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Associate Director of Monitoring and Evaluation

Norwalk, Connecticut

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND 

 

The Maritime Aquarium’s mission is to ignite a connection to Long Island Sound and the ocean to enrich the lives of all people and inspire action to protect our blue planet. For 38 years, the Aquarium has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Norwalk and the region. The second largest family attraction in Connecticut, and 50 miles from New York City, the Aquarium hosts nearly 450,000 guests annually. Its primary exhibits take guests on a voyage from the shallow salt marshes and estuaries to the depths of the Long Island Sound and the ocean beyond, culminating with habitats for sharks and harbor seals.  
  
Altogether, the Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 animals and 285 species in 75 exhibits. A new 4D Theater offers a unique sensory film experience for guests. Its education programs introduce nearly 50,000 students, campers and scouts to marine and STEM education. The Aquarium is recognized as a top aquarium in the nation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is an active participant in the local and regional community. The strength of the Aquarium is its approximately 97 full-time and 78 part-time employees, seasonal staff, and our volunteers.  

 

Position Overview  

 

The Associate Director of Monitoring and Evaluation (ADME) is responsible for designing and implementing an institutional framework for measuring the reach and impact of The Maritime Aquarium’s activities, programs, and exhibits.  The scope will include activities and programs in education, accessibility, conservation, community outreach, and visitor and member engagement, as well as core operations that impact those activities and programs.  The framework for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) will include: (1) an overall strategy for M&E across the institution; (2) appropriate tools and methodologies for M&E, including quantitative and qualitative data collection, verification, and analysis; statistical analysis; and relevant social science research; (3) data storage, management and visualization systems; and (4) regular reporting and communications to various audiences. As part of the design and implementation of an institutional framework for M&E, the ADME works with senior staff and department heads to identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure that goals of the Aquarium’s strategic plan are being met.       

 

The ADME reports directly to the President & CEO and is a member of the Aquarium’s Extended Senior Staff.  The ADME is expected to supervise the Manager of Evaluation and Monitoring (a position still to be recruited), as well as part-time data collectors to be hired for specific projects and needs, but for which there is a budget.   

 

The ADME works directly with department heads and other senior staff in the design and implementation of the institutional framework for M&E as it relates to each department, The ADME provides training and technical assistance to staff in delivery of M&E goals and objectives, and stays abreast of M&E trends and methods throughout the aquarium/zoo/museum industry to ensure that The Maritime Aquarium employs industry best practices in assessing effectiveness and impact.   

 

Major Responsibilities  

 

Direction of Monitoring and Evaluating Activities and Programs 

  • Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of Maritime Aquarium activities and programs, including as needed: exhibits and guest experience, education programs, accessibility programs, and conservation partnerships. 
  • Design methods to answer monitoring and evaluation questions based on the goals of individual projects, departments, and the institution as a whole. 
  • Develop survey, interview, observation, and focus group instruments to collect qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of audiences (e.g., aquarium visitors, schoolchildren, teachers, families, community members, partners). 
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data, apply statistical methods and coding as applicable, judge validity and reliability of data, and generate high-quality data visualizations. 
  • Compile written reports that present findings to internal and external audiences, including interpreting results and providing actionable recommendations. 

Monitoring and Evaluation of Strategic Plan Implementation 

  • Partner with senior staff to develop, execute, and monitor comprehensive evaluation plans for strategic activities.  
  • Support department heads with sourcing and analyzing data needed to inform strategic decision-making, process development, process outputs, and progress towards KPI achievement. 
  • Help departments and teams develop KPIs and monitor progress against them. 
  • Participate in developing annual budgets to ensure KPIs are adequately reflected and supported by budgeted activities. 
  • Develop strategies, methods and metrics to assess the impact of key strategic plan priorities. 

Collaboration and Leadership 

  • Provide leadership in development of strategic priorities for Monitoring and Evaluation. 
  • Help team members to appreciate the role of evaluation and monitoring and to create Monitoring and Evaluation plans tailored to particular units, such as Education, Exhibits, and Guest Experience. 
  • Collaborate with TMA staff in the creation of evaluation plans for grant proposals and in evaluation/monitoring aspects of grant reports. 
  • Oversee and provide direction to Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation and data collectors. 

Capacity Building 

  • Provide training to TMA staff to increase internal capacity building and monitoring. 
  • Hold workshops on relevant topics, such as survey creation, data collection, and data analysis. 

Research Dissemination and Professional Practice 

  • Share research and evaluation of findings through internal communications, reports to funders, journal articles, and presentations at regional and national meetings and conferences. 
  • Remain current with trends and best practices of research and evaluation in formal and informal learning environments through literature, professional development, and networking with other professionals. 

 

Job Qualifications 

 

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in relevant field preferred. 
  • Five years of experience demonstrating progressive growth in skills and management responsibility, with prior experience in managing staff preferred. 
  • Experience with qualitative and quantitative social science research methods. Advanced degree in a related field that includes training in these methods." 
  • Five years of experience in related experience conducting monitoring and evaluation, such as: data collection and analysis (interviewing, workshops, surveys); qualitative and quantitative social science research methods; use of data analysis platforms/software such as R, Python, JMP, SPSS, STATA, etc; reporting and presentation of results.  
  • Exceptional leadership skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate and foster teamwork within and across teams, and across multiple disciplines. 
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Experience creating evaluation plans for grant proposals. 
  • Strong organizational skills, and attention to detail. 
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

 

The Maritime Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

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