Director of Impact and Learning

Career Guide

A Director of Impact and Learning leads how an organization measures results, learns from evidence, and improves programs over time. The role connects strategy, program delivery, data, and storytelling so leaders, funders, and communities can see what is working and what needs to change.

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Key Responsibilities

Set an impact measurement strategy aligned to mission goals
Define outcomes, indicators, and targets for programs and portfolios
Design learning agendas to test assumptions and improve decisions
Oversee evaluation plans and research partnerships
Build data collection and quality processes that are ethical and practical
Lead impact reporting for funders, boards, and executive teams
Translate findings into clear recommendations for program improvement
Train teams on monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices
Manage budgets and vendor contracts for evaluation work
Ensure participant protection, consent, and responsible data use
Create feedback loops with communities and program staff
Present impact insights to internal and external stakeholders

Top Skills for Success

Impact Strategy

Outcome Measurement

Monitoring Design

Evaluation Planning

Learning Facilitation

Data Governance

Data Quality Management

Research Methods

Survey Design

Qualitative Analysis

Quantitative Analysis

Data Visualization

Program Improvement

Change Management

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Team Leadership

Vendor Management

Grant Reporting

Ethical Data Practice

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Vice President of Impact

Chief Impact Officer

Vice President of Strategy

Director of Program Quality

Head of Research and Evaluation

Transition Opportunities

Director of Strategy

Director of Programs

Director of Data and Insights

Director of Innovation

Director of Partnerships

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Causal InferenceExperimental DesignCost Effectiveness AnalysisData System ImplementationDashboard OwnershipAI GovernanceData Privacy ComplianceCommunity Led MeasurementFacilitation of Difficult Findings

Development SuggestionsBuild depth in one advanced evaluation area, strengthen practical data system skills, and practice translating sensitive findings into clear actions. Partner with program leaders to run small improvement cycles that show measurable change within one quarter.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelNot typical for this title. Comparable manager roles often range from USD 85,000 to USD 120,000

Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to USD 170,000

Senior LevelUSD 170,000 to USD 240,000

Growth Trend

Steady growth. Demand is strongest in organizations with outcome based funding, government grants, and multi site program delivery.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

UNICEFSave the ChildrenInternational Rescue CommitteeCAREWorld VisionPlan InternationalTeach For AllKIPP FoundationFHI 360PATHClinton Health Access InitiativeThe Global FundBill and Melinda Gates FoundationChan Zuckerberg InitiativeGiveDirectly

Industry Sectors

International DevelopmentHumanitarian AidPublic HealthEducation NonprofitsWorkforce DevelopmentPhilanthropySocial EnterprisesGovernment ContractorsResearch Organizations

Recommended Next Steps

Audit current impact metrics for relevance, clarity, and decision value

Create a one page impact measurement framework for one priority program

Standardize indicator definitions and data collection guides

Implement a monthly learning review with program leads

Develop an annual evaluation roadmap with budget and timelines

Build a simple reporting pack for executives and funders

Run a data quality check and document fixes

Identify one external research partner for a high priority evaluation

Draft an ethical data policy covering consent, storage, and access

Collect two short case studies that connect data to real outcomes