Program Evaluation Consultant
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Clarify program goals and define evaluation questions
- Build an evaluation plan with methods, timeline, and responsibilities
- Develop success measures and data collection tools
- Collect data through surveys, interviews, and document review
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data
- Interpret results and identify practical improvement actions
- Create clear reports and presentations for different audiences
- Facilitate stakeholder workshops to align on findings and next steps
- Support implementation of recommendations and track progress
- Ensure ethical practices, privacy, and data quality
Top Skills for Success
Stakeholder Management
Written Communication
Presentation Skills
Project Management
Facilitation
Quantitative Analysis
Qualitative Research
Survey Design
Interviewing
Data Visualization
Evaluation Design
Logic Model Development
Reporting
Ethics And Privacy
Grant And Funding Literacy
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Program Evaluation Manager
Monitoring And Evaluation Specialist
Research Director
Impact Measurement Lead
Learning And Development Lead
Transition Opportunities
Policy Analyst
Program Manager
Data Analyst
Strategy Consultant
Public Health Analyst
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Evaluation DesignLogic Model DevelopmentSurvey DesignQualitative CodingData VisualizationStatistical Software ProficiencyReport WritingFacilitation
Development SuggestionsBuild a small evaluation portfolio with one survey, one interview guide, one analysis, and a short findings memo. Practice translating results into recommendations and an implementation plan. Strengthen tooling by learning one spreadsheet tool and one statistics tool, then apply them to a real dataset.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 65,000 to 85,000 per year
Mid LevelUSD 85,000 to 115,000 per year
Senior LevelUSD 115,000 to 155,000 per year
Growth Trend
Steady growth, driven by increased accountability requirements, funding reporting expectations, and demand for measurable outcomes across public sector, healthcare, education, and nonprofits.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
ICFDeloitteGuidehouseAbt GlobalRTI InternationalWestatMathematicaNORC at the University of ChicagoKPMGPwC
Industry Sectors
GovernmentNonprofitHealthcareEducationInternational DevelopmentFoundationsResearch OrganizationsSocial Impact Consulting
Recommended Next Steps
1
Create a one page evaluation plan sample for a program you know well2
Build a simple logic model and draft 5 evaluation questions3
Design a short survey and pilot it with 10 to 20 respondents4
Conduct 3 to 5 stakeholder interviews and summarize themes5
Create a two page findings brief with a clear recommendations section6
Develop a basic dashboard with 5 key indicators7
Earn a short credential in program evaluation fundamentals8
Join an evaluation community and attend one webinar per month