Chief Research and Impact Officer

Job Details

Job Location
College Now - Cleveland, OH

Position Type
Full Time

Description

An established leader in the Northeast Ohio civic landscape, College Now has been changing the lives of students in our region since 1967. We do this by providing college and career access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services to students from middle school through adulthood with a special focus on supporting those from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students. An individual filling this position can expect to have a direct impact on Northeast Ohio students and families.

When you work for College Now, you are part of an innovative and visionary team, committed to College Now's mission, vision, and values as we are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive workplace for team members. Offering superior benefits, ample opportunities for professional growth and development, and the chance to make an impact on the community, College Now is where careers are made and grown.

Position title: Chief Research and Impact Officer (CRIO)

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Standard Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Hybrid; generally, 3 days in office per week and 2 days remote. This may change based on business needs

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Overview:

The Chief Research and Impact Officer will provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to establish and grow a Center of Excellence for Access and Success, as a national leader in advancing college and career access and success. This role and center will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate innovative programs, drive data-informed decision-making, and promote best practices in the field.

The Chief Research and Impact Officer will have experience in higher education access and success- a visionary leader responsible for driving excellence and innovation within our programs and services, particularly focusing on addressing the evolving landscape of post-secondary education, gaps in access, persistence, retention and completion rates. The incumbent will report to the CEO and serve on the Executive Leadership team.

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Design and grow College's Now evaluation and research capabilities
• Lead knowledge management efforts in terms of documentation, tools and techniques to improve performance, program advancement, best practices integration, and continuous learning, and a robust research and dissemination agenda
• Serve as a thought leader by contributing to the national dialogue on education attainment through research, presentations, and partnerships

Compliance, Evaluation and Research

• Support program implementation with data and information- ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, providing regular reports to stakeholders.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and oversee the data analysis process to measure program effectiveness
• Analyze data to identify needs, track progress, and inform strategic decisions
• Review, analyze and share comprehensive research on current higher education trends, challenges, and gaps, particularly concerning marginalized populations
• Establish a research agenda in collaboration with the executive team

Program and Project Management

• Research and design innovative program pilots and strategies to address barriers and improve outcomes for underrepresented students
• Support the design, delivery, and evaluation of programs, ensuring measurable impact and sustainability
• Implement best practices in program and project management

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Represent the Center in national and regional forums, advancing the organization's thought leadership
• Convene advisory boards and working groups to ensure stakeholder input and collaboration

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field; Doctorate preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in education leadership, nonprofit management, or a related field, with a track record of driving systems-level change
• Experience in college access, student success, or career readiness programming
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills
• Proven ability to develop and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders
• Exceptional leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills
• Research experience including design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree
• Experience in building a Center of Excellence or large-scale educational initiative.
• Quantitative research skills, report writing and publication
• Understanding of education policy and advocacy
• Knowledge of the Northeast Ohio education and workforce ecosystem

Disclaimer: "Nothing in this position description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time."