Senior Director of Research and Impact

About Our Organization

New Jersey Performing Arts Center has the largest arts education department in the state, serving nearly 112,000 families and students in grades Pre-K through 12; approx. 74% of participating students attend Title I schools. Programs include on-campus and in-school performances, artist-in-residencies, after-school and summer arts training, and professional development for teachers.

Job Position Summary

The Senior Director of Research and Impact is responsible for creating and implementing the research agenda and impact assessment strategy for the Arts Education Department and the Arts and Well-being Initiative. This work will include designing and implementing use-inspired research studies – from the expected to the ingenious – as well as developing and testing relevant tools to measure, evaluate, and convey the Department’s impact. The successful candidate will be grounded in both artistic and scientific approaches and motivated by outcomes and impact at scale.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Subject to the policies and management direction established by the Vice President for Arts Education, the duties of Arts Education Senior Director/Director of Research and Impact shall include:

Research Agenda & Impact Strategy

  • Work collaboratively with the teams of Arts Education and Arts and Well-being to develop a department-wide impact measurement and assessment strategy
  • Develop research goals and objectives that support the theory of change and are met both through the Department’s own research projects and through research partnerships
  • Keep abreast of emerging research related to the Department’s impact goals and seek to support and apply that research for the good of those goals when appropriate
  • Conceptualize and manage the execution of reports that raise awareness of the Arts Center’s work

Metrics as a Change Agent

  • Conceive and prioritize projects to develop and disseminate metrics, frameworks and standards whose widespread adoption can help to scale best practices and quality programs
  • Develop research partnerships in alignment with the Department’s overall goal and objectives for impact
  • Lead the development of data and measurement products that other organizations can adopt to drive the impact of the arts in education and throughout the community

Program Evaluation

The Senior Director of Research and Impact will work with all program teams including external consultants to ensure data gathering and evaluation systems are in place, meet IRB requirements when necessary, and that each program is continually improving and ultimately meeting its intended impact goals and objectives.

  • Oversee data collection, entry and quality for programs on-campus and in-schools including securing school district and any IRB approvals when necessary
  • Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data and create systems for using data to provide ongoing feedback and support for program improvement
  • Conduct program observations, interviews, surveys and focus groups
  • Implement and manage internal systems for conducting ongoing outcomes measurement and assessment
  • Design and develop evaluation plans; choose the most effective methodologies, instruments, and resources, and summarize and present findings

Qualifications & Expectations

  • Commitment to high ethical standards
  • Understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion implementation including anti-racist practices
  • A curious self-starter with a proven track record of diving into unknown territory and learning new concepts
  • Outstanding analytical ability and advanced statistical knowledge with the ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data and extract relevant insights
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
  • Ability to produce high-quality deliverables on time and within budget
  • Superior written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate a clear and concise point of view on complicated issues
  • Ability to facilitate data visualization creating compelling data narratives that are accessible to many different audiences
  • Strong project management skills and attention to detail

Required Experience, Skills and Education

  • Advanced degree in a relevant field of study
  • 5-8 years demonstrated experience and expertise in putting applied research to use to create social innovation and change through the arts and/or outside of an academic context
  • 5-7 of Senior Management experience
  • Proven ability to build and manage high-performing teams, programs and budgets
  • Experience developing and managing collaborations and partnerships for research, metrics and assessment endeavors
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, and a proven ability to build trust with team members, school leadership, students and families
  • Skilled in SPSS, Google Suite – especially XLS and CRM platforms – Salesforce a plus
  • Bi-lingual preferred, Spanish a plus
  • Willing to conquer the “small tasks” with an understanding of their vital importance in the success of the organization

Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19

NJPAC requires all employees to be fully vaccinated (including booster vaccination) for COVID-19 prior to starting work, unless precluded from doing so by applicable law. Proof of vaccination is required prior to the applicant’s first day of work.

The CDC currently defines “fully vaccinated” as two weeks after the second dose for Pfizer and Moderna and two weeks after the single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

Roles & Responsibilities

How to Apply

Please email résumé, cover letter and salary requirements to jobopportunities@njpac.org with the subject line Senior Director / Dir. Research and Impact.

Your application will be reviewed and if we are interested in pursuing your candidacy, you will receive an invitation via email with more details regarding an interview. Candidates who have not received an invitation will not be interviewed.

NJPAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.