James Dyson

Impact Evaluation Specialist

Billions flow into social programs every year, and most government funders have no reliable way to know what actually works. This is the role that fixes that.

Snapshot

• Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid)
• Engagement: Full-time, direct hire
• Compensation: $90,000 starting, with potential for rapid growth
• Benefits: Healthcare (including dental and vision), discretionary PTO and vacation, 401(k)

About the Role

The way the world invests in social impact is broken. We're looking for a rigorous, curious evaluator to help fix it. This is not a support role and not a report-producing role. You've worked on the oversight or funder side, assessing what nonprofits and government programs report rather than just generating those reports yourself. You can spot a weak theory of change, and you know how to bring an organization along without losing its trust. You'll work directly with government grantmakers to evaluate portfolios, coach programs on measurement integrity, and publish findings from one of the most distinctive impact datasets in the sector.

What You'll Own

• Verify what works. Pressure-test how nonprofits and government programs measure and report outcomes, assessing rigor, feasibility, and comparability across programs using the client's verification protocols.
• Advise government funders. Partner with grantmakers to evaluate grant portfolios, surface what's working, and sharpen how evidence drives investment decisions.
• Turn data into decisions. Translate complex program data into decision-ready reports, scorecards, and portfolio analyses that change how funders allocate resources.
• Raise the bar and publish. Coach nonprofits and government programs on evaluation design and outcome reporting, publish original briefs and reports that advance how the sector uses evidence, and help shape the client's point of view in the areas where your expertise runs deepest.

Sectors (deep expertise in any one is strongly encouraged): Workforce Development and Skills Training; Financial Inclusion; Housing and Homelessness; Public Health (including mental health, reproductive health, addiction, and access); Education (early childhood through post-secondary and policy); Environment (climate resilience, environmental justice, clean energy, conservation); Transportation (transit access, mobility equity, safety); Agriculture (food security, sustainable farming, rural development).

What You Bring

• 4+ years of hands-on program evaluation or M&E experience, with deep expertise in at least one social sector and meaningful time spent assessing what others report, not just producing reports yourself
• Direct experience with government funders: how public-sector grantmakers operate, what they need from evaluation, and how to translate findings into their accountability and investment decisions
• The ability to read an evaluation design (logic models, theories of change, data collection methods, outcome frameworks) and immediately know whether it holds up
• Fluency in the program models, funding streams, evidence base, and key organizations shaping at least one social sector
• Credibility in front of senior grantmaker audiences and the coaching skill to bring a struggling nonprofit along without losing either party
• A self-starter orientation: you own work end to end, move without being pushed, and thrive when the path isn't fully paved

Bonus Points

• Deep expertise spanning more than one focus area
• Direct experience inside a government agency, public-sector grantmaking body, or oversight entity
• A track record managing evaluation across a portfolio of programs (quality, compliance, capacity building)
• Published work in the field: research, briefs, evaluation reports
• Advanced degree in evaluation, public administration, economics, public health, education, or a related field
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS, or similar platforms
• Thoughtful, ethical use of AI tools in your analytical or research workflow

About Think Evolutionary

Think Evolutionary is a talent engineering firm built on 25+ years of leadership in Infrastructure, Innovation, and Impact. We architect resilient teams for mission-critical industries, including Government Contracting, Engineering, Technology, and Education. Through our 3DO methodology, Diagnose, Design, Build, Optimize, and behavioral science via the Predictive Index, every placement is engineered for long-term growth, not filled as a transaction.

EEO Statement

Think Evolutionary is an equal opportunity employer and a strategic partner in building diverse, resilient workforces. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.