Director, Research and Evaluation

Job Purpose At the Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT), we believe that knowledge-based decisions lead to more effective and efficient use of organizational resources in pursuit of our mission. Reporting to the Managing Director, Impact, Data, and Evaluation, the Director of Research & Evaluation leads the Research & Evaluation team, and is accountable for building and sustaining an organization-wide culture that uses research and evaluation to inform strategic, tactical, and operational decisions, and supports the ongoing sharing of knowledge and learnings with the broader community, contributing to a stronger lāhui. This role sets the direction of LTʻs research and evaluation agenda, leads and develops the Research & Evaluation team, oversees LTʻs evaluation work and research agenda, and ensures that research and evaluation across LT is rigorous, culturally grounded, and useful to decision makers at all levels. Essential Responsibilities Research & Evaluation Strategy & Leadership In collaboration with the Managing Director, develop the vision and direction for research and evaluation at LT, ensuring alignment with LTʻs strategic plan, cultural practice framework, and organizational priorities Lead the design and implementation of LTʻs Research and Evaluation agenda, identifying timely, high-priority questions to guide strategic, tactical, and operational decision-making, including questions likely to become important for future planning Develop and oversee the annual Research & Evaluation deliverables workplan, setting priorities and allocating team resources across the portfolio Oversee a portfolio of research, assessment, community assessment, and evaluation projects at the strategic and tactical levels Establish and maintain standards of practice for evaluation methods, data collection tools, research ethics, and data quality, including culturally grounded and Indigenous approaches to research and evaluation Lead the development of and updates to LTʻs evaluation and assessment tools Team Leadership & Management Lead, supervise, and develop the Research & Evaluation team, including the Senior Manager(s), Research & Evaluation and other teammates Recruit, hire, and onboard Research & Evaluation teammates, and contribute to staffing plans that grow the teamʻs capacity in line with organizational needs Assign teammates to LT locations and programs, and ensure consistent, high-quality evaluation support across all locations Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback and coaching, and conduct performance reviews Manage the Research & Evaluation budget, contracts, and external evaluation consultants and partners Foster a team culture of learning, collaboration, curiosity, and continuous improvement Program Partnership & Developmental Evaluation Oversee LTʻs evaluation work, providing methodological leadership and guidance to the evaluators and program teammates engaged in it Ensure that programs across LT receive responsive evaluation partnership, supporting teammates with assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed decision-making In collaboration with Policy, Practice, & Learning, Program Quality, and other relevant teams, participate in (and lead when appropriate) program cycle review and reflection sessions Partner with program and operations leaders to analyze and interpret data from a wide range of sources and utilize it to strengthen program and service planning and delivery Guide the design of strategies, tactics, programs, and services by bringing the research and evaluation toolkit into partnership with program leaders, including: Clarifying the needs, interests, and assets of those to be served Clarifying program and service goals and objectives Critically examining the alignment of needs/assets, goals and objectives, and programmatic offerings to increase the impact of LT programs and services Engaging in timely review of all programmatic evaluation results, assisting with interpretation and meaning making Organization-Wide Decision Support Support strategic and operational decision-making at the executive and organizational levels by: Leading evaluations of organization-wide collaborations and systems-change initiatives, Partnering with data and analytics teammates on the development of accessible data tools, including dashboards, reports, information graphics, and other tools that decision makers at all levels can easily access and use Contributing to organization-wide reporting at regular intervals as required. Serve as a key contributor to LTʻs program cycle and annual reports, including: Providing research and evaluation content for program cycle reports, including analysis of strategic indicators, program outcomes, and evaluation findings, and surfacing timely insights for leadership decision-making Contributing analysis and synthesis of the yearʻs results, impact, and lessons learned to annual reports for executive leadership, Trustees, and other audiences as appropriate Collaborating with program, data, and analytics teammates on data collection, analysis, and review to help ensure that reports are accurate, timely, and aligned with organizational priorities Advise LT leadership on the research and evaluation implications of strategic decisions, new initiatives, and emerging opportunities Collaborate with data, analytics, and technology teammates to strengthen data governance, data integration, and the responsible use of data across LT Capacity Building & Coaching Build capacity across LT among leaders, frontline teammates, and other professionals so that they can conduct, interpret, and apply research and evaluation findings Strengthen the capacity of the Research & Evaluation team to engage in research, evaluation, facilitation, and project leadership, including through professional development and mentorship External Engagement Represent LT in research and evaluation matters with external partners and researchers Build the capacity, as appropriate, through the sharing of relevant and accessible information, of decision makers beyond LT to apply research and evaluation knowledge to decisions affecting Native Hawaiian wellbeing, including sharing resources with external partners and leaders of smaller community-based organizations and local collaboratives Communicate the results of research and evaluation work in a clear, easily accessible manner Form and sustain collegial partnerships with universities, research institutions, and other organizations that serve the Hawaiian community and the broader public to improve the wellbeing of Native Hawaiians Lead LTʻs contributions to the advancement of knowledge on Native Hawaiian wellbeing in the field through journal-quality publications, presentations, contributions to professional associations, and participation in partner meetings, as appropriate Other Duties Contribute to the Trustʻs success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and striving to improve team and organizational results Qualifications Preferred education and experience: Doctoral degree that includes advanced study of social science research and/or evaluation methods, or Masterʻs degree with 12+ years of equivalent experience Progressively responsible, directly related work experience in research and evaluation, including leading developmental evaluations: 7-10 years Supervisory experience leading research, evaluation, or other knowledge-work teams: 5+ years Facilitative leadership and mentorship training and experience: 5+ years Experience managing budgets, contracts, and external consultants Experience presenting to and advising executive leadership and boards Possess the cultural knowledge and skills to work respectfully and effectively in a Hawaiian-serving organization and with local communities Job Competencies Strategic leadership: ability to set direction, align work with organizational priorities, and make sound decisions about priorities when faced with resource constraints Tolerance for ambiguity, emergence, and divergent work Systems thinking, critical thinking skills, and creative problem solving Ability to build strong relationships with leaders and teammates across the organization and provide responsive evaluation, data, and learning support across diverse staff, multiple program areas, and rapidly evolving priorities and strategies Expert in all phases of the social science research/evaluation process to include but not limited to: Design of research and evaluation studies, including developmental evaluations Design of data collection tools and methods Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data Responsiveness to key aspects of the context in which the research and evaluation studies will be conducted Culturally grounded and Indigenous research and evaluation methodologies Expertise in or ability to quickly acquire the necessary level of knowledge about the needs, programs, or services to be researched or evaluated People leadership: hiring, coaching, developing, and holding teammates accountable Understanding of adult learners and coaching strategies Effective oral, written, and visual communication, including the ability to translate complex findings for executive, community, and external audiences Advanced project and portfolio management skills; ability to oversee a rich, diverse portfolio of projects and manage them to timely completion           LT strongly believes in hiring individuals reflective to the community it serves, including lived experiences, striving for representative diversity among its staff.   Key Required Competencies Aloha: awareness and approach to the work with compassion, empathy, and kindness. ‘Imi Na’auao: a constant desire for seeking knowledge; lifelong learner. Po’okele: desire to perform in excellence. Wiwo’ole: maintain a courageous, brave, and fearless mindset. Pono: understand the appropriateness of time, place, reason, people, and tools Kuleana: bring a deep sense of responsibility and accountability   Organization Competencies Alignment with Queen’s legacy:  Understanding and appreciation of Queen Liliuokalani’s story, her legacy and the Hawaiian Culture is foundational to staff’s commitment to working with our Hawaiian children, families and communities. Demonstrates respect for and appreciation of Hawaiian values history, and culture, understanding its implication in one’s work, in fostering meaningful relationships, and in embracing the community served. Ho`omau i ka `imi Na`auao (Continuous Learning and Improvement): Committed to creating and reinforcing an environment of continuous learning and improvement.  Ho`ike i na Mana`o Pono (Effective Communication):  Communicates with those we serve and each other in a consistent manner that results in mutual understanding, harmony, and action.   No'ono'o loi (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving): Actively and skillfully understands, conceptualizes, applies, analyzes, synthesizes, and/or evaluates information and develops and supports fact-based analyses and recommendations Ho'o kumu a'e  or `Imi hakuhia (Innovation):  Identifies and integrates creative ideas into new or existing services and promotes effective problem-solving. Pilina Ho`ohana a me ka Hana Hilina`i (Building Relationships and Creating Trust):  Manages relationships to create optimal opportunities and move the organization forward. Alu Like I ka Hana (Teamwork): Works cooperatively and collaboratively with others throughout the organization in alignment with the organization's objectives. Ho`onui I ka `Ike (Capacity Building): Encourages personal growth by exhibiting trust and a belief in the capacity of others.   Terms and Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment, employee will be subject to LT’s policies and procedures.   Job Title: Director, Research & Evaluation Reports to: Managing Director, Impact, Data, & Evaluation FLSA Status: Exempt Aligned Executive: Chief Impact Officer Kipuka: Liliʻuonamoku Department: Research & Evaluation