Job Title: SENIOR IMPACT PANNING & IMPROVEMENT OFFICER - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA

Deadline Date: July 27, 2009

Starting Date:

Institution: Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people - especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

Job Duties: The Impact Planning and Improvement (IPI) team is a recently established internal team empowered to provide focus at the foundation and program level for impact planning, assessment, and improvement at the initiative and portfolio level. The IPI team works closely with senior management and program officers to initiate reviews to ensure that appropriate measurement and evaluation strategies as well as methods are applied. They also provide framework to effectively support learning and adaptation along the way to increase impact to change. We are looking for seasoned professionals who have content expertise in managing evaluations that employ qualitative and quantitative methods, an understanding of the theory of change as well as multi-method evaluation experience.
This Senior IPI Officer position will support the College Ready strategy team within the foundation's US Program. As an embedded member of this team, the senior IPI officer manages a portfolio of evaluations. The IPI officer draws on knowledge of the overall College-Ready strategy and its implementation to insure that evaluation plans will address key evaluation and learning questions. Impact Planning & Improvement (IPI) team members work in close partnership with the College Ready team (both program officers and deputy directors) to:

1) Determine evaluation priorities, primarily at the strategy and initiative level
2) Recommend appropriate approaches and methodologies
3) Select and collaborate with contractors, grantees, and partners in carrying out the work; Shepherding evaluations through a complex internal review and approval process
4) Tracking milestones and deliverables, payment schedules, and reporting requirements to ensure effective performance of contracts. Helping ensure that required data are collected from contractors and grantees
5) Reviewing and providing feedback on draft reports
6) Support the dissemination, synthesis and use of findings and data among stakeholders inside and outside the foundation
7) Cooperation and coordination with College Ready team's strategy, research, and program staff; US Program IPI and advocacy staff; and external stakeholders

Qualifications:
* A minimum of 10 years experience conducting or managing evaluations that require the use of qualitative and quantitative analysis skills
* Experience working in the K-12 or P-16 education sector or a strong familiarity with the sector issues and challenges 
* Experience conducting and interpreting evaluations, research studies, and data collection efforts; and overseeing contractors
* Experience designing and managing random control and quasi-experimental studies
* Experience in evidence-based strategic priority setting desired
* Experience or knowledge of a variety of evaluation and performance measurement techniques, appropriate to the different levels and types of results measurement needed
* Master's degree in education, public policy, social sciences, or related field required, PhD preferred
* Ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization, including top leadership
* Strong project management skills and consultative skills
* Demonstrated commitment to the foundation's core values, mission, and programs and to serving our grantees
* Requires some domestic travel and residency in or relocation to Seattle, Washington

Salary/Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience

To Apply: Apply on line.

EEO/AA: