Research + Innovation Director

The Research + Innovation Director has a deep commitment to Tipping Point’s mission to fight poverty in the Bay Area. They have demonstrated technical expertise in the design and implementation of measurement, evaluation and research activities, and experience with the social sector. The role of the Research + Innovation Director is to increase Tipping Point’s impact through the insights from research and evaluation activities. The Research + Innovation Director advises the Program Team and leads engagements with external partners to understand and increase Tipping Point’s impact through the exploration of new areas of research and pilot programs with a view towards informing Tipping Point’s grantmaking and capacity building efforts. This role communicates new ideas, knowledge, and results from these efforts to diverse audiences, from the general public and grantmakers to subject matter experts and grantee partners, through facilitated training, blog posts, and written reports.

The Research + Innovation Director is on the Impact Team and reports to the Senior Director of Impact.

Responsibilities

Learning

• Leads the ongoing development and execution of Tipping Point’s learning agendas and topics that cut across Tipping Point’s core issues areas. This could include topics such as climate change, mitigation and adaptation, the role of artificial intelligence in the changing economy, and increasing access to the social safety net.
• Serves as a thought partner to the Senior Director of Impact to synthesize findings from the research and learning agendas to improve grantmaking strategy and inform policy change strategy and efforts.
• Works closely with the Capacity Building team and Learning + Evaluation Managers to lead workshops and discussions with grantees on topics that cut across core issue areas to develop learning and evaluation materials targeted towards grantees and partner organizations.
• Serves as research/content lead and develops and leads learning opportunities targeted towards grantees and partner organizations for topics that cut across core issues areas.

Evaluation

• Provides high-quality analytical support and partnership to the Program Team in measuring grantee and portfolio outcomes, capacity building efforts, and policy changes around cross-cutting issue areas. 
• Leads development of new and additional methods for evaluating impact of cross-cutting issue areas, including measurement of outcomes and advice on what capacity building supports could help grantees measure these outcomes.
• Provides decision-making support and strategic thought partnership to the Senior Director of Impact on learning and evaluation issues, such as applied research, performance measurement, and data analysis.
• Partners with the Capacity Building Director to measure the impact of Tipping Point’s Capacity Building activities.
• In partnership with the Senior Director of Impact, determines the most effective and impactful way to test new solutions, informed by community need and aligned with overall impact goals.
• Conducts analysis of data received from grantees and public datasets, as needed, using a variety of statistical, graphical, and analytical tools.

Research

• Works with the Senior Director of Impact to lead, scope, and design research projects, and studies that cut across Tipping Point’s core issue areas.
• Synthesizes research findings and generates actionable lessons linked to Tipping Point’s strategy. 
• Designs studies and pilots to address aspects of Bay Area poverty that cut across Tipping Point’s core issue areas.
• Leads exploration of new research opportunities in close partnership with the Senior Director of Impact. 

External communication

• Serves as a resource for Tipping Point’s communications efforts; connects research activities to Tipping Point’s Program areas, and translates, analyses and synthesizes research learnings to inform a range of audiences across the organization and the region.  
• Communicates key messages through internal and external presentations, trainings, blog posts, articles, case studies, etc.

All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

In addition to our core values, Tipping Point staff exhibit four core competencies: ability to be flexible in a constantly shifting environment, strong communication skills, ability to work well on a team, and ability to continuously problem solve in the face of challenges.

Additionally, the Research + Innovation Director must have:

• Significant relevant work experience, including leading research, analysis, measurement and evaluation projects, and promoting learning in the social and/or private sectors. 
• Advanced quantitative skills and the ability to analyze and synthesize data; experience or aptitude with statistical, survey, graphical and CRM tools.
• Experience researching social-sector topics using quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to assess impact and promote continuous improvement; has a strong understanding of internal and external factors impacting clients’ abilities to create greater impact
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion especially as it relates to research, evaluation, and organizational culture. 
• Excellent communication skills, well-developed ability to clearly and effectively make technical information clear to non-technical audiences
• Intellectual curiosity; strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in project planning and execution, ability to self-direct, prioritize among competing goals, navigate ambiguity, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-performing environment. 
• Commitment to Tipping Point’s mission and values; has the highest degree of integrity in representing the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships across internal teams, grantees, and external partners.
• Nice to have: Deep substantive knowledge in one or more of Tipping Point’s core grantmaking areas and/or other areas related to poverty alleviation.