Choosing a career with ECMC Group means joining a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed. With a vibrant mission and values, great benefits, and strong community involvement, ECMC Group companies are an ideal team to join.

ECMC Foundation is a Los Angeles-based, nationally focused foundation whose mission is to inspire and to facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes—especially among underserved populations—through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments in two focus areas: College Success and Career Readiness; and uses a spectrum of funding structures, including traditional grantmaking and program-related investments, to fund both non-profit and for-profit ventures. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is to unlock all learners’ fullest potential.  Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting www.ecmcfoundation.org and ECMC Group by visiting www.ecmcgroup.org                                                         

Job Summary:

The Director of Learning and Impact, a new position at ECMC Foundation, will oversee the Foundation’s grants management, communications, and evaluation efforts. This includes, but is not limited to, facilitating the grant information and tracking process from inception through completion, ensuring quality control for all grantmaking procedures, and helping to tell the Foundation’s story via impact and measurement. The position reports to the President of the Foundation and plays a central role in contributing to the Foundation’s evaluation practice, measuring the impact of the Foundation’s grantmaking and the alignment with the Foundation’s theory of change. Thorough and effective attention to this process allows ECMC Foundation to meet its commitments to their grantees and fulfill its mission. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director of Learning and Impact collaborates on the development and implementation of grantmaking strategy and goals. Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage the Foundation’s strategy to monitor and evaluate grantees, collect data, codify results, and share lessons learned and best practices with the philanthropic and education fields
• Oversee the Foundation’s communications and grants management functions
• Build intentional connections between grantee outcomes (individual and collective) and the Foundation’s external communications strategies to advance understanding of the Foundation’s commitment to evidence-based learning
• Connect ECMC Foundation’s strategy and impact with the trends present among the broader education and philanthropic communities
• Develop an overall approach to learning and evaluation for the Foundation and design the structures and processes to support the work throughout the organization through measurement and data collection
• Collaborate with program staff to synthesize and share Foundation-funded research and evaluation  
• Develop the processes and criteria for periodic systematic review of strategies, quality and effectiveness on all levels.
• Act as an internal advisor to staff involved with any major programmatic or strategic evaluation
• Organize grantee and funder convenings to enhance productivity and effectiveness including ECMC Foundation’s first ever all grantee convening in 2019
• Manage grant report process to ensure compliance with reporting and evaluation requirements
• Scope, retain and manage relationships with external researchers and evaluators
• Oversee two full-time employees and external evaluators and consultants as needed
• Present on the Foundation’s work to both internal and external audiences; includes creating dashboards/scorecards that demonstrate the Foundation’s impact and reach
• Serve as a member of the Foundation’s leadership team
• Comply with all ECMC Group Policies
• Perform other duties as assigned

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 education, experience, knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Required Education/Certification and Experience:  

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 8-10 years of work experience in a relevant role. Ideal candidate’s prior experience would be in education and/or philanthropy evaluation. 

Preferred Education/Certification: 

• Master’s Degree

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the ability to effectively:

• Conduct evaluation research and data analysis to inform strategy development
• Use qualitative and quantitative evaluations and be able to switch between strategic and practical thinking with exceptional analytical skills.
• Communicate concepts, research findings and data interpretations, and to draw the implications of these analyses for program strategy
• Identify and liaise with internal and external experts who can help strengthen and inform cross-programmatic learning both within the Foundation and for philanthropy more broadly
• Work with nonprofits and foundations and utilize a range of types of learning and evaluation approaches and tools.
• Develop tools, practices and processes to promote strategic learning for continuous improvement across the Foundation including mid-course strategy reflections and reviews
• Understand the postsecondary education field and the overall landscape including relevant national policies,  nonprofit organizational structure (including financials), public policy and outcome measures/evaluation methodologies aimed at assessing program effectiveness
• Prepare written materials and give presentations to a variety of stakeholders including Board members, civic and education leaders, and nonprofit and community groups and policy-makers.
• Maintain excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Promote high standards of ethical conduct and behaviors consistent with organizational standards
• Display a sense of humor, flexibility, and the ability to contribute to a collegial, respectful, and supportive office environment

SUPERVISION/CONTACTS:

• Reports to – ECMC Foundation President
• Direct Reports – Grants Associate and Communications Manager

WORK ENVIRONMENT

OFFICE

Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office environment that requires normal safety precautions (such as in typical office or administrative work)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Sedentary work:  Job involves sitting most of the time; walking, lifting, bending, standing etc. may be minimally required

TRAVEL 

Rarely if at all – less than 10% of the time

ADDITIONAL PERTINENT INFORMATION:

• Required to work normal hours to successfully perform the job responsibilities
• May need to work nights and weekends to complete assignments
• Employee works in an office environment
• Frequently subjected to interruptions, multiple calls and inquiries
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate
• Must be able and willing to travel to out-of-state sites, as required
• Punctuality and satisfactory attendance are essential functions of the job
• Working remotely is not an option

To Apply:

Visit https://basecamp.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ECMC/job/Los-Angeles-CA/Director--Learning---Impact_R2225.