Senior Lead of Evaluation for Post Secondary Pathways and Coaching

Job Title: Senior Lead of Evaluation for Post Secondary Pathways and Coaching 

Company Name: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation 

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt 

Location: Hybrid option in Lincoln, Omaha, or remote within Nebraska 

NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION: 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's children what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska’s children through community engagement and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive. 

SUMMARY: The Senior Lead of Evaluation for Post Secondary Pathways and Coaching  will lead evaluation, research, and data analysis efforts for NCFF initiatives focused on helping youth and young adults transition successfully into postsecondary education, training, and employment and adulthood. This role will serve as a key connector between program-level evaluation and population-level data that illuminate statewide trends in postsecondary access, persistence, and completion. Under the supervision of the Managing Director, this position will design and implement evaluation and data collection processes that measure postsecondary and career readiness outcomes, conduct analyses and landscape assessments to inform system-level strategies, and support continuous improvement of coaching and navigation models across the state. 

The Senior Lead will work collaboratively with internal teams, community collaboratives, state agencies, postsecondary institutions, and evaluation partners to strengthen Nebraska’s data-informed approach to supporting young people along postsecondary and workforce pathways. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Postsecondary Data Analysis & Reporting: Lead collection, cleaning, and analysis of data related to postsecondary access and coaching, persistence, and completion; prepare visualizations and summaries that illustrate outcomes and statewide trends. 

• Evaluation Design & Coordination: Develop and implement evaluation plans for postsecondary and coaching initiatives, ensuring alignment with NCFF’s Cradle-to-Career framework and state-level outcomes. 

• Systems & Landscape Assessment: Conduct landscape assessments and systems mapping to identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities in postsecondary pathways and coaching ecosystems. 

• Population-Level Data Integration: Partner with internal and external data teams to align individual- and population-level datasets  

• Program Implementation & Fidelity Monitoring: Collaborate with program leads and partners to assess fidelity to coaching models and ensure evaluation processes reflect consistent, high-quality implementation. 

• Evaluation Liaison & Communication: Serve as a bridge between NCFF, community collaboratives, postsecondary institutions, and external evaluators to coordinate evaluation activities and share findings. 

• Data Collection Tool Development: Co-create and refine survey instruments, feedback forms, and data collection protocols that measure youth engagement and postsecondary progress and partner collaboration. 

• Grant Development & Reporting: Support the creation of evaluation components in grant proposals and contribute to funder reports through data summaries, narratives, and success stories. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None to start. 

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction. 

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Delegated discretion; authority to initiate and carry out actions that are deemed essential. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Strong background in program evaluation, data collection, and reporting. 

• Experience using both qualitative and quantitative methods for research design, analysis, and interpretation  

• Demonstrated ability to clean, analyze, and interpret large datasets and create clear data visualizations and summaries. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. 

• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects with minimal supervision. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports and presentations. 

• Ability to problem-solve and adapt in a dynamic work environment. 

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with minimal supervision and coordinate across internal and external partners. 

• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, particularly in coordinating across internal teams and external partners. 

• Willingness to learn and apply new data management and evaluation tools or platforms. 

• Ability to interpret data and contribute to evaluation summaries, findings, and continuous improvement efforts. 

PREFERRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of postsecondary coaching or navigation frameworks and their evaluation. 

• Familiarity with federal, state, and local systems related to child, youth, and family well-being, human development, and education. 

• Experience with Qualtrics or similar survey data collection platforms. 

• Experience with evaluating behavioral change or conducting longitudinal or trend analyses. 

• Bilingual in a language commonly spoken in Nebraska, particularly Spanish. 

• Experience conducting landscape or systems assessments and mapping partnerships across education and workforce sectors. 

• Proficiency in data analysis software such as R, SPSS, or Python, and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Metabase. 

• Familiarity with qualitative analysis methods and tools (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose). 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Master’s degree in a field relevant to the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s work (such as applied research and evaluation, policy evaluation, child welfare, education, or public health) and at least 5 years of professional experience in program evaluation, data analysis, and reporting. 

• In lieu of Master’s Bachelor’s degree or related certification in a relevant field and 7+ years of professional experience in program evaluation, data analysis, and reporting. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. 

• The employee is frequently required to use hands. 

• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Remote / Work from Home option available within Nebraska 

• Hybrid option available in Lincoln or Omaha 

• Flexible scheduling, including possible evenings and weekends. 

• Willingness to travel, including overnight stays. 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.