Associate Director, Federal Evidence-Based Policy

Organization: Results for America 

Role: Associate Director, Federal Evidence-based Policy  

Location: Flexible; Washington, DC or surrounding area preferred

Organization Overview 

Results for America (RFA) is the leading national nonprofit organization helping policymakers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal” so that, one day, all government leaders use rigorous evidence and quality data to inform important policy and funding decisions. We believe that data driven and evidence-based policy decisions could significantly increase the impact of the over $1 trillion governments spend annually to advance economic mobility and racial equity. 

Founded in 2012, RFA spent its first three years partnering with policy innovators to build the credibility of evidence-based policymaking, securing early and important wins in education, expanding its work to multiple levels of government, and driving awareness and demand through carefully orchestrated education and communication campaigns. During its second phase (2015-2018), RFA worked to demonstrate the power of evidence-based policymaking in ways that resonate with an even broader universe of elected officials and policymakers. Now in its third phase of work, RFA intends to demonstrate that governments at all levels can make faster, more lasting progress in accelerating economic mobility for residents when they use evidence and data in decision-making. By creating specific issue-area wins,  RFA will further cement support for evidence-based policymaking among all policymakers as the “new  normal.” 

Department Overview

RFA has organized a “practice” at every level of government: federal, state, and local. Among numerous efforts, the Federal Practice sets a Standard of Excellence that defines how federal agencies should use data and evidence in policy, practice, grant-making, and management decisions. The team also offers technical support and coaching for federal government leaders to advance and promote best practices as defined by the Standard of Excellence and shifts public resources to evidence-based practices. Finally,  the l team provides policy research, analysis, and advocacy for evidence-based policy. Aligned with  RFA’s growth trajectory, the Federal practice is dedicated to helping RFA usher in a new generation of evidence-based policy with equity at its core and enhance state and local implementation of national programs, such as the American Rescue Plan, to produce real results for residents across the country.  

Position Overview 

Results for America seeks an Associate Director who is passionate about improving government outcomes and advancing economic mobility outcomes. They will have excellent project management, communication, and relationship management skills. 

The Associate Director for Federal Evidence-based Policy will lead RFA’s “Invest in What Works Federal Standard of Excellence”, which seeks to advance evidence-based policymaking in federal agencies, departments, and other units and RFA’s federal evidence-based policy agenda engaging with the White House and Congress. 

Travel up to 15% annually may be required.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in a home office anywhere within the U.S.

Position Reporting Relationship 

The Associate Director, Federal Evidence-Based Policy reports to RFA’s Vice President and Federal Practice Lead. 

Position Responsibilities 

Federal Standard of Excellence (75%) 

Refine, Administer, and Analyze the Progress of the Federal Standard Assessment  (25%) 

• Increase Federal Standard of Excellence product and program value for federal government leaders;
• Plan and design Federal Standard assessments, including programmatic improvements including but not limited to criteria revisions, measurements, rubrics, outcomes, and data;
• Lead and administer Federal Standard of Excellence assessments with federal agency staff;
• Collect and analyze Federal Standard assessment data, ensuring adherence to criteria and quality control efforts;
• Manage federal agency participation and engagement in assessments and
• Produce annual reports.

Implementation Support (40%) 

• Using RFA Implementation Support Modules, design and deliver implementation support programming to improve federal agencies’ evidence-based practices in alignment with the Federal Standard of Excellence;
• Provide implementation support, including one-on-one coaching, webinars, and in-person training, to help agencies shift dollars to what works through evidence-based federal grantmaking and budgeting. This includes supporting a federal grant officer learning network and
• Collaborate with AD, Federal and State Policy Implementation on implementation support design to ensure alignment with org “shifting dollars” goals and [5TOCC implementation] modules.

Mobilization (10%)  

• In partnership with RFA’s Strategic Comms team:
• Develop communications content (including website) that celebrates federal agencies’ progress on Federal Standard of Excellence, articulates actionable guidance, and provides resources to build demand among federal leaders and agencies; and
• Co-plan and execute high-profile events to release the Federal Standard annually.
• Manage and grow Federal Advisory Committees through activities including, but not limited to, recruiting and onboarding new committee members, running biannual meetings, executing monthly communications, and other engagement opportunities.

Federal Policy Advocacy and Stakeholder Management (15%)

• Work with the Director Fed Policy to encourage federal leaders to integrate the Federal Standard of Excellence:
• Adopt the Federal Standard as an oversight and management tool;
• Advance legislative action and appropriations that incentivize evidence-based improvements at the federal agency level;
• Integrate the Federal Standard into broader policy agenda and objectives, including coordination of activities with internal annual targets and multiyear planning; and
• Represent RFA at federal-level evidence-based policy conferences and speaking engagements.
• Identify and field policy challenges with Evidence-Based Spending Guides resources:
• Track policy challenges with federal agencies; and
• Identify and deliver feedback to agencies with support from the Director of Federal Policy.
• Manage and lead executive policy research and analyses as directed by the VP & Federal Practice Lead, including leveraging Federal Standards of Excellence data. 

Org and Team Contributor (10%)

• Collaborate with AD, Federal Policy Implementation to ensure Federal Standard of Excellence integration into RFA’s data and impact systems:
• Ensure ongoing data collection and data entry from Federal Standard workstreams into RFA’s impact systems (Salesforce) to gauge RFA's impact against its theory of change and
• Provide the data and analysis needed from the Federal Standard of Excellence for Federal and All-Goal Stocktake Meetings.
• Collaborate with RFA’s MEL (Measurement, Evaluation & Learning) team and participate in the Standards Committee to facilitate coordination across RFA’s various Standards of Excellence and Certification programs and
• Maintain federal standard contacts and engagement data in Salesforce.

All RFA employees are expected to participate in the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Experience, Competencies, and Qualification/Skills

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, as well as an alignment with Results for America’s mission and organizational values:

Experience 

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant work experience;
• Work experience within government (federal, state, and/or county/city) is required; work experience within a domestic federal agency is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex stakeholder relationships and establishing buy-in as part of previous roles;
• At least 2 years prior experience supervising full-time staff and a combination of consultants and interns;
• Experience providing implementation support, technical assistance, or one-on-one coaching;
• Understanding of and commitment to federal evaluation policy and practices,  evidence-based policy, and federal grantmaking;
• Experience reading and analyzing federal NOFOs; and
• Prior experience planning and executing events to advance policy agendas.

Competencies and Skills 

• Excellent project management skills, including the capacity to manage and coordinate simultaneous projects and successfully prioritize multiple task toward clear deadlines & outcomes;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with federal policymakers, agency leaders and other stakeholders;
• Skillful facilitator; able to independently lead group meetings to outcomes, including with high-level federal agency leaders and stakeholders;
• Flexible and able to adapt to shifting circumstances;
• Ability to read and analyze Federal grants;

• Advanced skills in Google Suite, Word/Excel, Salesforce, and Asana software; and
• Strong PowerPoint skills, including the ability to produce audience-specific presentation materials with excellence and ease.

This is a full-time, exempt position. 

Salary and Benefits

At Results for America, all staff members currently receive a compensation package that includes (1) a salary aligned with RFA’s position level and salary bands and against similar nonprofit organizations and  (2) a suite of benefits that includes a choice of medical and/or vision and dental care, paid time off, a 403b retirement plan with employer match, and education and commuter benefits.  

The salary range for this position is $111,034 - $142,758.  

New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.   

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application link.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include their pronouns in their cover letter.

RFA is an equal opportunity employer that values/celebrates diversity, and that follows a policy of making all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, partnership status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses or stalking, military status, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.

Applicants for employment with RFA must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.