Director of Impact and Evaluation

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is the official implementation agency for the Atlanta Beltline, the 22-mile rail-to-trail conversion that’s one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States. Its vision is to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life. The Atlanta Beltline is building a more socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing and public spaces for all.

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. is seeking a highly driven, entrepreneurial, and equity-focused professional to join our team as the Director of Impact and Evaluation. The Director of Impact and Evaluation will design and implement a framework for leading the organization’s data development, measurement, and evaluation strategies. In this pivotal role, they will serve as a thought leader responsible for driving, managing, and improving internal data collection and analysis, working to ensure an integrated approach for data planning, evaluation, and reporting is fostered across the organization.  

The Director of Impact and Evaluation will align GIS and data systems and dashboards across the organization, leveraging data to assess and articulate the impact of our programs on the communities we serve. They will play a key role in fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making and storytelling, ensuring that our work is transparent, accountable, and impactful. The Director of Impact and Evaluation will play a cross-functional role in partnering with all departments to better understand, gather, and report on our progress. They will provide supervision, coordination, and alignment for the Data Insights Manager and GIS Manager and will report to our Chief People and Impact Officer. 

Position Responsibilities:

Data System Alignment: 
• Lead the strategy for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of our data collection systems, embracing equitable evaluation practices and a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Oversee the integration and alignment of data systems and dashboards across the organization to ensure consistency and accessibility of accurate, efficient, and reliable data.
• Collaborate with all departments to develop and refine data collection, management, and reporting processes.

Impact Assessment:
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to effectively translate findings into strategic insights, lessons learned, opportunities for evolution, and reports to share with a variety of audiences to better understand the Atlanta Beltline’s impact on the community.
• Develop and implement frameworks for measuring and evaluating the impact of Atlanta Beltline programs, ensuring that equity considerations are at the forefront.
• Analyze data to identify trends, insights, and areas for improvement, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Work in partnership with program directors and staff to evaluate and summarize findings.

Storytelling and Communication:
• Partner with Communications to craft compelling narratives that illustrate the impact of our work on communities, using both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and other materials to communicate findings to 
stakeholders, including board members, funders, and community partners.

Equity Focus:
• Advocate for equity in all data-related initiatives, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are included in the evaluation process.
• Support staff across the organization in understanding and utilizing disparities in data to inform their work.

Partnerships and Collaboration:
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners, including community organizations, researchers, and funders, to enhance our impact assessment efforts.
• Participate in relevant networks and forums to stay informed about best practices in impact evaluation and data utilization.
• Promote the Vision, Mission and Core Values of ABI while fostering a collegial work environment.
Strategic Leadership
• Articulate a clear long-term data vision and provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership for improving access to and utilization of data, ensuring continuous improvement.
• Serve as a thought leader in impact evaluation, staying abreast of practices and emerging trends.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of data and evaluation professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and collaboration. 

Position Requirements:   
• Bachelor’s degree in social science, public policy, social work or psychology or other related field of study, master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in experience in program evaluation, impact measurement, data analysis or related fields, preferably within a nonprofit, governmental, or urban development context.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing evaluation frameworks and methodologies.
• Minimum three years experience supervising staff and/or interns.

Selection Criteria:

The ideal candidate will possess skillsets in the following areas:

• Strong expertise in impact measurement using monitoring and evaluation methodologies involving both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Expert in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, survey and assessment design with extensive statistical analysis skills.
• Proven track record of successfully managing data systems and creating impactful dashboards.
• Experience developing and managing the creation of impactful qualitative and quantitative data visualizations across multiple projects for a variety of audiences.
• Excellent research writing and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and translate complex ideas and findings into accessible written and oral reports and presentations.
• Strong storytelling abilities, with experience in crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly convey vision, objectives, insights, and impact.
• Advanced training in impact evaluation or monitoring and evaluation, social science statistics and research methodologies, including data visualization and data science.
• Demonstrated collaborative approach to working with teams and stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and community engagement principles.
• Understanding of the impacts of institutional and systemic barriers on marginalized communities and a commitment to integrating equity and inclusion throughout all facets of the work.
• Ability to work under short deadlines and adept at handling multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment

Atlanta Beltline, Inc.  is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Equity Note: Research suggests that women and Black, Indigenous and other persons of color are less likely than men and white job seekers to apply for positions unless they are confident that they meet 100 % of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate the knowledge, skills and abilities that you demonstrate, using an intentional equity lens.