Senior Associate, Planning and Evaluation, Strategy

 The Strategy Portfolio within Program

The goal of the strategy portfolio is to inform critical institutional decisions about Pew’s programs, strengthen the design and implementation of Pew’s work, and generate knowledge that advances Pew’s program objectives. We pursue this goal by (1) enhancing the organization’s efforts to generate ideas for new initiatives and larger bodies of work; (2) applying a wide range of planning approaches to help programs turn ideas into effective action; (3) using evaluation to improve program performance and inform decision-making; (4) ensuring that staff has access to information that meets their needs to design, implement, and manage high-performing strategies, initiatives, and campaigns; supporting program teams to deliver high-quality research products that are unbiased, methodologically sound, and accurate; and (6) collaborating with colleagues in preparing a wide range of planning and other types of documents for consideration by Pew’s board of directors. The strategy portfolio has approximately 40 professional staff.

Planning

Pew’s planning unit, within strategy, works in partnership with program and portfolio leadership and staff to identify, develop, and refine high-profile initiatives in line with institutional and programmatic needs and priorities. Specifically, in partnership with and support of program and portfolio leadership, the unit identifies and explores new public policy and research issues in which Pew might play a role; develops program designs, strategies, and initiatives to address these issues; and reviews, informs, and strengthens existing strategies and initiatives to meet new or revised objectives. 

Evaluation, Research, and Learning 

Evaluation, Research, and Learning is part of the Strategy portfolio. The unit has two primary teams—evaluation and learning, and research quality and support. The goal of evaluation and learning is to apply evaluation and related tools to provide information that can be used to improve program effectiveness, support key decisions, and advance program learning. The library and archives group, as part of the evaluation and learning unit, connects Pew staff to information resources that will help them to work effectively to accomplish Pew’s mission. The second primary team—research quality and support—helps ensure that Pew’s programs are guided by and able to produce credible, appropriate, and high-quality research. The team consults with project teams across the program division to help Pew generate high-quality research products that are unbiased, methodologically sound, and appropriately address the intended research questions.

Position Overview

The senior associate, planning and evaluation, strategy serves as a member of two teams within the strategy portfolio – planning and evaluation & learning - working to support learning from evaluations, better integrate findings into program design and execution, and make evaluation-related content more accessible and relevant to targeted audiences. Across both units, the senior associate provides timely and effective project management support, research, and analysis.

This position offers the opportunity to shape the work of the environment, government performance, and Philadelphia and scientific advancement portfolios which currently consists of 45+ projects, including focus areas ranging from environmental policy, land conservation, marine conservation and fisheries, and marine habitat protection to health and human services, management and budget, and courts. Working in partnership with planning colleagues and relevant staff across Pew, the senior associate will support all phases of the planning lifecycle including developing new initiatives, refining existing ones, and helping to gracefully sunset projects, helping to make strategic judgments along the way to ensure the soundness of each projects’ program designs. In addition, the senior associate will partner with senior evaluation staff to design, manage, and support evaluations conducted by external consultants to inform Pew’s program staff, leadership, and board.

This position, based in Pew’s Washington, D.C., office, reports to the project director, planning and will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week.  Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Strategy-wide

• Stay current on public policy issues and research and maintain awareness of effective public policy strategies and new trends and tactics.

• Support efficient responses to discrete inquiries from Pew leadership that require research and analysis and a quick turnaround.

• Help draft internal documents for strategy’s leadership team and other senior staff, incorporating feedback and guidance appropriately.

• Assist in developing and managing contracts with consultants as necessary to inform planning and evaluations.

• Help to support Pew’s inclusion, diversity, and equity goals by ensuring that planning and evaluation projects are conceptualized, implemented, and used in a manner that is consistent with and promotes equity.

• Build and maintain productive working relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.

Planning

• Support exploring new project ideas and strengthening existing projects by:

• Conducting in-depth data-driven research and identifying and engaging internal and external expertise to address knowledge gaps.

• Partnering on the development of planning and project design tools such as logic models, impact maps, theories of change, and concept memos.

• Facilitating discussion and problem-solving.

• Asking strategic questions to validate underlying assumptions in project design components and providing impartial guidance to strengthen the team’s approach.

• Participating in a rigorous vetting process to determine the technical and political viability of project design.

• Assisting in translating analyses into proposals, including documents intended for Pew’s board, by providing guidance on the appropriate content and level of detail, sharing substantive feedback on drafts, or drafting documents where appropriate.

• Assist teams comprised of strategy colleagues, internal staff, and/or consultants in exploring emerging issues and analyzing opportunities for Pew to engage in those areas.

• Support implementation of Pew’s annual planning process.

Evaluation & Learning

• Aid senior staff in developing evaluations of Pew’s initiatives including contributing to the development of evaluation plans, assisting with searches to identify evaluation consultants, and preparing documents for the Pew contract process.

• Support oversight of consultants by reviewing and commenting on data collection and analysis plans, identifying potential interviewees and other data sources, and participating in periodic check in calls with evaluators.

• In coordination with senior evaluation staff, assist with the facilitation of organizational learning from evaluation through dissemination of findings, organizing briefings, and other activities.

• Support the evaluation team on other projects as requested and as capacity allows.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. Advanced degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., evaluation, economics, public policy, sociology, political science, public health, or other social science) is strongly preferred.

• Generally, four years of directly applicable professional experience required. Strategic planning, client consulting, evaluation, social-science research, or policy analysis experience preferred. Experience with evaluation of policy advocacy initiatives and commitment and willingness to build capacity in equitable evaluation practices is desired.

• Understanding of strategic planning theory and the associated tools and practices for developing and evaluating program plans (such as theories of change, logic models, impact maps, etc.), particularly those focused on policy and advocacy campaigns.

• Demonstrated experience mastering new issues quickly and approaching issues with a nonpartisan, objective mindset. Knowledge of current domestic and international political and economic trends, and major concerns within public policy.

• Strong interpersonal skills; proven experience working productively with a wide array of stakeholders and perspectives.

• Strong research and analytical skills; asks probing questions, synthesizes material, and focuses quickly on the essence of an issue and the means to address it.

• Resourceful in identifying and gathering relevant information and data; skilled at analyzing and organizing a large volume of complex information into a clear and coherent narrative.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including experience presenting, facilitating, writing clearly and effectively, convincing and persuading, and listening carefully.

• Works effectively on teams and independently, with a high degree of initiative.

• Track record of thinking strategically and creatively and utilizing strong project management skills to successfully juggle multiple priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, organize time efficiently, and remain attentive to details.

Travel

This position requires occasional travel to meetings and conferences.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.