Associate Vice President, Research, Evaluation and Analytics

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

About the Position 

JFF’s Research, Evaluation, & Analytics (REA) team envisions a future where evidence-driven programs and policies empower individuals, transform education and workforce systems, and ensure access to quality jobs and meaningful career pathways. Through our Evaluation Services, Research to Advance the Field, and Labor Market Information Analytics, we provide insights that illuminate the development, implementation, and impact of programs and policies supporting inclusive and equitable economic advancement for all. Our projects, both internal and external, focus on understanding what works, for whom, and under what conditions. 

As we expand our current capacity, JFF is seeking to hire an Associate Vice President, Research, Evaluation and Analytics, to lead and transform JFF’s current research endeavors. In this newly created role, you will be a strategic, visionary leader responsible for reimagining, elevating, and leading JFF’s enterprise research strategy. Your role will be essential in driving innovation, and proactively setting and communicating research goals to inform programs and policies. fostering a culture of excellence across our research function. Additionally, this role offers the chance to accelerate the growth of JFF’s research and be instrumental in establishing JFF’s research capabilities as a self-sustaining practice. 

Reporting to the Vice President, Solutions Design & Delivery, you will leverage your analytical mindset and research expertise to lead a team of 12, while establishing four distinct research workstreams: market research, research & evaluation, impact assessment, and the JFF research agenda. Your leadership across the team, and in the field will drive strategic partnerships and business development opportunities and will help to establish JFF as a research leader across the education and workforce development domains. Additionally, in this role you will serve as the research lead for the newly established Center for Career Navigation, working closely with the Center team to shape its research agenda and inform the Center’s work and product development for Gen Z workers and learners based on market feedback.   

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative leader with a passion for growing research programs. Your proven ability to lead collaboratively in a diverse, mission-driven, and equity-focused organization, engage and influence partners, and build a sustainable business model will help to propel JFF’s research efforts forward in a proactive and impactful way, and ultimately influence our North Star goals.  

What You'll Do 

Lead, Expand, and Elevate JFF’s Research Capacity  

• Provide visionary leadership and mentorship to a diverse team of 12 researchers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. 
• Enhance the team's capacity to conduct impactful research that informs policy and practice, elevating JFF's influence in the field. 
• Position the team as thought leaders in education and workforce development, driving broader conversations and influencing key stakeholders. 
• Contribute to strategic planning and decision making for research initiatives at JFF, the Center for Career Navigation, and the Solutions Group. 
• Optimize operational, process, and system improvements to enhance quality, value, and efficiency,  
• Strengthen internal infrastructure and promote continuous learning and knowledge exchange across JFF, including through collaboration with JFFLabs, to support research excellence and growth. 

Launch a Market Intelligence Function and Sustainable Business Model 

• Establish capabilities for enterprise-wide market research, evaluation, and analytics to proactively support the research needs of JFF’s business units. 
• Partner with internal executive leaders to create an enterprise research agenda that delivers practical and cutting-edge insights to inform JFF’s work. 
• Build JFF’s market research capabilities, guiding business units based on current and future market needs. 
• Create and implement a sustainable business model for JFF’s research activities, ensuring long-term financial viability and resource allocation for ongoing and future research initiatives. 

Drive Strategic Research Partnerships and Business Development 

• Leverage research and assessment to engage funders and strategic partners to develop and fund new ideas and initiatives. 
• Lead efforts to foster research and evaluation as a business model, contributing to business development goals for the Solutions Group, and achieving fundraising targets  
• Establish new partnerships to expand JFF’s research capabilities, reach, and competitive edge. 
• Provide thought leadership on research and outcomes, representing JFF at high-profile events, through publications, and on social media. 

Develop and Implement Research Strategy for the Center for Career Navigation  

• Build a comprehensive, multi-year research agenda to inform the Center’s work and product development needs 
• Drive research strategy through an in depth understanding of market trends, audience needs, and value proposition of the marketplace, to improve products and grow networks. 
• Lead labor market analysis, user group research and market and ecosystem trend analysis to inform long-term strategy and product development  

Who You Are 

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring expertise in leading enterprise research strategies, and have led large research teams through complex, mission-driven research, evaluation and assessment initiatives (New hires at the Associate Vice President level at JFF typically bring 15-20 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)   
• You bring a deep understanding of the components across research, with expertise leading market research, evaluation, and impact assessment, and can communicate their value to both internal and external stakeholders 
• You have experience leading rigorous and collaborative, mixed-methods research projects, and teams, and leverage your research and evaluation expertise to influence and impact business decisions, outcomes and partnerships 
• You are comfortable steering high visibility research and evaluation projects, designing research agendas and leading comprehensive market research studies 
• You have led research projects in a manner that efficiently uses resources and probes the most relevant content by executing workplans, timelines and budgets to ensure success of research projects  
• You are adept at analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, coding and analyzing themes for findings and the development of promising practices for the field  
• You are committed to empowering, developing and coaching others through feedback, to ensure effective and consistent delivery of programs and services, while expanding the capacity and expertise of the team 
• You have used your trust and relationship building skills to successfully lead teams through transformative change 
• You have proven success in business development, relationship management and proposal development and have leveraged your research and leadership in support of these efforts 
• You are authentic, inclusive, values-led and growth oriented, and know how to engage, inspire, develop, and manage others to achieve objectives 
• You champion strategies for innovation, creativity, and continuous learning. 
• You connect people, projects, and resources to align with JFF’s mission and strategies 
• You establish processes and systems to enhance team performance and service delivery 
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    
• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF  
• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $160,000 - $180,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Associate Vice President salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Nyema Mitchell, Vice President, Solutions Design and Delivery, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.