Director of Strategy and Evaluation

Career Guide

A Director of Strategy and Evaluation sets the organization’s strategic direction and proves what is working through rigorous evaluation. The role connects leadership priorities to measurable outcomes, guides investment decisions, and builds a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

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Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic planning and translate priorities into clear goals and measurable outcomes
Design evaluation plans to assess programs, initiatives, and policies
Define success metrics and set up reporting that leadership can act on
Use qualitative and quantitative research to explain what is working and why
Advise leaders on which initiatives to scale, improve, pause, or stop
Build cross functional alignment across teams, including operations, finance, and program leaders
Manage evaluation vendors and research partners when needed
Ensure ethical practices for data collection, privacy, and informed consent
Develop team capability through coaching, hiring, and performance management
Present findings to executives, boards, funders, and external stakeholders

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

Program Evaluation

Research Design

Measurement Framework Development

Data Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Change Management

Budgeting

Team Leadership

Impact Reporting

Grant and Funder Reporting

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Manager of Strategy

Senior Manager of Evaluation

Director of Strategic Planning

Director of Program Evaluation

Director of Insights

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Strategy

Vice President of Impact

Head of Strategy

Head of Insights

Chief Strategy Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Causal InferenceSurvey DesignData VisualizationOperational PlanningCost Benefit AnalysisFacilitationVendor ManagementData Governance

Development SuggestionsBuild a portfolio of two to three strategy and evaluation case studies that show clear questions, methods, results, and decisions made. Strengthen practical analytics and visualization skills, and practice presenting concise recommendations to senior leaders.

Market Intelligence Report

Director of Strategy and Evaluation is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelTypically not an entry level role

Mid LevelUSD 130,000 to 175,000

Senior LevelUSD 175,000 to 230,000

Growth Trend

Steady growth. Demand is strongest in organizations under pressure to show measurable impact, improve efficiency, and make evidence based decisions.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

DeloitteMcKinsey and CompanyBoston Consulting GroupAccentureKPMGUnited NationsWorld BankRTI InternationalMathematicaICF

Industry Sectors

Nonprofit and PhilanthropyGovernmentHealthcareEducationInternational DevelopmentManagement ConsultingFinancial ServicesTechnology

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page strategy map linking goals, metrics, initiatives, and owners for a real or sample organization

Develop an evaluation plan template that includes questions, data sources, timing, and decision points

Publish a short impact report that translates findings into specific actions

Practice executive ready storytelling by writing a two page memo with three recommendations and expected outcomes

Audit data quality for one key metric and propose fixes for definitions, collection, and ownership

Network with strategy leaders and evaluation leaders to learn how decisions are made and funded in your target sector