Director, Evidence and Learning At Freedom House

Freedom House works to defend and expand freedom globally to help secure a world where all are free. Around the world, antidemocratic forces are preventing billions of people from exercising their fundamental rights. Freedom House strives to create a world where all people are free. We identify and analyze threats to freedom, mobilize decision makers to respond to those threats and seize opportunities for progress, and support activists and organizations working to defend and expand freedom. We are dedicated to ensuring that the United States serves as a positive model of democratic practice at home and a consistent champion of freedom globally. By gathering authoritative data and leveraging our global networks, Freedom House is an unwavering beacon in protecting human rights and promoting democratic governance.

Established nearly 80 years ago to respond to the threats posed by fascism, we know there is no more powerful force for the development of human society than democracy. Working as an independent watchdog organization dedicated to defending and expanding freedom and democracy around the world, Freedom House is notable for its nonpartisan character and commitment to maintaining support for its mission across political divides.

We believe that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people; the rule of law prevails; and freedoms of expression, association, and belief, as well as respect for the rights of women, minorities, and historically marginalized groups, are guaranteed. Freedom House conducts analysis and reporting on current threats and opportunities related to democracy and freedom. This reporting frames the policy debate in the United States and abroad on the progress and decline of freedom. Freedom House’s flagship publication Freedom in the World is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. Freedom House also produces other reports, including Freedom on the Net, Nations in Transit, Freedom and the Media, the China Media Bulletin, as well as periodic special reports.

Freedom House advocates for leadership, particularly by the US Government, to vigorously oppose dictators and oppression, and strengthen democracy at home and around the world. We amplify the voices of those struggling for freedom in repressive societies and counter authoritarian efforts to weaken international scrutiny of their regimes.

Freedom House’s programs support human rights and democracy advocates in their efforts to promote open government, defend human rights, strengthen civil society, and facilitate the free flow of information and ideas. We assist through grants and programs that provide emergency support, training, and support to courageous defenders around the world. In addition, Freedom House helps through advocacy and visible demonstrations of solidarity on behalf of counterparts abroad.

Freedom House has 13 field offices, two US offices (Washington, D.C. and New York City, N.Y.), and a global staff of nearly 200, including contractors. The organization’s operating budget is roughly $35 million, with a blend of public (coming from United States Government sources such as USAID and the Department of State) and private (individuals, foundations, and corporations) support.

The Opportunity

Freedom House is interested in building the evidence base for our work and incorporating organization-wide learning that will increase the impact of our work, elevate our advocacy voice, and strengthen our relationships with the international human rights community. Freedom House is a thought leader in this community because we bring research and data to bear on the problems and opportunities faced by human rights defenders around the world.

Thus we are seeking a strong, focused Director of Evidence and Learning to lead the team and collaborate across the organization to develop a strong theory of change that is backed up by evidence of our impact. This person will not only be central to shaping how the theory of change is articulated and evaluated, but also drive the effort to strengthen our strategic planning process to ensure that it best reflects this theory of change. This person will develop processes to systematize information about FH projects and activities, integrate innovative evidence-based approaches into projects and activities, define and implement a learning agenda, and foster relations with external learning partners. The Director will also lead the strengthening of our organization’s programmatic practices through the incorporation of evidence into program design. This Director will lead our monitoring and evaluation efforts to include training staff on M&E, ensuring consistency across our programmatic work in M&E, and highlighting best practices to external stakeholders.

The position also supports FH as a whole in developing evidence-based strategies and approaches, partnerships with like-minded organizations, and other initiatives to achieve FH’s goals, including through identifying ways to measure the organization’s attainment of results over time.

The Director for Evidence and Learning will be a:

• Creative leader to research and identify organizational best practices to ensure FH’s work most effectively accomplishes its mission and leads the field
• Strategic developer of Freedom House’s theory of change
• Collaborator with colleagues across the organization to shape, track and promote best practices in monitoring and evaluation
• Trainer of colleagues on best practices
• Team leader

Key Responsibilities

Research on Best Practices to Inform Strategy

• Collect information about Freedom House programmatic strengths to develop a set of best practices across Freedom House’s pillars of work
• Communicate and ensure integration of best practices within Freedom House, with key local partners, and – as possible – with external partners

Theory of Change and Strategic Alignment

• Develop through collaboration and research a theory of change that integrates and explains Freedom House’s various workstreams and connects to the strategic plan
• Integrate theory of change into strategic planning process to ensure alignment among all programs

Program Learning and Communication

• Plan and oversee implementation of IPD staff trainings to upgrade technical skills in core MEL areas and oversee integration of these new skills in assessments, program design, implementation, and evaluation
• Oversee and coordinate programmatic monitoring and evaluation processes and ensure they incorporate innovative and best practices in the DRG field
• Oversee the maintenance of a historical database about FH programs, including lessons learned, best practices, sound models, etc.
• Work with teams to integrate M&E best practices into all programmatic work from bid to completion
• Ensure that engagement with partners, donors, and external stakeholders is informed by M&E best practices and learning
• Provide guidance on the Human Rights Support Mechanism Learning Plan
• Share evidence and learning organization-wide as well as externally, to demonstrate that FH is a thought leader in the field
• Define FH monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy that integrates and unifies data and metrics across the organization, and as the main point of contact for database implementation teams, ensure cross-team collaboration in this area.
• Oversee knowledge management systems and support annual strategic planning efforts of the executive team including helping them to: 1) set metrics to measure progress & success based on FY and division budgets and 2) report quarterly actuals to President and Board

Management and Leadership

• Manage E&L team (currently 2 mid-level specialists) to ensure all team members contribute effectively to high quality monitoring, evaluation and research to support the organization’s strategic goals
• Promote a culture of high performance, collaboration, and effective and inclusive teamwork
• Contribute to overall organizational thinking and decision making

Qualifications

Experience

• Leadership experience in managing monitoring, evaluation, research, and/or strategic planning for a medium to large organization
• Knowledge of and experience in the fields of democracy, human rights, and/or related issues
• Demonstrated expertise in monitoring and evaluation; experience with applied research and participatory methods desired
• Experience in managing a team for excellence and staff development, while maintaining strong connections throughout the organization

Skills and Attributes

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills and ability to think strategically and oversee tactical implementation of effective communication plans
• Superb writing and editing skills
• Strong analytic capacity, ability to master new subject matter quickly and articulate complex concepts clearly and effectively.
• Excellent organizational and managerial skills with a focus on achieving measurable and ambitious goals, including willingness to assume accountability for all areas of responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines, developing and moving projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Strong and diplomatic interpersonal skills, demonstrating both a collaborative spirit and the ability to make decisions.
• Ability to thrive in a creative, fast-paced and highly professional environment that emphasizes excellence, collegiality and teamwork.
• Ability to travel as needed, including internationally (approximately 10-15%) when health conditions permit.

Disclaimer : This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Qualified and Interested Applicants:

We invite qualified candidates to complete an online application and submit a resume and cover letter .

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

Only candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without any restrictions need apply.

EOE M/F/D/V

Diversity makes our work stronger. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.