Director of Impact at The Luminos Fund

Director of Impact

The Luminos Fund, an international nonprofit bringing education opportunities to the world’s most marginalized children, is looking for a Director of Impact to lead its dynamic Impact team. The team is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on program data to drive evidence-informed decision-making across the organization and improve learning outcomes for marginalized children.

This position calls for an experienced leader with expertise in impact measurement and a passion for using data to drive positive change in education. We encourage applications from individuals with a variety of professional backgrounds, including but not limited to monitoring and evaluation within the nonprofit sector, management consulting, technical product management, data science, or other fields requiring strong data analysis and strategic thinking.

This is a full-time role that may be based in one of our offices in Accra, Addis Ababa, Banjul, Boston, London, or Monrovia, or remotely in a time zone from GMT-5 to GMT+3. Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, the role holder will collaborate with country-based program teams, the Teaching & Learning team, and the senior leadership team to ensure the success of our education mission. The position will require up to 25% travel to challenging contexts in Africa and the Middle East.

About the Luminos Fund

The Luminos Fund (www.luminosfund.org) provides transformative education programs to thousands of out-of-school children, helping them to catch up to grade level, reintegrate into government schools, and prepare for lifelong learning. Working in partnership with community-based organizations, Luminos is scaling up its accelerated learning program to ensure all children have equal access to joyful, foundational learning, especially those shut out of education by crisis, poverty, or discrimination. To date, Luminos has helped over 377,407 children secure a second chance to learn. A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, Luminos is working in Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, Liberia, and The Gambia.

Luminos is supported by a range of funding partners, including Cartier Philanthropy, Legatum, and UBS Optimus Foundation. Luminos has been recognized for its achievements globally, receiving the 2022 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize, the Library of Congress International Literacy Award, the Lipman Family Prize, the WISE Award, and the HundrED Global Innovation Award for the last six years.

Duties and Responsibilities

Impact Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of the organization's impact strategy: set goals, develop data-driven metrics, and track progress towards organizational impact. Ensure the impact strategy is aligned with the teaching and learning strategy to facilitate collaboration across the organization.
• Serve as a thought leader on impact: stay updated on best practices, learn from colleagues and partners, disseminate knowledge, and foster a data-driven culture.
• Communicate effectively about impact across the organization: develop and deliver presentations, write reports, and provide training.
• Work with the Development team to conceptualize and seek funding for new opportunities: develop proposals, write grant applications, and engage with donors.

Guiding Program Development for Impact

• Provide strategic guidance to ensure programs are designed and implemented with a strong focus on impact.
• Lead research and develop innovative solutions to improve program effectiveness and expand our understanding of learning.
• Effectively coordinate and manage cross-functional projects end-to-end to achieve successful implementation of organizational goals.
• Oversee the development and implementation of impact assessments for new and existing programs. Provide technical expertise on experimental and quasi-experimental research designs to ensure rigorous evaluation of program impact.
• Collaborate with the Teaching & Learning team to ensure that data on teaching and learning outcomes is used regularly and effectively to inform materials and training improvements.

Data Management and Analysis

• Develop and implement robust data systems to support program impact measurement, from user requirements to systems design, implementation, and maintenance.
• Ensure data quality across the organization: establish standards, verify accuracy, and train staff in data management.
• Analyze program data to drive decision-making: conduct timely analyses, identify trends, and propose improvements.
• Report on program impact for internal and external audiences to effectively communicate program results and insights.

Team Leadership and Development

• Recruit and manage a strong, diverse, highly technical Impact team: foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment and value different perspectives and experiences.
• Build the Impact team's capacity to support evidence-informed program decision-making across the organization.
• Mentor colleagues to help them achieve their individual impact-related goals.
• Manage program budgets to ensure efficient resource utilization: develop and monitor budgets, track expenses, and prepare financial reports.

Financial Management

• Manage program budgets to ensure efficient resource utilization: develop and monitor budgets, track expenses, and prepare financial reports.

Please note that the Luminos Fund is a highly dynamic work environment, and the role holder may need to take on additional workstreams not included in the description above. In some instances, they will face challenges in areas where they are not experts and where situations are ambiguous. They will need to scope out known information, propose and appraise response options, and then own and drive the implementation solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred. At least one degree must be in a quantitative field.
• At least 5 years’ relevant work experience, with increasing levels of responsibility in cross-cultural contexts.
• At least 3 years’ experience leading high-performing technical teams, fostering collaboration, and mentoring staff for maximum impact.
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to think and plan strategically.
• Proven experience in user-centered system design and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional projects, including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and tracking progress to ensure successful completion.
• Strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation methodologies, including their application to impact measurement and data analysis. Proficiency in database management (e.g., SQL), statistical software (e.g., R, Python), data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI). Experience with basic statistical techniques (descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, regression analysis).
• Ability to translate data insights into actionable recommendations for program improvement. Experience analyzing learning data, and particularly EGRA/EGMA data, is strongly desired.
• Willingness to become an expert in foundational literacy and numeracy, including phonics, structured pedagogy, and the science of teaching, is required; experience with teaching and learning is desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to and build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, in English. Experience collaborating with government partners, particularly in Africa, is a plus.
• Experience in a startup environment, and building something from nothing, is strongly desired.

Luminos Core Beliefs and Values

1. We believe that every child is capable of learning a remarkable amount in a short period of time, if given the chance.
2. We keep children’s joy and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
3. We embrace assessment as a key component of effective teaching and learning.
4. We celebrate and empower local leadership throughout our work with partner communities and governments.
5. We use research, program data, and skilled classroom observation in the tenacious pursuit of excellence.
6. We celebrate the unique contexts and cultures of the communities we serve in our curricula and pedagogy.
7. We act with the highest standards of integrity and care, ensuring mutual accountability among colleagues and partners.
8. We take the initiative to solve problems where we find them, managing details large and small, with urgency.
9. We act deliberately to ensure that our organization is inclusive for people of different genders, racial backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities, and other sources of diversity.
10. We build deep, authentic relationships with our supporters in celebration of the mutually transformative power of giving.

To apply for this role, please complete the online application with your resume or CV.

You will be asked to confirm the following information as part of your application:

• Permanent address and present address (if different from permanent), e-mail address, and telephone number
• Disclose any existing personal relationships with existing Luminos Fund employees or Implementing Partners (IPs)

The expected salary range for this role is 80,000 to 130,000 USD per year. This salary range is specific to The United States East Coast time zone. Compensation may be adjusted based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and location. For candidates residing outside of these areas, the salary range may differ to reflect local market conditions and cost of living considerations.

We are committed to ensuring competitive and equitable compensation for all employees, regardless of location. If you have any questions regarding how compensation may vary by location, please let us know during the application process.

The Luminos Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.