Job Purpose
At the Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT), we believe that knowledge-based decisions lead to more effective and efficient use of organizational resources in pursuit of our mission. Reporting to the Managing Director, Impact, Data, and Evaluation, the Director of Research & Evaluation leads the Research & Evaluation team, and is accountable for building and sustaining an organization-wide culture that uses research and evaluation to inform strategic, tactical, and operational decisions, and supports the ongoing sharing of knowledge and learnings with the broader community, contributing to a stronger lāhui. This role sets the direction of LTʻs research and evaluation agenda, leads and develops the Research & Evaluation team, oversees LTʻs evaluation work and research agenda, and ensures that research and evaluation across LT is rigorous, culturally grounded, and useful to decision makers at all levels.
Essential Responsibilities
Research & Evaluation Strategy & Leadership
In collaboration with the Managing Director, develop the vision and direction for research and evaluation at LT, ensuring alignment with LTʻs strategic plan, cultural practice framework, and organizational priorities
Lead the design and implementation of LTʻs Research and Evaluation agenda, identifying timely, high-priority questions to guide strategic, tactical, and operational decision-making, including questions likely to become important for future planning
Develop and oversee the annual Research & Evaluation deliverables workplan, setting priorities and allocating team resources across the portfolio
Oversee a portfolio of research, assessment, community assessment, and evaluation projects at the strategic and tactical levels
Establish and maintain standards of practice for evaluation methods, data collection tools, research ethics, and data quality, including culturally grounded and Indigenous approaches to research and evaluation
Lead the development of and updates to LTʻs evaluation and assessment tools
Team Leadership & Management
Lead, supervise, and develop the Research & Evaluation team, including the Senior Manager(s), Research & Evaluation and other teammates
Recruit, hire, and onboard Research & Evaluation teammates, and contribute to staffing plans that grow the teamʻs capacity in line with organizational needs
Assign teammates to LT locations and programs, and ensure consistent, high-quality evaluation support across all locations
Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback and coaching, and conduct performance reviews
Manage the Research & Evaluation budget, contracts, and external evaluation consultants and partners
Foster a team culture of learning, collaboration, curiosity, and continuous improvement
Program Partnership & Developmental Evaluation
Oversee LTʻs evaluation work, providing methodological leadership and guidance to the evaluators and program teammates engaged in it
Ensure that programs across LT receive responsive evaluation partnership, supporting teammates with assessment, program evaluation, and data-informed decision-making
In collaboration with Policy, Practice, & Learning, Program Quality, and other relevant teams, participate in (and lead when appropriate) program cycle review and reflection sessions
Partner with program and operations leaders to analyze and interpret data from a wide range of sources and utilize it to strengthen program and service planning and delivery
Guide the design of strategies, tactics, programs, and services by bringing the research and evaluation toolkit into partnership with program leaders, including:
Clarifying the needs, interests, and assets of those to be served
Clarifying program and service goals and objectives
Critically examining the alignment of needs/assets, goals and objectives, and programmatic offerings to increase the impact of LT programs and services
Engaging in timely review of all programmatic evaluation results, assisting with interpretation and meaning…