Job Description
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.
Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion. While striving to have national impact and global reach, the Foundation is deeply committed to Kansas City, as evidenced by work on initiatives that reach into neighborhoods and enrich the community and quality of life in the region. For more information about the Foundation, please visit the website at www.kauffman.org.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Evaluation Director, the Evaluation and Learning Officer operationalizes evaluation and learning-related initiatives. It supports grantmaking program evaluation, leveraging evaluation and learning platforms and tools to inform program assessment. This role works closely and collaborates with other Research, Learning, and Evaluation (RLE) team members and Foundation associates, in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
Specific Responsibilities Include:- Implements the strategic goals for evaluation and learning activities and operations, implementing an evaluation and learning strategy that informs the Foundation’s programs and practices and advances equity and impact in alignment with the Foundation’s mission.
- Develops impact metrics and tracks progress to measure results of the Foundation’s grantmaking and research-based evaluation and learning strategies.
- Recommends evaluation and learning activities at the grant, Foundation, and field levels to inform change and identify elements that lead to change.
- Identifies the lessons and information that can be aggregated and synthesized for others inside and outside the Foundation.
- Ensures that all reports and systems for evaluation and learning data collection, analysis, management and feedback meet the Foundation’s needs.
- Ensures evaluation and learning processes meet industry standards, are data-driven and provide actionable strategic recommendations and insights that support the Foundation’s vision, mission and strategy.
- Allocates resources effectively, manages workload and ensures deadlines are met.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience preferred as demonstrated by a track record of accomplishment in the field of research, evaluation, or assessment. Would consider an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates possession of core competencies.
Work Experience: At least three years of work experience conducting, designing, commissioning, and/or managing social science research or evaluations that are actionable and inform strategy in the social sector.
Travel: This position may require some business travel.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualified candidates for this position must be highly motivated, capable of self-direction and able to work collaboratively in a team. Candidates must exhibit a keen sense of responsibility and enjoy working with multiple demands, shifting priorities, and constant change.
- Has a passion for advancing equitable and transformative solutions for communities served by the Foundation.
- Has experience with a broad set of frameworks, methods and approaches to evaluation and learning, including both quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Can create and implement learning and evaluation approaches with a passion for building a learning culture.
- Learns quickly, can synthesize multiple sources of information, gains insights, and communicates in a clear and coherent way, distilling complex ideas into clear, concise, and actionable forms.
- Has excellent communication skills, including well-developed interpersonal, written, and listening skills.
- Has experience with a broad set of frameworks, methods and approaches to evaluation and learning, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, database applications and research services.
- Possesses strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Possesses a passion for “doing what is right,” with unquestioned integrity, positive ethics and values reflective of the Kauffman Foundation.
- Is committed to the Foundation’s credo, standards, and values in alignment with our racial equity, diversity, and inclusion statement.
- Has strong computer literacy skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and business applications. .
All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. This document describes the position currently available.The organization reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.
NON-DISCRIMINATIONThe Kauffman Foundation firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law.
TO APPLYInterested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 12pm CT on July 16, 2025.
Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Job Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $100,000 and over
Job Tags
Full time, Work experience placement, Local area, Shift work,