Director of Impact and Evaluation
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Define impact goals and outcome measures with program leaders
- Build an organization-wide measurement and learning plan
- Design evaluation approaches that match program needs and resources
- Oversee data collection processes and data quality standards
- Analyze quantitative data and qualitative insights to assess results
- Create dashboards and reporting that leaders can act on
- Communicate findings to staff, funders, partners, and boards
- Lead learning sessions to translate results into program improvements
- Manage evaluation vendors and research partners
- Ensure ethical data practices and participant privacy
- Develop budgets and timelines for evaluation work
- Coach and manage impact and evaluation staff
Top Skills for Success
Impact Strategy
Program Evaluation Design
Outcome Measurement
Quantitative Analysis
Qualitative Research
Survey Design
Data Quality Management
Data Visualization
Stakeholder Management
Change Management
Executive Communication
Ethical Data Practice
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Impact Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Learning and Development Manager
Research Manager
Data and Insights Manager
Program Director
Transition Opportunities
Senior Director of Impact
Vice President of Impact
Chief Impact Officer
Director of Strategy
Director of Programs
Head of Learning
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Evaluation PlanningIndicator SelectionCausal InferenceData GovernanceDashboard OwnershipVendor ManagementResearch TranslationFacilitation
Development SuggestionsBuild one end-to-end evaluation plan for a live program, define a small set of decision-focused indicators, and publish a leadership-ready impact report. Practice translating findings into concrete program changes, and set up simple data quality checks that teams can sustain.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 90,000 to 120,000
Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to 160,000
Senior LevelUSD 160,000 to 220,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand, driven by funder expectations, accountability requirements, and the need to show measurable outcomes across nonprofit, philanthropy, healthcare, and social impact teams.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationFord FoundationWorld VisionSave the ChildrenInternational Rescue CommitteePATHFHI 360RTI InternationalKaiser PermanenteUnited Way
Industry Sectors
Nonprofit OrganizationsPhilanthropic FoundationsInternational DevelopmentHealthcare OrganizationsEducation OrganizationsGovernment AgenciesSocial EnterprisesCorporate Social Responsibility
Recommended Next Steps
1
Create a portfolio with two impact reports and one learning brief2
Draft a measurement plan for a program with goals, indicators, and data sources3
Strengthen analysis skills using a common tool such as Excel, R, or Python4
Develop a dashboard that tracks outcomes and is reviewed monthly by leaders5
Run a pilot evaluation with a clear question, method, timeline, and budget6
Build a stakeholder map and a communication plan for funders and partners7
Document data standards for collection, storage, and quality checks8
Practice executive storytelling by presenting findings in ten minutes or less