Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant

Position Summary:

Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) seeks a professional storyteller and digital communications extraordinaire. This position will report to the Director of Strategic Communications, working cross-functionally with Development, Events, and Education. FoLAR is standing at the threshold of a brave new chapter, with a fresh brand, updated website, and the opportunity to continue guiding the River Movement alongside our community of thousands. The scope of this position will include public education and storytelling campaigns, mobilizing our constituency, media relations, social media content creation and strategy, web integrations and maintenance, and a range of event and donor-driven communications.

The Los Angeles River is the birthplace of our region and was once the thriving, unifying water source for the people and wildlife of Los Angeles. But that connection and our collective history was severed when the River was encased in concrete and fenced in 1938. Established in 1986, FoLAR has endeavored for over 30 years to restore community connection to and natural ecology of the Los Angeles River as its single largest mobilizing force. We build capacity for communities, students, and future leaders to advocate for nature, climate, and equity on the LA River. We educate, engage, and mobilize over 10,000 Angelenos each year to repair habitat and fight for the plans and policies that will reclaim our collective right to a healthy, thriving, and equitably accessible Los Angeles River.

We envision a verdant Los Angeles River that supports vulnerable communities in climate adaptation. The river will be transformed into a dynamic, functioning ecosystem that reduces flood risk, cleans the air, cools temperatures, and supports the biodiversity essential to our collective wellbeing. Our theory of change is that an educated public that can connect to the River is one that will take on the responsibility for it and LA’s broader environmental health; fighting for, stewarding, and reaping the benefits of a healthy, climate resilient Los Angeles River. We see our education programs as the first introduction between the river’s role in a healthy LA and the next generation of environmental stewards.

The LA River traverses through diverse communities of people, plants, and geographies. It provides an opportunity to reshape our environment in a way that is more inclusive, equitable, and just. We are committed to building a team, leadership, and a River Movement that is as diverse as the communities the River touches. We believe in working with nature and alongside communities to achieve climate resilience, park equity, and environmental health for all.

Friends of the Los Angeles River is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Title: Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Consultant

Objective: To enhance and standardize Friends of the LA River’s (FoLAR) monitoring and evaluation processes across all school-based, community, and stewardship programs to better measure impact and inform future programming.

Responsibilities:

Assessment:

• Conduct a thorough review of current M&E processes, metrics, tools, surveys, and reports.
• Identify gaps and areas for improvement in current systems based on review.

Development:

• Develop new M&E frameworks, processes, and tools tailored to FoLAR’s needs.
• Create quantitative and qualitative metrics for educational outcomes, community engagement, and habitat restoration.

Implementation:

• Test and implement new M&E systems and tools.
• Train FoLAR staff on the new M&E processes and tools.
• Provide ongoing support and adjustments based on feedback and initial results.

Reporting:

• Lead the outline of reporting templates and systems in Airtable to track progress and outcomes.
• Produce regular reports on the impact of FoLAR’s programs.
• Share findings with grantors, stakeholders, and the public.

Capacity Building:

• Train staff on data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation, preferably in environmental or educational programs.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent communication and training skills.
• Familiarity with digital tools and platforms for data tracking and reporting, particularly Airtable.

Deliverables:

1. Comprehensive M&E assessment report.
2. New M&E frameworks and tools.
3. Staff training sessions and materials.
4. Regular progress and impact reports.
5. Final M&E toolkit for service learning groups.

Budget:

The budget for this consultancy is $35,000.

Timeline:

Sept - Oct 2024: Consultant hiring and initial assessment.

Oct - Dec 2024: Development and testing of new M&E systems.

Dec 2024 - Mar 2025: Implementation and staff training.

Mar - Aug 2025: Ongoing support, adjustments, and final reporting.

Women and minorities strongly encouraged to apply. This is a half-time contracted remote position with office space available in Cypress Park in Los Angeles. Must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Must pass any necessary pre-employment screenings.

To apply for this position, please e-mail your cover letter and resume to heather@folar.org with “Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant Application” in the subject line. Examples of your work are helpful and will be used for the purposes of filling this position only and will be kept confidential. Format is important; please send the cover letter in the body of the e-mail as text and any documents (resume, etc.) as easily accessible attachments. No calls or walk-ins. Please include three references, including at least two direct supervisors from previous employment or paid clients.