Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact (DREI)

Job Description

Job DescriptionJob Title: Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact (DREI)Location: South Central Los AngelesPosition Type: Full-time ExemptReports To: Chief Operations OfficerAbout CDTech: Founded in 1995, CDTech (Community Development Technologies Center) is a South-Central Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization committed to building the power of residents, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to dismantle the forces of disinvestment, displacement, and systemic poverty. As the leading community and economic development organization in the region, CDTech works at the intersection of grassroots leadership development, social impact nonprofit infrastructure support, and economic justice to transform Los Angeles’ largest area of concentrated poverty into a model of equitable investment, resident self-determination, and collective power.Our mission is guided by a three-pronged theory of change: Build Power by transforming the relationship between residents and decision-makers to ensure equitable investment and policy; Build Community Wealth through strategies that build the capacity of residents to stabilize their families and transform their communities through careers in social impact nonprofits and small business economic development; and Build Empowering and Service Community Infrastructure by strengthening the capacity of local public, nonprofit, and small business sectors to drive systemic change. Grounded in principles of asset-based community and economic development, all of CDTech’s work centers the lived experience and leadership of South LA’s Black, Latino, and immigrant communities. From education and workforce development to organizing and coalition-building, we are intentional about preparing the next generation of nonprofit and civic leaders to shape just systems and equitable neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles and the region.CDTech operationalizes this vision through deeply rooted, community-driven initiatives. Our long-standing partnership with Los Angeles Trade-Tech College powers the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Program, a flagship AA and certificate track linked to career pathways such as Public Allies AmeriCorps, the California Youth Leadership Corps, and the emerging Social Impact Nonprofit Apprenticeship. We also lead grassroots initiatives like the Latina immigrant-led SODLA (Sociedad Organizada de Latinas Activas), which organizes around health, housing, civic engagement, and economic justice. As the backbone organization of the CD9 Coalition—made up of over 30 nonprofits, public partners, and small business advocates—we cultivate collective capacity to influence regional and statewide equity initiatives. Together, we’re building a South-Central LA where community power drives economic opportunity and justice.Position Summary: The Director of Research, Evaluation and Impact (DREI) will lead CDTech’s research and evaluation initiatives, developing tools and methodologies to assess the effectiveness of our programs and their impact on community power, economic development, and nonprofit capacity building. This role will work closely with program teams to design and implement evaluation frameworks, gather and analyze data, and produce insights that support strategic decision-making, fund development, and policy advocacy. The DREI Director will also recruit and oversee research fellows and interns, guiding their contributions to research that informs systems change strategies. The position has external and internal implications - connect our theory of change strategies externally with alignment of our work and thinking internally (programmatically). This is an opportunity to cultivate support for a nonprofit economic and community transformation vision. Help create policy initiatives, utilizing data to make critical arguments. Work towards collective impact of a commitment of organizations towards strengthening the infrastructure, economic impact and capacity building. Key Responsibilities:1. Research and Impact Evaluation Strategy● Develop and implement a comprehensive research and evaluation strategy to measure the impact of programs focused on community power, economic development, and nonprofit strengthening.● Create longitudinal frameworks to assess the long-term impact of individual and community-level workforce development, skills-building, knowledge gains, and relationship-building.● Design and maintain evaluation tools and processes that capture qualitative and quantitative data on participant outcomes, program effectiveness, and community impact.● Regularly review and refine research methods and impact metrics to ensure alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and goals.2. Research Tool Development and Data Analysis● Develop internal and external tools for measuring program impact, including dashboards, scorecards, surveys, and other evaluation instruments.● Utilize Community Based-Action Research (CBAR), engage stakeholders in developing quantitative and qualitative methods to capture data and storytelling of impact, reports, social media and other communication mediums.● Analyze collected data to generate insights on program successes, areas for improvement, and the interconnectedness of internal programs.● Produce reports, presentations, and other materials that communicate impact findings to internal and external audiences, including the Board of Directors, funders, and community stakeholders.● Support fund development by providing data and impact metrics for grant proposals, reports, and funding applications.3. Systems Change and Policy Research● Conduct research to support systems change strategies, identifying trends, opportunities, and policy recommendations that align with the organization’s mission.● Collaborate with the Director of Policy and Community Organizing to develop data-driven policy briefs, white papers, and advocacy materials that amplify the voices and needs of South-Central residents and small businesses.● Engage and collaborate with external researchers, policy analysts, and advocacy organizations to build knowledge and resources that inform the CDTech’s policy efforts.4. Research Fellow and Intern Management● Recruit, train, and supervise research fellows and interns, providing mentorship and guidance to ensure high-quality research outputs.● Assign and oversee research projects that align with the organization’s strategic goals, supporting the fellows and interns in gathering data, conducting analysis, and producing reports.● Foster a collaborative learning environment where fellows and interns contribute meaningfully to research that advances the organization’s mission.5. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement● Collaborate closely with program directors to ensure alignment between research and program objectives, supporting their needs with relevant data and insights.● Engage with external partners, funders, and community stakeholders to share research findings and gather feedback that strengthens program impact.● Represent the organization at conferences, meetings, and public events to share insights, research findings, and impact stories.● Represent the organization in funder relationships, media appearances, public speaking engagements, and at conferences, sharing the impact of our work and expanding our visibility.● Other duties as assigned.Preferred Qualifications:● Master’s degree in public policy, Sociology, Social Work, Economics, or a related field with a focus on evaluation or research methods.● At least 5 years of experience in impact evaluation, research, or data analysis within a social justice or nonprofit context.● Strong understanding of racial equity, economic justice, and community empowerment frameworks.● Proven experience designing and implementing impact evaluation frameworks and using data to inform strategic decision-making.● Excellent skills in data analysis, visualization, and reporting, with proficiency in statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or STATA) and data visualization tools (such as Tableau).● Experience managing and mentoring research teams, interns, or fellows, with a collaborative approach to leadership.● Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex findings clearly and persuasively.● Familiarity with fund development processes and the role of data in supporting grant applications and reports.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage applications from people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those with lived experience in the communities we empower.