups and other discrete project elements with minimal support. Contribute to internal project management processes, including resource planning, workflow coordination, and project tracking. Deliverable Development Act as a concise and efficient writer, and a strong copy editor, and produce client ready work with limited editorial oversight. Develop initial drafts of client deliverables (landscape analysis, findings memo, theory of change, etc.) and manage revisions with support from the project lead. Lead drafting efforts on some projects with minimal support. Think creatively about how to communicate complex qualitative and quantitative data research findings through written, visual, and real-time media in accessible, engaging, and actionable ways for our diverse set of clients. Internal Engagement Tend to internal administrative items (e.g., emails/slack, timekeeping, expenses, HR). Participate in internal activities (e.g., full team meetings, peer learning communities, culture building activities, and regular check-ins with your supervisor). Engage in individual and team wide professional development/learning opportunities.  Support and lead discrete project tasks and internal team development items (e.g., team workplan). WHAT YOU’LL NEED 7 - 9 Years of Experience Candidate needs to have R&E experience and proven ability to do the work in either non-profit, R&E or client-facing work not just the education/certification. Critical to have strong verbal and written communication skills.  Strong curiosity & willingness to learn about areas they are not as familiar with as well as cross-collaborate. Candidate needs to be energized to do the core function of the work as reporting, surveys, client engagement, research. etc. Must be able to design and execute multiple quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research and evaluation projects from start to finish in applied research settings Must be familiar with research and evaluation frameworks, approaches, and methodologies. Strong data visualization skills. Must be able to work collaboratively with teams, and build trust with clients and team members