Program Evaluation Senior Manager

Description

Type: Full-Time  

Reports to: Chief Program Officer 

Office Location: 224 W. Hill St., Suite 410 Chicago IL; required in-office minimum of 3 days per week (hybrid work policy subject to change)  

Background: 

The mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago: Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey. 

Who We Are Looking For:    

The Program Evaluation Senior Manager is a key contributor to NAMI Chicago’s mission by leading evaluation and quality assurance efforts for NAMI Chicago’s programs. This position is responsible for assessing program design, implementation, and outcomes, with a focus on effective data collection and meaningful reporting to evaluate program success and community impact.  

The role also includes supporting grant reporting, particularly for a strategic partnership which encompasses the NAMI Chicago Helpline, healthcare engagement initiatives, and support groups. Additionally, the Program Evaluation Senior Manager will be involved in the development of new and iterative programmatic opportunities, ensuring components are designed to achieve desired outcomes. 

The ideal candidate will bring expertise in quality improvement, quality assurance, and program evaluation. While data analytics experience is a plus, the primary focus is on using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to guide program improvements and demonstrate program effectiveness to stakeholders, including funders. This role collaborates closely with the Integration Team to manage data reporting and supports training initiatives to uphold high standards for documentation and data collection. 

By supporting the identification of programmatic strengths and areas needing improvement, the Program Evaluation Senior Manager contributes to a culture of continuous improvement within the mental health programs of NAMI Chicago. 

Essential Functions & Responsibilities: 

• Leads evaluation efforts, including strategy, analysis, and reporting for program projects.
• Improves visibility of program success through data visualization techniques and efficient reporting.
• Partners with program leadership to define program outcomes.
• Provides guidance on both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection related to program’s inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. 
• Oversees and guides baseline data collection processes on service delivery, adherence to protocols, and participant satisfaction. 
• Supports program leadership with identifying processes for continuous monitoring of service quality indicators. 
• Partners closely with Integration Team to develop and maintain KPI evaluation dashboard reports for program leadership to guide program management, program refinement, and strategic decision making. 
• Collaborates with Integration Team, Chief Program Officer and program leadership team in the creation of KPI reports for the board of directors. 
• Provides recommendations regarding measurement tools, adopts existing data collection methods or tools, and customizes them as needed. 
• Designs training initiatives for program teams on data entry best practice to ensure data in client record management system is reliable and valid, identifying and addressing retraining and competency needs.   
• Supports cross-departmental training and consultation on analytic methodologies, healthcare data management best practices, reporting methods and quality assurance strategies. 
• Leads and oversees the development, coordination, and timely submission of comprehensive grant reports, ensuring alignment with funder requirements, program outcomes, and organizational goals. 
• Involved in data collection and outcome reporting to maximize funding opportunities. 

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of program evaluation frameworks, strategies, and best practices.
• Experience in metric development and dashboard maintenance. 
• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies, including survey design, focus groups, and statistical analysis. 
• Skilled in creating clear, engaging data visualizations for diverse audiences. 
• Data analytics experience is helpful but not the primary focus. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present insights effectively.
• Strong critical thinking and