Director of Impact, Research, and Learning at Fair Trade USA
The Director of Impact Research and Learning (IRL) is a pivotal leadership position responsible for shaping and driving the organization's strategy to measure, analyze, and communicate the impact of its programs. This role is integral to ensuring that Fair Trade USA's initiatives are effective, transparent, and aligned with its mission to promote economic resilience, empowerment, ethical trade, consumer engagement, and industry transformation.
As a key role in a dynamic organization, the ideal candidate for the Director of IRL role will be an innovative, hands-on leader who will strategically assess, develop, implement and maintain an iterative approach to monitoring, evaluating and communicating impact both internally and externally. The Director of IRL is flexible and creative change enabler with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Leadership:
Develop and Implement IRL Strategies: The Director will design and execute comprehensive IRL strategies and frameworks that align with Fair Trade USA's Theory of Change (ToC). This involves setting the strategic direction for all IRL activities, ensuring they support the organization's mission and goals.
Guide Organizational Learning: By fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, the Director will ensure that insights gained from IRL activities are used to enhance program effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making.
Theory of Change (ToC) Design and Alignment:
Develop and Refine ToC: The Director will lead the design and continuous refinement of the organization's ToC, ensuring it accurately reflects the goals, strategies, and desired outcomes of Fair Trade USA. This includes aligning all programs and initiatives with the ToC to guide their design, implementation, and evaluation.
Data Management and Analysis:
Ensure High-Quality Data Collection: The Director will oversee the design and architecture around data collection and allied methodologies, ensuring capture of relevant and high-quality data. This includes establishing data quality and governance frameworks to ensure accuracy, completeness, and reliability.
Transform Data into Actionable Insights: The Director will design the process for analyzing and contextualizing data, in order to generate actionable insights and intelligence that inform strategic decision-making and program improvements. This involves adding external contexts and producer stories to enhance understanding and relevance.
Capacity Building:
Mentor and Train IRL team: The Director will provide training and support to IRL staff and project teams on best practices, tools, and methodologies. This includes designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and knowledge of staff and partners in IRL practices.
Impact Reporting and Communication:
Prepare High-Quality Reports: The Director will be responsible for designing the process of producing detailed and insightful reports for senior management, donors, and other stakeholders. These reports will effectively communicate findings, recommendations, and the impact of programs. . This includes using storytelling techniques to add context and humanize data, making it more relatable and impactful, and potential dashboards
Compliance and Quality Assurance:
Implement Quality Assurance Frameworks: The Director will develop and enforce quality assurance frameworks to ensure the integrity and reliability of IRL activities.
Resource Mobilization:
Support Proposal Development: The Director will contribute to the development of proposals and funding applications, ensuring IRL components are well-represented. This includes collaborating with the fundraising team to secure funding for IRL activities.
Build and Maintain Relationships: The Director will establish and nurture relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to support IRL initiatives. This includes representing the organization at external meetings, conferences, and events.
Leadership and Management:
Lead and Manage the IRL Team: The Director will provide leadership, guidance, and support to the IRL team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. This includes conducting regular performance evaluations and providing feedback to team members.
Participate in Senior Management Meetings: The Director will contribute to organizational strategy and decision-making processes as part of the senior management team. This includes ensuring IRL perspectives are integrated into overall program planning and execution.
Strategic Foresight and Innovation: The Director should anticipate future trends in impact measurement, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Budget Management: Responsibility for developing and managing the IRL department's budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources, and demonstrating financial accountability.
Organizational culture and capacity building: The Director plays a vital role in embedding a culture of impact throughout the organization by Developing training programs for all staff on impact principles.
Creating internal systems that incentivize an impact-driven behavior.
Promoting cross-departmental collaboration on impact initiatives.
Key Competencies
Strong understanding of theories of change and program logical frameworks.
Understanding of digital tools for data collection, and analysis.
Ability to craft compelling narratives that communicate impact effectively.
Expertise in tailoring messages to diverse audiences.
Deep understanding of diverse cultural contexts and the ability to work effectively across cultures.
Ability to represent the organization effectively in external forums.
Expertise in using data to drive decision-making and improve program effectiveness
Ability to develop and articulate a clear vision for the organization's impact strategy.
Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and build a culture of impact.
Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Excellent writing, editing, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesize and present complex information clearly and effectively.
Demonstrated ability to generate creative and innovative solutions and translate strategic thinking into action plans and results.
Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and motivate people at all levels.
Key Qualifications / Experience
15+ years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), program evaluation, or related fields such as international development, public policy, or supply chain social responsibility.
Experience in standard setting and assurance methodologies.
Experience designing and implementing evaluation projects on social or environmental outcomes.
Proven ability to provide strategic leadership and create change within complex environments.
Experience in building and mentoring a team focused on monitoring and evaluation.
Proven ability to lead organizational change initiatives.
Deep understanding of modern data systems, and the ability to choose and implement new systems.
Understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Summary
About Fair Trade USA
At Fair Trade USA, we’re leading the charge toward sustainable development and conscious capitalism by forming fair and honest partnerships across the globe. We believe in community, we’re excited about change, and we hire driven, talented change makers who share our vision.
Founded in 1998, we are the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America. Our unique market-based model for sustainability links millions of farms and factories around the world to over 1,500 leading brands and retailers through more transparent, equitable trading partnerships. Impact is our North Star: to date, we have channeled over $1 billion in additional income to hardworking families and communities around the world.
Fair Trade has emerged as one of the most promising models of conscious capitalism today. We are recognized for improving the working conditions and living standards of farmers and workers while protecting the environment. At the same time, we strengthen global supply chains and enable sustainability to drive profitability for the business community. For the end consumer, Fair Trade is an easy way to align our values with our purchasing decisions, voting with our dollars for a better world.
Our model has incredible leverage: for every $1 that we invest in building the Fair Trade market and movement, we are creating $4 in increased income for farmers and workers. Because of this unprecedented 4x1 “social return on investment” and community impact, we are a four-time winner of Fast Company’s "Social Capitalist of the Year" award and have been recognized as a leading social venture by the Skoll Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, Ashoka, and the World Economic Forum.
Our Workplace
At Fair Trade USA, we are a mission-driven organization and are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is built on the principles of JEDI; a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community for all. We are committed to upholding an inclusive workplace where all people feel equally respected and valued, and where we can all thrive. We are a proud equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from every educational background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, national origin and ancestry, veteran status, marital or family status, and disability.
We believe in empowering our teams to choose to do their best work and grow at Fair Trade USA. We offer a comprehensive compensation approach including salary, performance-based bonuses, and employee recognition awards, and a generous and thoughtful approach to employee benefits which include:
Fully Remote & Flexible Workplace with monthly Final Friday half days
Incentive compensation and Bonus awards
Generous Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
Up to 5% Employer 401k Match
Excellent PTO including 12+ Holidays / 15+ Vacations / 9 Sick Leave days annually
Annual Winter Break Week with Office Closure from 25th December through New Year
Six Weeks Sabbatical Leave after 7 years’ service
Parental Leave and Caregiver Programs
Mental Health and Wellbeing programs
Employee Recognition Awards
Employee Perks and Discount programs with Fair Trade Certified partners
Link to job posting: https://secure7.saashr.com/ta/6206047.careers?CareersSearch=&lang=en-US