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Senior Manager of Research and Evaluation

About the Role

The Senior Manager of Research and Evaluation plays a critical leadership role at Forward Arkansas, ensuring that our programs, partnerships, and policy efforts are grounded in rigorous evaluation, thoughtful research, and clear evidence of impact.

This role bridges big-picture strategy with detailed execution. You will lead the development of evaluation frameworks, guide continuous improvement across initiatives, and help translate data into insights that inform decision-making, advance policy, and enhance public credibility.

You will work across Forward’s portfolio, supporting program design, strengthening community-based initiatives, and advancing statewide systems thinking. You will report to the CEO and collaborate closely with team members, state leaders, and external partners.

This role requires strong analytical ability, strategic judgment, and a roll-up-your-sleeves mindset. If you care deeply about improving student outcomes in Arkansas and believe data should drive action—not just reporting—you’ll thrive here.

What You’ll Get

  • A front-row seat to statewide education transformation efforts
  • The opportunity to shape how impact is measured, communicated, and improved
  • Meaningful engagement with state leaders, district partners, and community stakeholders
  • The ability to design evaluation systems that influence funding, policy, and scale
  • A collaborative, mission-driven team that values clarity, candor, and execution

What You’ll Do

Lead Program Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

  • Design and refine evaluation frameworks for current and future initiatives
  • Research comparable programs nationally to inform strategy
  • Establish clear outcome metrics that connect outputs to measurable impact
  • Analyze program performance and provide actionable recommendations for improvement
  • Support the research and design of new initiatives with evidence-based practices
  • Ensure strong documentation and knowledge capture across initiatives

Strengthen Community-Based Data Use

  • Support community leaders, school administrators, and educators in understanding and using data effectively
  • Elevate data as a tool for collaboration and communication among partners, including districts, schools, communities, state agencies, and other providers
  • Research the effectiveness of Forward-led initiatives at the local level

Establish and Maintain Organizational Evaluation Systems

  • Build and manage evaluation metrics tied to grants and philanthropic investments
  • Demonstrate effective use of funds through rigorous analysis and reporting
  • Create systems to move efforts from anecdotal evidence to a clear, measurable impact
  • Position Forward as a credible partner to data-focused organizations and research institutions
  • Provide regular strategic insight to the CEO and leadership team

Support Public Communications

  • Represent Forward in public settings, as needed
  • Help build organizational credibility through data-informed storytelling

What We Offer

  • Work that is intellectually rigorous, mission-driven, and high-impact
  • A culture that values trust, initiative, and shared ownership
  • Exposure to strategy, implementation, and policy at the highest levels in Arkansas
  • Opportunities to shape statewide systems and long-term infrastructure
  • Competitive compensation and benefits
  • Flexibility and respect for the reality that strong work and full lives go together

What We’re Looking For

  • Deep commitment to Forward Arkansas’s mission of improving student outcomes
  • Strong ability to move between strategic thinking and detailed implementation
  • Exceptional analytical and research skills
  • Ability to coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives
  • Highly organized, dependable, and resourceful
  • Strong communication and presentation skills
  • Comfort engaging with state-level leadership and agency partners
  • Interest in community engagement and systems improvement
  • Experience in education and familiarity with the Arkansas context preferred
  • Resourceful, innovative, and action-oriented

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required (advanced degree preferred)
  • 3–5+ years of experience in education research, data analytics, or evaluation
  • Demonstrated success in developing evaluation frameworks and impact metrics
  • Experience translating research into practical, decision-driving insights

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following to Ben Kutylo at bkutylo@forwardarkansas.org:

  • A résumé
  • A cover letter explaining your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined above
  • Three professional references

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