Program Evaluation Specialist

Job purpose

The Program Evaluation Specialist will help lead program impact evaluation efforts at AFT. The Specialist will help construct and execute this broad and growing effort with objectives to support social science research and advance organizational programs. Specifically, this position will play a strategic role in helping to build larger program impact evaluation efforts across the organization.

Position summary

The Program Evaluation Specialist will help lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of program evaluation efforts across AFT. The Specialist will develop evaluation approaches that apply qualitative and quantitative methods to assess program impacts on farmers, ranchers, and agriculture professionals, inform organizational learning, and support evidence-based decision-making for further program refinement and development. The Specialist will work closely with the national research team, regional and national program staff, and other internal teams to collect, analyze, and communicate impact evaluation findings that help advance AFTs mission. In addition, this highly collaborative position builds upon current efforts to establish broader organizational program evaluation capacity.

Duties and responsibilities

Program Evaluation Leadership

- Lead the design, implementation, and refinement of new program evaluation frameworks across AFT initiatives.

- Develop evaluation plans aligned with program objectives.

- Establish standardized evaluation approaches that can be applied across multiple programs while accommodating program-specific needs.

- Identify opportunities to expand and improve organizational evaluation capacity.

Data Collection and Analysis

- Design and implement qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other evaluation tools informed by organizational needs and peer-reviewed literature.

- Manage data collection activities to ensure data quality, consistency, and confidentiality.

- Support development of an internal database and data management system.

- Synthesize findings into meaningful conclusions that support program improvement and organizational learning.

Reporting and Communication

- Prepare technical reports, summaries, presentations, and other communication products that clearly convey evaluation findings to internal and external audiences.

- Translate evaluation results into practical recommendations for program staff, leadership, funders, and partners.

- Contribute evaluation findings to grant reports, publications, presentations, and other organizational communications as appropriate.

Collaboration and Technical Support

- Lead a collaborative effort to create an organization-wide impact evaluation system and toolkit for all staff.

- Collaborate with program staff and external partners throughout the evaluation process.

- Provide technical assistance to program teams on evaluation design, data collection, and interpretation of results.

- Facilitate workshops, meetings, and stakeholder discussions to support evaluation planning and dissemination of findings.

- Foster collaborative relationships that strengthen organizational learning.

Research and Organizational Learning

- Identify and implement emerging evaluation methods, tools, and best practices relevant to AFT programs.

- Contribute to applied social science research that advances understanding of program effectiveness and participant outcomes.

- Support the integration of evaluation findings into program planning, strategic decision-making, and organizational learning initiatives.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require other or different duties be performed as assigned.

Qualifications

- MS degree in a social science-related discipline preferred or a related BS degree

- Documented 2-5 years of professional experience conducting program evaluation

- Preferred background in agriculture, ecosystem services, environmental science, or a similar field

- Documented experience working with both qualitative and quantitative data

Survey experience using software such as Survey Monkey or Qualtrics

- Managing confidential data and protecting respondent identities with data management systems

- Analyzing quantitative data using software such as Excel or R

- Analyzing qualitative data using software such as NVivo or Dedoose

- Collaborative and constructive team member

- Self-starter with ability to work independently

- Group facilitation experience

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data into language accessible to multiple audiences (researchers, program staff, farmers and ranchers, etc.)

- Committed to AFTs mission of protecting farmland, promoting sound practices, and helping to keep farmers on the land

Working conditions

This job operates primarily in a teleworking environment during normal business hours in a local US time zone. Occasional work in the evenings or on weekends may be required to meet deadlines.

Some travel may be required to meet project deliverables. This may include conducting in-person workshops, focus groups, or surveys, among other project-related tasks and activities.

Degree of Supervision Received

General Supervision: The incumbent normally receives minimal instruction on day-to-day work and receives general instructions on new assignments.

Degree of Supervision Given

This position reports to the Senior Social Scientist (Social Science Focus Area Lead) and will work collaboratively internally and externally as part of AFTs Research division.

Compensation
American Farmland Trust offers excellent vacation, medical, retirement and other benefits. The salary range for this position is from $70,000 to $80,000 based upon experience.

American Farmland Trust offers a full benefits package for full time employees:

- Insurance coverage begins the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

- Medical & Prescription Coverage

- Dental Coverage

- Vision Coverage

- Company Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability (LTD)

- Voluntary Life Insurance

- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Healthcare & Dependent Care

- Health Savings Account (HSA)

- 401k Plan

- Sick Leave: Regular full-time employees accrue 13 sick days per year.

- Vacation Leave: Accrue 15 days during the first year increasing by one day per year to 20 days per year maximum.

- Holidays: AFT observes twelve fixed holidays and a week between Christmas and New Years off during the year (all offices closed) plus a choice of up to three (depending on hiring month) floating holidays.

Why you should apply

- Be a part of a purpose-driven, committed, knowledgeable, high-performing, experienced and fun team

- A diverse and inclusive work environment

- A cause and mission you can be proud of

- Competitive compensation & benefits

- Remote work opportunity

Timeline

To be considered applicants must submit a resume, answer all screener questions and include a cover letter explaining what they are a right fit for both AFT and this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

Please apply directly through AFTs Paycom Career Portal using this link: Program Evaluation Specialist

If the link is unavailable, please visit AFTs Careers page and select this position to submit your application.