Invest in What Works Senior Fellow

Organization: Results for America

Role: Invest in What Works Senior Fellow

Location: Flexible, within the United States 

 

Organization Overview

Results for America (RFA) is the leading, national nonprofit organization helping policymakers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that, one day, all government leaders use rigorous evidence and quality data to inform important policy and funding decisions. We believe that data-driven and evidence-based policy decisions could significantly increase the impact of the over $2 trillion that governments spend annually to improve economic mobility outcomes for all residents.

 

Team Overview

RFA has organized a “practice” at every level of government: federal, state, and local.  Results for America’s State Practice Team:

• Sets Standards of Excellence that outline how government leaders can deliver better outcomes for all residents by using data and evidence in budget, policy, and management decisions; 
• Provides technical assistance support and coaching for state government leaders to implement best practices that enable their local partners to effectively adopt evidence-based solutions that address local needs and produce positive population outcomes for all residents; 
• Builds momentum for investing in what works by celebrating successful governments and government leaders through events, media, and other avenues. 

Position Overview

This temporary, 2-year position inspires and guides government partners in using data and evidence and in aligning public resources to produce economic mobility outcomes by working full-time within a state government (as an RFA employee). This position is funded by external grant sources and is contingent upon the continued availability of such funding. Employment is for the duration of the grant period only.

Travel up to 20% annually may be required.

This is a full-time, exempt position, based in a home office anywhere within the U.S.

 

Position Reporting Relationship

The position reports to the VP/State Practice Lead. The position works very closely with the Director, State Practice along with the Associate, State Practice to coordinate engagements with government officials. This position also works closely with junior staff on other RFA Teams to ensure technical assistance to state government officials is timely, relevant, and impactful. For the purposes of state implementation support, this position will report to a senior leadership role within the Office of the Secretary, Maryland Department of Budget and Management.

 

Position Responsibilities

State Implementation Support (90%) 

• Embed within a central state government agency, at a senior level, to serve as the statewide lead evidence expert; serve as the evidence implementation coach to two additional agency heads and their teams; 
• Accountable for leading the successful implementation and delivery of technical assistance in a state government  –  with an annual budget of $10’s of billions and agencies with grants valued at $100’s of millions – and shifting government funds to evidence-based efforts;
• Build and maintain relationships with state officials in order to enable RFA to understand their needs and design and deliver useful implementation support; 
• Creatively and strategically deliver content and curriculum, rooted in State Standard of Excellence criteria, for implementation support for state partners; and
• Provide tailored coaching to help state leaders to advance their evidence-based practices, including defining and prioritizing evidence of effectiveness in state budget processes and grant programs including: Improving strategies, materials, presentations, curriculum, communications, and other engagement resources based on feedback collected from the RFA team, partner organizations, and key government partners.
• Establish and implement program impact metrics and mechanisms for tracking, including those that may require partner reporting; 

Internal Coordination, Impact Tracking, and Alignment (10%) 

• Ensure team efforts are in seamless alignment with RFA’s shared goals; 
• Contribute to RFA-wide initiatives including North Star Goals, Standards of Excellence, and impact story telling.
• Participate in State Team and All Team meetings.
• Track progress on key milestones to support funder management and reporting. 
• Weekly meetings with VP/State Practice lead to coordinate state impl