Vice President of Research and Innovation

Job Description

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic thinking, data-savvy leader to serve in a new position as our Vice President of Research and Innovation. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone passionate about research and innovation and who can use data to improve our community.

Position Summary: The Vice President of Research and Innovation leads the agency’s research, evaluation, and innovation functions. This executive role is responsible for designing and implementing community-based research, overseeing program and organizational evaluation, supporting program design, facilitating funding through grant data and reporting, providing organizational consulting and capacity building, and publishing data and reports. The VP advances innovative solutions to complex social issues in education, community health, and financial stability, with the goal of accelerating positive impact throughout the community.

Key Responsibilities:

Research & Evaluation

• Design and oversee mixed-method research addressing education, health, and financial security outcomes.

• Oversee the design and implementation of regular community needs assessments.

• Conduct and support literature reviews to document best practices in program design and evaluation.

• Develop and manage data collection tools and protocols for both internal and partner programs.

• Lead the creation, implementation, and maintenance of program databases, ensuring data quality and integrity.

• Train staff and partners on data collection, outcome metrics, and evaluation methods.

• Generate and analyze surveys for annual client and stakeholder evaluations; synthesize results into actionable reports.

• Publish research findings, white papers, and reports to highlight program efficacy and share knowledge with the sector.

Innovation & Program Support

• Develop and refine the agency’s innovation strategy, championing a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

• Establish and manage innovation cycles that support nonprofits with research, data, and evaluative frameworks to launch and scale innovative programs addressing key community challenges.

Funding & Reporting

• Partner with Development team to set measurable goals and develop robust evaluation plans for funding proposals.

• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of grant-related data to funders and stakeholders.

• Collaborate with leadership to identify data opportunities related to grantmaking and investment strategies.

Organizational Consulting & Capacity Building

• Provide consulting, capacity building, and training services to partner organizations and staff on research methodologies, data analysis, and reporting, supporting organizational learning, strategic planning, and enhanced impact through data-driven insights.

• Serve as an internal consultant on research, evaluation, and data-driven decision-making, providing actionable recommendations to guide community investment and allocation strategies that address identified needs and maximize impact.

External Relations & Thought Leadership

• Represent the agency and present research insights at academic, nonprofit, and public-sector forums, while collaborating with cross sector partners to facilitate community-wide research initiatives.

• Collaborate with the MarComm team to disseminate research findings and promising practices from local, national, and international sources, educating the public and informing program design.

Qualifications:

• PhD in data science, sociology, psychology, political science, public policy, education, economics, or another related field preferred (Master’s degree with significant evaluation experience considered).

• Minimum 2 years of program evaluation professional experience (5 years for Master’s-level candidates).

• Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit, or business settings.

• Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis and data management software.

• Experience conducting multi-method research and writing for diverse audiences.

• Familiarity with business intelligence, data visualization, and data management platforms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep understanding of research methodologies, program evaluation, and performance measurement.

• Strong knowledge of business strategy, planning, development, and process improvement.

• Excellent communication skills across print, electronic, presentation, and interpersonal formats.

• Ability to provide internal and external consulting, manage projects, and facilitate conflict resolution.

• Capacity to manage and lead multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Work Hours: Office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Must be able to work a flexible schedule and be willing to work as needed to accomplish job duties and responsibilities.

Work Environment:

The work environment is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job including traditional office environments and performance of work with internal and external stakeholders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Although remote work is permitted for this position, the individual must work from the Fort Worth office on a daily basis if needed.

About United Way of Tarrant County

United Way of Tarrant County, a nonprofit leader in North Texas, mobilizes our community to action so all can thrive. We identify critical needs, foster collaboration, and invest in solutions that drive change. Through our four impact areas—community health, financial security, education and community resiliency—our programs serve more than 400,000 people each year.

We also serve as the regional grantee for Tarrant County’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA), invest in and maintain a cooperative relationship with the state’s 211 call center.

United Way of Tarrant County employs approximately 70 people dedicated to our mission. After celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2022, we remain committed to empowering Tarrant County residents for generations to come.