Reports to: President

Team: Research & Evaluation; Data & Analysis; cross-functional partnership with Programs, Product/Tech, and Development

Location: Remote

About the Organization

Over the years, Upwardly Global has supported thousands of foreign-born, skilled job seekers in transitioning from poverty or exclusion to quality, thriving-wage careers through its customized program to integrate skilled immigrants into the US job market. Upwardly Global is a data-driven, innovative organization with a bold vision and a fearless spirit operating out of four major US markets and providing remote services to several parts of the country. It is unwavering in its commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture where every voice matters.

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Research & Evaluation will serve as Upwardly Global’s senior leader responsible for strengthening and evolving the organization’s impact measurement, research agenda, and learning culture. Building on UpGlo’s existing organizational KPIs and established impact framework, this leader will guide the next generation of measurement, ensuring our approach reflects our new organizational strategy and captures the full complexity of our work across the Direct, Connect, and Talent portfolios.

This role will update and operationalize a new theory of change; refine and expand our enterprise metrics; incorporate culturally responsive frameworks; and develop new methods to measure outcomes, long-term economic mobility, and systems-level change. The leader will also guide research on workforce, immigration, and AI trends and chair an internal steering group, ensuring insights flow into program design, product development, and organizational strategy.

The ideal candidate is a sophisticated, strategic measurement leader who can translate data into action, guide cross-functional partners, and strengthen UpGlo’s position as a field-leading voice on immigrant workforce integration.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Measurement, Learning & Adaptation

Serve as a strategic thought partner to executive and program leadership, helping the organization rigorously determine what we should measure, why it matters, and how those insights can meaningfully shape program design, product decisions, and organizational priorities.
Update and evolve Upwardly Global’s theory of change to reflect organizational strategy, shifts in the labor market, and emerging service models.
Refine current organization-wide KPIs and impact measures, ensuring clarity, alignment, and relevance across Direct, Connect, and Talent lines of work.
Embed equity-minded and culturally responsive evaluation frameworks, ensuring measurement practices recognize diverse experiences, minimize bias, and reflect our mission.
Lead the design of new methodologies to assess outcomes, long-term career mobility, employer and workforce partnership value, and systems change.
Develop organizational learning including dashboards, synthesis documents, quarterly reviews, and cross-team learning forums that connect evidence to decision-making.

Research & Evaluation

Lead a proactive research agenda focused on workforce, immigration, economic mobility, and AI-driven shifts, translating insights into actionable guidance for program, product, and IT teams.
Design and oversee mixed-methods evaluations to understand program effectiveness, user journeys, employer outcomes, and long-term impact.
Manage external evaluation partners as needed, including scoping, research design, and synthesis.
Produce timely, accessible findings to support fundraising, board reporting, and public communications.

Research Steering Group Leadership

Chair an internal research steering group, convening internal and external experts to analyze sector trends, labor-market shifts, employer needs, and the role of AI in shaping opportunity.
Translate insights into recommendations that influence coaching models, employer engagement, content development, and product/platform enhancements.

Data, Analysis & Technology Partnership

Manage and mentor the Director of Data & Analysis, providing strategic guidance and professional development.
Work closely with the Salesforce team to evolve data architecture, collection tools, and analysis capabilities.
Partner with program and product teams to ensure data collection is equitable, user-centered, and aligned to learning goals.
Ensure all measurement and research practices uphold ethical data standards, including transparency, consent, equitable data use, and responsible handling of sensitive information.
Oversee data privacy practices in collaboration with IT and Salesforce teams, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and alignment with UpGlo’s commitment to protecting jobseeker and partner information.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work with Program leaders to integrate insights into program design, service delivery, and content development.
Collaborate with Product & Technology teams to align research and evaluation with digital platform development and new AI capabilities.
Provide data and research insights to Development and Communications for donor materials, public storytelling, and impact reporting.

Required Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in research, evaluation, impact measurement, or applied social sciences.
Demonstrated experience evolving theories of change, measurement frameworks, and organizational KPIs in similar organizations.
Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, including culturally responsive and equity-minded evaluation practices.
Ability to translate complex analysis into actionable insights for a broad range of stakeholders.
Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional working groups.
Experience with Salesforce
Experience managing external evaluation firms or consultants.

Preferred

Background in workforce, immigration, economic research, or the future of work.
Experience with AI- and technology-driven labor-market trends.
Prior leadership in a complex nonprofit or social innovation environment.
Experience partnering with product/tech teams on data strategy or user research.

Attributes of a Successful Candidate

Strong systems thinker able to evolve frameworks while maintaining practical clarity.
Equity-minded leader who integrates anti-bias approaches into research and measurement.
Skilled communicator who can influence strategy through data storytelling.
Collaborative partner with credibility across programs, data teams, and executive leadership.
Curious, analytical, and excited to innovate as the field and organization evolve.

Salary Range Disclaimer

The base salary range represents the low and high ends of the Indeed salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The listed range is just one component of Upwardly Global's comprehensive total compensation package for employees. Benefits include a paid time-off policy, a hybrid or remote work schedule, medical/dental/vision insurance, short-term disability insurance, life insurance, and a retirement plan with employer match.

Salary Range Transparency: $160,000- $175,000

Upwardly Global is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment.

Upwardly Global is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment.

Upwardly Global Inc.

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Senior Director of Research & Evaluation