Senior Director, Evaluation and Research

Application Deadline: 30 June 2025

Department: 02. Design & Impact

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: New York City, New York

Reporting To: SVP, Chief Design & Impact Officer

Compensation: $125,000 - $165,000 / year

Description

The JED Foundation is seeking a Senior Director of Evaluation and Research Initiatives with experience in youth suicide prevention research to help lead our research program. The Senior Director will contribute to JED’s strong scientific core by directing and overseeing data analyses to ensure high-quality, accurate outcome data and information on programming and campaigns. This is an internal-facing, hands-on role focused on ensuring statistically sound data analyses, leading quality assurance and improvement (QA/QI) processes, IRB applications and modifications, and supporting JED’s growing independent and collaborative research efforts. The Senior Director will partner closely with leaders across JED to identify data analysis needs of various departments and to implement data feedback loops to inform quality assurance and improvement, as well as programmatic decision making. This position is responsible for managing a Senior Data Scientist to focus on overseeing research and program evaluation initiatives aimed at preventing young adult and teen suicide. The ideal candidate will have deep statistical expertise and a proven track record of developing and managing the day-to-day operations of program evaluation/research teams. In addition to leading JED’s program evaluation and QI/QA processes, the Senior Director will collaborate with colleagues within the Data & Impact team, senior leadership, as well as Knowledge & Advising and Young Adult Engagement teams on major research projects from conception to dissemination/publication. These cross-department collaborations include overseeing research/data analysts, vetting consultants and research firms, analyzing data, collecting input from expert stakeholders, writing up reports and publications, working with communications/marketing to promote research findings, and submitting manuscripts for publication. The ideal candidate will have experience contributing to successful grant applications, conducting research, managing multiple research/evaluation projects, and leading development of peer-reviewed manuscripts along with other dissemination efforts. Candidate Profile: Mental health methodologist with advanced statistical knowledge and program evaluation/QI/QA expertise. PhD in psychology, education, or equivalent degree aligned with JED’s work is required, with an understanding of public health systems, mental health care for young people, and implementation science being strongly preferred. Background experience working with large data sets and market research is desirable. Fluency in various statistical and data analytic/visualization packages/software is also preferred. Demonstrated experience with developing a learning culture and team management to effectively manage multiple streams of work simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee program evaluation efforts, with close direction of data analyses and interpretation.
• Develop and oversee robust QI/QA processes, in partnership with School Programming Department, to support programmatic implementation, fidelity, decision making, and refinement.
• Create a durable structure to implement data feedback loops to educate staff and other JED stakeholders about the latest JED-generated findings and research. 
• Contribute to JED’s thought leadership by proposing new project ideas based on internal data and gaps in the field. 
• Support knowledge dissemination by developing quarterly Learning Briefs that report findings from JED’s evaluation efforts and original research. 
• Oversee generation of research related to JED’s programs, conduct traditional academic studies, and collaborate internally and externally on a variety of market research projects. 
• Build out program evaluation and research lab best practices. 
• Responsible for IRB management, including submission of modifications as needed on existing protocols and preparing and submitting new research protocols, as needed. This work will require cross functional team collaboration with other JED departments, particularly School Programs & Consulting, Digital Product, Recruitment and Contracting, Legal, and Technology.
• Support writing grant proposals and grant deliverables, with occasional conversations with funders. 
• Contribute to thought leadership and promotion of JED as an expert in mental health promotion and suicide prevention through peer-reviewed publications. 
• Oversee Data Science team members to direct a