Associate Director, Applied Research & Evaluation

About Understood

Understood is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference. We raise awareness of the challenges and strengths of people who learn and think differently. Our resources help people navigate challenges, gain confidence, and find support and community so they can thrive.

Having a shared commitment to our values is a key factor in any hire we make. We have five core values:

1. Continuously learn.
2. Act with intention.
3. Champion difference.
4. Inspire change.
5. Grow together.

Come be part of an organization with an entrepreneurial spirit that’s helping to shape the world for difference. Together, we can build a world where everyone can reach their full potential.

To learn more about Understood, please visit: www.understood.org.

Who you are

To advance Understood’s mission and to further our impact, we’re hiring an Associate Director, Applied Research & Evaluation, reporting to our VP, Expertise & Strategic Design. This is a great role for a researcher and leader with a passion for impact evaluation and effectiveness research.

We are a digital non-profit that reaches over 2,000,000 individuals each month through diverse interventions ranging from an app, to podcasts, to content. We work hard to ensure that all we do is evidence-informed, expert-vetted, and demonstrated effective because that’s what our audience deserves.

This role is to spearhead and execute the assessment of effectiveness and communicate findings in a way that expands impact, making products better, supporting fundraising, and pushing forward the field with credible research.

If you enjoy the challenge of balancing rigor with the needs of a fast-paced, start-up-like environment, while working on behalf of a larger mission, this role may be a great fit for you.

This is a hybrid opportunity, which requires three (3) days per week in our NYC office.

What you’ll do

• Lead impact and effectiveness evaluation across Understood’s portfolio of initiatives
• Work closely with VP of Expertise & Strategic design to develop impact evaluation roadmap and strategy
• Conduct evaluation, using qualitative and quantitative approaches, owning end-to-end execution, from study design to project management to analysis, to writing up results
• Generate research-based insights that help the team evolve programs and products for increased impact
• Ensure any new offering is designed for ease of impact measurement, without sacrificing user experience
• Deliver clear, concise presentations on your findings including but not limited to written reports, visual decks, white papers, and prioritized top-line findings
• Support the evaluation of external products and programs from other organizations, including apps, school-based interventions, and non-profit programs
• Build guardrails and approaches to ensuring responsible, beneficial use of new technologies such as LLM
• As needed, draft, collaborate on, and submit papers for publication
• As needed, partner with our analytics team to ensure our data tells the story of impact, as well as engagement
• As needed, collaborate on, or independently execute pilot studies on Understood initiatives from design to implementation to final submissions for publication
• As needed, collaborate with external research partners on shared projects
• Serve as subject-matter expert on effective approaches to impact for children, parents, and adults

Must-haves

• Advanced degree in public health, psychology, education, or related. PhD preferred; rigorous master's with additional experience leading evaluation considered.
• Depth of experience conducting and leading program and intervention evaluation (academic settings)
• At least 4 years of experience conducting and leading program and intervention evaluation in applied industry settings such as start-ups or tech companies (non-academic settings)
• Strong agility in adjusting methods and approaches based on time and resource constraints
• An understanding of user experience, and the development of measurement strategies that don’t diminish the experience of those we serve
• Strong capacity for cross-functional partnership, working effectively and with humility, with interdisciplinary colleagues from data & analytics to marketing to product development to drive projects forward to completion
• Expertise in managing time, commitments, and priorities–this role requires strong independence and ownership of deliverables
• Committed to embodying and being a steward of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Nice-to-haves

• Technical skills and capacity including SQL, R, and Python (or willingness to learn)
• Strong history of peer-reviewed publishing
• Strong history of non-peer-reviewed, rapid-cycle, credible summaries of findings
• Subject matter expertise in learning and thinking differences, such as Dyslexia and ADHD
• Extensive experience working directly with individuals who learn and think differently

The base salary range for this role is minimum $135,000 - $170,000 maximum, depending on years of experience and qualifications. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports wellness for our team members and their families. You can learn more about our benefits and offerings

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Understood encourages individuals of all learning styles and ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those whose life experiences may include the challenge of access due to a disability, to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to supporting this work.

Understood is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, stalking, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law or that of persons with whom that individual associates, or any other legally protected characteristics.

For additional information on learning and thinking differences, including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, executive function challenges, nonverbal learning disabilities, processing issues, and more, please visit www.understood.org.