Director of Evaluation and Engagement

Location: Los Angeles  

Salary: $120,000 to $136,000   

Organization Overview  

Founded in 2004, Brilliant Corners provides innovative housing and housing-related services to California’s most vulnerable individuals, with an emphasis on those transitioning from, or at risk of, homelessness or institutionalization. We develop, own, and manage multi-family supportive housing and licensed residential care homes. We implement a broad array of scattered-site, one-on-one supportive housing, and clinical case management programs through partnerships with developmental services, homeless services, veterans’ services, and health care sectors. 

In short, we do good work.  

We have offices statewide with a staff of passionate people. While we are growing rapidly, we are also selective: We’re seeking inspired, talented people who want to be effecting profound change and who have fun doing it. 

Department Summary 

The Brilliant Corners’ Housing Services Team is nationally recognized for its ability to secure scattered-site and project-based housing for vulnerable and extremely low-income households within tight rental markets. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, our team moves hundreds of folks into permanent housing every month. We use robust landlord engagement strategies, including financial incentives, to secure community-based units for vulnerable populations. Our participants include people exiting institutions, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. We pair landlord engagement with tenancy-centered services using a customer-service approach to ensure shared success for our participants, property providers, case management partners, and funders. This collaborative approach is instrumental in ending cycles of homelessness and institutionalization for thousands of people in Los Angeles County and across California.

Program Summary
Housing Services’ Program Development team supports five focal areas across all regions: quality assurance, program evaluation, program policy, client engagement, and staff development. This newly formed team advances the Division’s progress in these areas with the goal of ensuring that all clients Brilliant Corners serves across the state receive high-quality, participant-centered services.

Position Overview

The Director of Evaluation and Engagement is a strategic leader responsible for driving evaluation and engagement activities for programs across Brilliant Corners’ Housing Services Division. With the support of the Deputy Chief Program Officer for Program Development, this role oversees the design and implementation of mixed methods evaluation strategies and leads key engagement efforts with participants and other key stakeholders. The Director works internally to convey the impact of programs, identify areas for programmatic innovation and improvement, and amplifies evidence-based best practices. They also play a critical role in conveying the story of our programmatic impact to audiences externally.

Position Responsibilities:

Evaluation and Driving Continuous Improvement

• Design and implement division-wide evaluation frameworks that assess program and process effectiveness, fidelity, and impact
• Lead and oversee the full life cycle of evaluation activities from research design to dissemination
• Develop metrics and appropriate data collection tools for both qualitative and quantitative research efforts
• Translate findings into actionable insights through reports, dashboards, and presentations tailored to multiple audiences (both internally and externally)
• Play a key role in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement cycles

Engagement and Inclusion

• Lead inclusive participant engagement strategies to ensure participant voice informs program design, implementation, and improvement
• Serve as a co-lead facilitator for program participant advisory board(s)
• Create avenues to engage with other key stakeholders in our programmatic model (property providers, ICMS providers, etc) in service of evaluation
• Design and facilitate focus groups, interviews, surveys, and other stakeholder engagement activities
• Develop feedback loops that ensure actionable insights from engagement activities are shared with program leadership
• Champion equitable evaluation practices that center lived experience

Organizational Strategy and Collaboration

• Serve as a leader in advancing key strategic plan objectives and KPIs related to evaluation, engagement, and quality improvement
• Collaborate with key stakeholders (including program leadership, data and tech, policy, quality assurance, and communications staff) to ensure alignment between evaluation, engagement, and program goals
• Contribute to grant proposals and reporting by providing relevant evaluation framing and analysis
• Supervise and mentor staff supporting evaluation and engagement work (note: while the role does not currently have supervisory responsibilities, it may in the future)

Professional Experience

• Experience in homelessness services, housing, public health, or other human services sectors.
• Familiarity with implementation science principles and/or continuous quality improvement strategies.

Professional Experience

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in program evaluation or research, including 3+ years in a leadership or management role.
• Extensive experience overseeing the full life cycle of primary research and/or evaluation activities (including experience identifying appropriate study designs, facilitating data collection, leading data analysis with the appropriate methods, and reporting out findings).
• Experience working with individuals with lived experience of homelessness or those who hold other marginalized identities.
• Experience designing and leading inclusive engagement efforts such as focus groups, advisory boards, interviews, or surveys.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, with the ability to discern and apply appropriate research and data analysis frameworks.
• Skilled in translating data into actionable insights through reports, dashboards, and presentations tailored to diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of equitable evaluation practices and their application in research and program evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

Core Competencies  

• Dealing with Ambiguity: Remains productive and effective in uncertain, rapidly changing situations by quickly analyzing information to adapt approach. Demonstrates flexibility, composure and good judgment despite challenges  
• Building Effective Teams: Builds cohesive, high-performing teams through collaboration, positive culture, coaching, cross-functional work, and recognition of successes  
• Priority Setting: Focuses on highest impact priorities advancing strategic objectives. Aligns resources, eliminates roadblocks, and provides direction through a compelling vision  
• Managing through Systems:Designs and implements systems, processes and infrastructuresenabling effective execution, oversight, empowerment and accountability. Drives results through indirect influence and continuous improvement  
• Functional/Technical Expertise: Possesses advanced functional/technical skills of direct reports, enabling high-level task accomplishment, optimal partner support, and team development  

Organizational Values  

• Humanity:Putting people first: We are committed to meeting people where they’re at, honoring their dignity, diversity, and experience.   
• Community: Building a better future: Sustainable housing solutions are fostered through partnership, collaboration, and human connection.   
• Ingenuity: Innovating for transformation: Systems-change requires relentless determination, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo.  

Physical Requirements 

Candidates should have physical mobility for tasks such as standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, twisting, and walking on uneven surfaces. They should be capable of performing stationary tasks like sitting for up to 6 to 8 hours a day.  Additionally, candidates should be able to lift, carry, push, pull light to moderate weights up to 15 pounds safely. Requires mental acuity for analytical reasoning and document interpretation. 

Salary range for this position is $120,000 to $136,000 annually. This position is being offered at $120,000 to $136,000 annually.  

Brilliant Corners does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

·        Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, & Vision)  

·        Retirement Plan (With 5% Match)  

·        Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary and AD&D)  

·        Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)  

·        Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)  

·        Short Term & Long-Term Disability  

·        Training & Development  

·        Wellness Resources 

·        Hybrid Work