Senior Director, Data Hub

Job Title: Senior Director, Data Hub Reports to: Chief Data Scientist and Managing Director, Data Hub Direct Reports: Yes, 3 Role Type: Full-time FLSA Status: Exempt Location: East Coast preferred — Boston, Mid-Atlantic, or New England. Exceptional candidates elsewhere in the Eastern or Central time zones will be considered; Pacific and Mountain time zones not eligible. Remote/hybrid with regular travel. Salary: $175,000 - $190,000 Position Summary The Senior Director, Data Hub reports to Project Evident’s Chief Data Scientist/Managing Director of the Data Hub. The Senior Director is the operational and analytical leader of the Data Hub, Project Evident’s practice responsible for AI-enabled analytics, rigorous causal evaluation, and the secure analytics environment Project Evident uses to deliver evidence-building services. The Data Hub operates across three distinct functions, and the Senior Director leads across all three: Direct Data Hub projects and services. Client-facing engagements (1:1 advisory and cohort-based) delivering an integrated suite of capabilities, including data audit, ETL, descriptive, predictive, prescriptive, and evaluative analytics, and rigorous causal modeling, alongside training, capacity-building, and field-building research and thought leadership. Backbone / partnered projects with other Project Evident practices. Joint client engagements where the Data Hub provides the analytical and methodological backbone while sister practices contribute domain expertise and client relationships. Partner practices are OutcomesAI (OAI), the AI implementation practice; Evidence for Outcomes (E4O), the evidence-strategy practice serving nonprofits and funders; and the Education Agency Practice (EAP), serving state and local education agencies, intermediaries, and education-focused nonprofits. Shared services for Project Evident as an organization. This covers internal data and analytics work that isn't scoped or budgeted under any single client engagement. It includes Data Hub work (whether delivered directly or through partners), the Impact Dashboard (PE's "walk-the-talk" evidence generation), and other recurring internal data services that support the organization as a whole. The right candidate brings deep applied research and evaluation expertise, including causal inference and quasi-experimental methods, and hands-on experience using and building AI agentic workflows, and the leadership skill to bring a research-and-evaluation team into the era of applied AI. Project Evident operates in an Anthropic-based environment for direct Data Hub projects and services, with flexibility around the use of Claude Code and Claude Cowork. Strong coding proficiency in R and/or Python paired with demonstrated willingness to rapidly learn AI agentic tooling is an ideal foundation. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with an established network and a track record of generating six-figure engagements. Essential Duties Practice & People Leadership (25%) Own day-to-day Data Hub practice operations: team coordination, workflow adherence, delivery oversight, and internal cadences across concurrent engagements. Manage and develop the team: an Associate Director (part-time, Shared Services, open), an Associate II (open), two Analysts II, and contractor developers engaged for data architecture and agentic-tool development. Lead the team's transition to applied AI and modern AI development environments. Partner with the Chief Data Scientist / Managing Director on practice strategy, OKRs, and Board reporting; serve on the Project Evident management team. Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performing team members. External Engagement Delivery (40%) Lead delivery of Data Hub external engagements: 1:1 advisory data and analytics services, cohort-based engagements, and partnered engagements where the Data Hub provides the analytical backbone for OutcomesAI-, Evidence for Outcomes-, or Education Agency Practice-led client work. As senior project lead, ensure on-time, on-budget, high-quality delivery (target NPS > 0.70): managing project plans, deliverables, team and consultant expertise, and client feedback. Co-develop frameworks, resources, and tools that scale Project Evident's 1:1, 1:some, and 1:many service offerings, including a train-the-trainer certification model and domain-specific learning networks. Lead the trust-building and explainability agenda: codify de-identification, compliance, and transparency standards that make rigorous causal methods credible to clients, funders, and the field. Internal Analytics Backbone — Shared Services (15%) Own the Data Hub's shared-services mandate: serve as the analytical backbone for Project Evident itself, most notably the Impact Dashboard and other recurring internal data services that are not specific to any single client project (Data Hub direct or partnered). Ensure internal and external mandates advance in parallel without diluting each other; protect the team's capacity to deliver on both. Co-design partnered-engagement on-ramps with OutcomesAI, Evidence for Outcomes, and the Education Agency Practice: defining where Data Hub analytics and methodology integrate with sister-practice services. Business Development & Field Building (20%) Independently generate and close a sustainable pipeline of six-figure grants, contracts, and partnerships in service of Data Hub revenue OKRs. Cultivate funder, government, intermediary, school system, nonprofit, and technology-partner relationships from initial outreach through signed agreement. Serve as a thought leader: author or co-author case studies, methodological briefs, op-eds, and frameworks on rigorous causal evaluation, AI-enabled evidence building, and the responsible adoption of applied AI in the social and education sectors. Identify and lead (or support, as appropriate) grant and proposal development. Education and / or Experience Minimum Requirements Bachelor's degree required; master's or doctorate preferred in applied research, data science, statistics, public policy, education, or related field. 10+ years of experience across data science, applied research and evaluation, education, and/or nonprofit sectors in operating or consulting contexts. Including 7+ years of management of high-performing teams, project management, technology adoption, business development, and change management. Demonstrated experience with business development and client management, and generating and closing six-figure engagements. Hands-on experience using and building AI agentic workflows for research, evaluation, or analytics work. Strong coding proficiency in R and/or Python paired with demonstrated willingness to rapidly learn AI agentic tooling is an acceptable foundation. Project Evident operates in an Anthropic-based environment for direct Data Hub projects and services, with flexibility around the use of Claude Code and Claude Cowork; direct experience with those tools is strongly preferred. Candidates without either demonstrated agentic-workflow experience or solid R/Python proficiency paired with clear willingness to ramp on agentic tooling will not be considered. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities We are looking for candidates who have demonstrated experience: Applied research and causal inference: designing, executing, or directing rigorous quasi-experimental, observational, or experimental studies that produce defensible causal evidence. Leading research-and-evaluation or analytics teams through technology adoption, including transitions to applied AI, machine learning, and modern AI development environments. Direct experience with Claude Code, Claude Cowork, or comparable agentic development tooling is strongly preferred; strong R and/or Python coding paired with willingness to rapidly learn agentic tooling is acceptable. The ability to direct, evaluate, and govern such work is required without exception. Deploying common AI applications to solve business and program problems, including recommendation engines, natural language processing, large language models, and decision-support tools. Building practitioner trust around analytics and AI, including data security protocols, de-identification, regulatory compliance (FERPA, HIPAA-adjacent, and IRB-relevant contexts as applicable), and the transparent communication of model behavior and uncertainty. Working across both the K-12 / education sector (SEAs, LEAs, intermediaries) and the broader nonprofit and foundation ecosystem. Managing clients, projects, processes, and teams under tight timelines; accurately assessing problems and developing implementable solutions. Creating and executing work plans, processes, and documentation that streamline and codify existing practices. Developing curriculum, training content, and facilitating successful workshops, coaching, and implementation support, and direct experience with train-the-trainer or external facilitator certification models is a plus. Translating data and evidence into action: communicating findings and methodology to practitioner, funder, policymaker, and board audiences in clear, actionable language. Attracting, developing, supervising, coaching, and retaining high-performing team members; giving and receiving actionable feedback; and elevating others' responsibility, span of control, and performance. Candidates should also have: Interest in and demonstrated commitment to the social and education sectors; knowledge of evidence-based policy and practice, nonprofit evaluation, and performance management disciplines is a plus. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects with stakeholders who may have evolving priorities. Proven ability to work under tight timelines, accurately assess problems, and develop solutions; ability to effectively prioritize time and tasks. Comfort with ambiguity and ability to respond adeptly to rapidly changing priorities; comfortable in an entrepreneurial environment with fast deadlines. Problem solver and active listener who seeks clarification, asks questions, and surfaces solutions. Commitment to high-performance culture, participation in giving and receiving feedback, and belief in continuous and self-improvement. Impeccable attention to detail and extremely high standards for accuracy. Comfortable in a virtual, distributed environment with fast deadlines. Experience working with diverse communities and a deep commitment to learning, performance, racial equity, and building a culture of belonging. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a proven ability to write and copy-edit clear and concise narratives and presentations. Organizational Relationships The Senior Director, Data Hub reports to Peter York, Chief Data Scientist and Managing Director, Data Hub. The Chief Data Scientist / Managing Director leads the Data Hub practice overall; the Senior Director plays a senior leadership role within the practice but reports to the Chief Data Scientist and does not occupy a separate Managing Director role. The Senior Director directly manages an Associate Director (part-time, Shared Services, open), an Associate II (open), two Analysts II, and contractor developers engaged as needed for data architecture and agentic-tool development. The Senior Director is accountable for portfolio leadership and client NPS across all three Data Hub functions: direct projects, partnered engagements, and shared services, including a positive NPS from internal Project Evident clients on shared-services analytics and the Impact Dashboard. The Senior Director partners closely with the Managing Directors of OutcomesAI, Evidence for Outcomes, and the Education Agency Practice on partnered engagements, and works collaboratively with Project Evident staff, clients, contractors, partners, funders, and vendors to meet goals in line with organizational values. Work Environment Virtual Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a remote environment with team members across multiple time zones. Regular availability is expected between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM (ET). Candidates must be based in the Eastern or Central time zones; Pacific and Mountain time zone candidates will not be considered. Workload Flexibility — Expected to work 40 to 50 hours per week, with fluctuations based on client and organizational demands. Travel Requirements: 25–30% travel is required to meet the organization's needs, including client visits, cohort sessions, conferences, and Project Evident convenings. Hybrid Position with regular presence (4x per year) in Boston; preferred locations include Boston, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. Exceptional candidates elsewhere in the Eastern or Central time zones will be considered. Physical Demands Ability to sit, talk, and listen for extended periods, up to 8 hours daily. Requires fine motor skills, including continuous typing for up to 4 hours. Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 pounds. Why Join Project Evident? We hope you're excited about the possibilities of working at Project Evident! To support you in bringing your best self to work, we offer: Comprehensive Benefits — Generous medical, dental, and vision plans, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, and life and disability insurance. Flexible Time Off — Unlimited vacation days, Summer Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and organizational-wide closure from December 25 to January 1. About Project Evident Project Evident harnesses the power of data, evidence, and technology to achieve greater impact. We believe that by empowering practitioners to drive their own data and evidence building while also strengthening the surrounding ecosystem, we can increase the number of effective solutions in the social and education sectors and scale them faster, ultimately producing stronger, more meaningful, and more equitable outcomes for students and communities. Project Evident is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce committed to a culture of belonging and accountability. Studies have shown that women and people of color are often reluctant to submit a job application unless they meet all qualifications—we encourage applicants who may not meet 100 percent of the position qualifications to apply anyway.