Summary:
The position is responsible for the successful development and implementation of evaluation projects that enhance our understanding of our many audiences’ experiences. The role fosters innovation and informed decision-making across departments at the Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC). It leads evaluation studies and reporting, provides operational support to improve the quality of projects, and ensures lessons from evaluations are applied to the continuous improvement of programs and strategy.
Education/Training Requirements:
This manager-level position will hold a master’s degree in public policy or other social science discipline such as environmental education or museum studies and has a minimum of five-years’ experience as an evaluator or senior evaluation position in a comparable sized mission-driven organization.
Primary Responsibilities: Impact Measurement
1. Leads development, implementation, and reporting of evaluation obligations to internal audiences, the Board of Directors, and multiple grant-funded programs.
2. Collaborates with in-house and external groups to formulate program objectives and priorities with a focus on observable metrics for assessment; collaborates with Senior Managers on the scope and methodologies to be used in evaluation; provides advice on evaluation methods and techniques to other members of the ASLC team; works with colleagues on the development of evaluation instruments, data collection and collaborative interpretation of results; and drafts written reports and presentations related to the evaluation process and findings.
3. Designs, pilot-tests, and revises evaluation instruments and methods. Collects, analyzes, and disseminates evaluation findings through reports, presentations, and participation in professional networks.
4. Remains current with trends, theories, and effective practices of evaluation and visitor research through literature, professional development, and collaboration with other professionals.
5. Leads proposal writing and coordination for grants and communications with other external funds.
6. Supports an impact assessment dashboard for ASLC to easily and meaningfully track outcomes that advance the mission.
Management
7. Provides leadership in design and implementation of studies to assess the impact and effectiveness of ASLC’s programs and strategies and leads collaboration with internal and external partners. Including coordination, planning, development, and implementation of evaluation for new program plans or exhibitions, including literature reviews and background research and market research.
8. Collaborates with the CEO, Chief Science and Learning Officer, and Director of Mission Impact on priority setting for work of the program area.
9. Supervises data collectors and evaluation staff, including performance assessment, spot-checking of compliance with protocols.
10. Performs validity tests on all data to ensure accuracy and integrity.
11. Coordinates IRB processes within ASLC and oversees record keeping, compliance reports, and ensures all staff retain current certifications as required for Human Subjects Research.
12. Coordinates with the Research Integrity Officer on any investigations and oversights of human subject research.
Strategic
13. Supports the Center’s strategic and operational goals through fostering evaluative thinking and the use of logic models, theory of change, and other planning tools.
14. Coordinates any external evaluation consultant contracts for grant-funded programs and ensures deliverables meet the Center’s standards and expectations.
15. Supports an institutional culture of adaptive learning and continual improvement at ASLC.
16. Supports relationships with other organizations or academic departments conducting collaborative research studies and enhance ASLC’s capacity to advance knowledge in the field of zoos and aquariums.
Other
17. Fosters good relations with visitors, volunteers, community leaders, contractors, and fellow staff members by promoting positive attitudes, good will, cooperation, and providing high standards of service.
18. Complies with all Alaska Sea Life Center policies, procedures, and programs.
19. Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum/Required Qualifications:
Five-years’ experience as an evaluator leading and directing evaluation projects.
Familiarity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods analysis procedures.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems.
Familiarity with R and python for quantitative data analysis.
Complies with all federal, state, and local laws.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with principles of data equity and equitable evaluation.
Second language in addition to English is an asset.
Prior experience collaborating or working in Alaska Native organizations.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The person in this position will operate a computer and other office equipment, laptop computers or smart phones for data collection, copy machine, and computer printer. Communicate with staff and collaborators, remain stationary for longer periods of time, and move equipment including audio/visual equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums APPLICATION DEADLINE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED START DATE: ASAP PAY RATE: $57,720 - $63,440 Full-Time Position with Benefits Please upload your resume, cover letter and letter of reference when you apply. Must be able to pass a background check.