Director, Research & Evaluation

Overview

The U.S. Soccer Foundation helps young people embrace an active and healthy lifestyle and cultivate critical life skills through soccer. The Foundation’s programs are the national model for sports-based youth development in underserved communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Foundation has impacted thousands of children through its cost-effective, high-impact initiatives, which offer safe environments where kids and communities thrive. For more information, visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org. The Foundation’s headquarters are located in Washington, D.C.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is at the core of our mission and who we are. It fuels our work as we continue to create opportunities for underrepresented populations and fight systemic inequalities through soccer. This is a shared commitment with our partners, within our organizational systems, across all the programs we offer, and within the communities we work with, as we continue to do our part to build a better future for children. We value our diverse team and are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of respect and inclusivity in which they can thrive. To read the Foundation’s detailed goals, please visit our website.

About the Role

The Director, Research & Evaluation, leads the development and implementation of evaluation strategies to measure program impact and guide organizational decision-making. This role designs and manages data collection tools, analyzes insights, and disseminates findings through reports and visualizations to internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, the Director supports Salesforce optimization, provides training on evaluation methodologies, and integrates predictive data approaches to enhance program outcomes and operational efficiency.

About the Team

The Programs Department is responsible for operating, improving, and scaling the U.S. Soccer Foundation's human-centered programs, namely our flagship Soccer for Success, Coach-Mentor Training, and Just Ball programs, to ensure that the Foundation remains at the forefront of the sports-based youth development (SBYD) field. This work involves following the latest SBYD best practices to innovate and tailor our curricula and training to meet the unique needs of underserved communities across the country. Designing and deploying pathways to scale, this team is responsible for driving the adoption of the Soccer for Success program and coach-mentor training methodology in youth serving marketplaces across the country.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across programs and the organization to design and implement effective evaluation strategies
• Create logic models, theories of change, and evaluation plans to guide and measure program impact
• Develop, refine, and implement data collection tools such as surveys, interview guides, observation protocols, and focus group instruments to support research and evaluation efforts
• Manage the dissemination of data collection tools and analyze results to extract actionable insights
• Effectively share findings, recommendations, and lessons learned through reports, presentations, and other communication channels
• Author and coordinate process and outcome evaluation reports to inform stakeholders of program performance
• Analyze consumer, marketplace, and competitor trends to support strategic decision-making
• Develop and manage project plans for evaluation initiatives, ensuring deliverables, timelines, budgets, and communication plans are met
• Provide training and guidance to internal and external stakeholders to strengthen data collection, reporting, and evaluation capabilities
• Support the optimization of the Foundation’s Salesforce instance to meet data collection, reporting, and program implementation needs
• Recommend and implement technology solutions to enhance data quality and operational efficiency
• Lead predictive data initiatives to inform organizational strategy and program evolution
• Champion the goals, mission, and culture of the U.S. Soccer Foundation through all aspects of the role
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to advance the Foundation’s initiatives

About You

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of and experience in sports-based youth development programming
• Demonstrated commitment to issues impacting children and families, specifically in underserved communities
• Strong experience in human-focused evaluation, experience in culturally responsive evaluation preferred
• Experience conducting evaluations for non-profit organizations
• Experience with data visualization processes
• Proficiency in Microsoft, Salesforce, and online platforms
• Experience gathering data using qualitative and quantitative approaches such as interviews, focus groups, observations, surveys, electronic data files, or other methods
• Experience analyzing and synthesizing data, identifying relevant and actionable findings, and communicating them in an accessible way
• Strong oral, written, research, and interpersonal skills
• Possesses a strong work ethic, as well as the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, manage complex projects and timelines, and take initiative in a fast-paced nonprofit environment
• Spanish and/or other language proficiency a plus
• Passionate about the mission of the U.S. Soccer Foundation and a personal interest in sports-based youth development
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and empowerment
• Ability to travel up to 15% of schedule, to include nights, weekends, and holidays

The U.S. Soccer Foundation isn’t a typical organization, and the right candidate for this role isn’t typical either. The ideal candidate is looking for opportunities to improve themselves and the organization. We want go-getters. We want candidates with high expectations for themselves, hungry for the next opportunity to learn and grow.

Salary

The Foundation offers a competitive compensation package. We are committed to incorporating DEI practices and accounting for inequities as we conduct an annual salary planning process to include merit increases, promotions, bonuses, and equity analysis across the entire organization. Foundation benefits include generous medical and dental insurance plans; 401(k) retirement plans with employer match; professional development; mobile data plan reimbursement; and generous vacation.

We understand that people from underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply for a role where they do not meet all listed requirements. We believe that diverse perspectives are critical to our work, and we encourage you to apply even if you feel you don't meet every single qualification. Your unique background, passion, and experience could be a great asset to our organization.