Director, Impact Assessment

Overview

AARP Foundation is the nation's leading organization serving the 39 million older adults living in poverty or one life event away from slipping into it. Our mission is to strengthen financial resilience for and with older adults by empowering individuals and improving systems. We do this by creating pathways to quality employment, removing barriers to benefits, and promoting equitable access to essential goods and services. To learn more, visit aarpfoundation.org or follow @AARPFoundation on social media.

The Director, Impact Assessment leads a high-performing team in generating the evidence, insights, and strategic learning needed to assess and strengthen the Foundation’s impact across programs and initiatives. The ideal candidate brings the intellectual agility to work across a range of issue areas, and develop innovative methodologies for assessing hard-to-measure social and economic outcomes of the Foundation’s work. They also possess the collaborative ability to shape a shared learning agenda, and inform Foundation strategy.

Responsibilities

• Leads impact and economic evaluation of the enterprise direct service programs, strategic grants, litigation, impact investing, and other systems-change initiatives, and develops best practices and new approaches.
• Directs the design and application of evidence-based learning loops that integrate performance measurement, monitoring, and learning to support adaptation in systems-change initiatives.
• Develops best practices and innovative approaches for measuring social and economic outcomes across diverse programs and initiatives.
• Communicates findings to leadership, internal stakeholders, and external audiences, including funders and the general public
• Collaborates with internal program and functional teams to generate evidence and insights that inform strategic and operational decisions.
• Set team strategy, priorities, and delivery plans in alignment with the enterprise’s strategy that help impact portfolio needs.
• Manages external evaluation consultants and data partner relationships to support the design and execution of rigorous evaluations as needed.

Qualifications

•

Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field, with 8+ years of progressive experience in impact evaluation, program assessment, and performance measurement, including a demonstrated ability to generate actionable insights that inform strategy, decision-making, and social impact outcomes.

• 3+ years of people leadership experience, including building, developing, and leading high-performing teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and intellectual rigor, with a proven ability to balance methodological excellence with practical business needs, translating complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methodologies, including the design, implementation, and interpretation of impact assessments. Experience developing, measuring, and reporting social impact metrics is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success partnering with cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholder groups, effectively building relationships, aligning priorities, and driving consensus across organizational levels.
• Exceptional project and program management capabilities, with a track record of managing multiple, concurrent initiatives in dynamic, fast-paced, and evolving environments.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts and findings effectively to executive leadership, subject matter experts, and broad audiences, and facilitate workshops.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

• Leads impact and economic evaluation of the enterprise direct service programs, strategic grants, litigation, impact investing, and other systems-change initiatives, and develops best practices and new approaches.
• Directs the design and application of evidence-based learning loops that integrate performance measurement, monitoring, and learning to support adaptation in systems-change initiatives.
• Develops best practices and innovative approaches for measuring social and economic outcomes across diverse programs and initiatives.
• Communicates findings to leadership, internal stakeholders, and external audiences, including funders and the general public
• Collaborates with internal program and functional teams to generate evidence and insights that inform strategic and operational decisions.
• Set team strategy, priorities, and delivery plans in alignment with the enterprise's strategy that help impact portfolio needs.
• Manages external evaluation consultants and data partner relationships to support the design and execution of rigorous evaluations as needed.

•

Master's degree in economics, public policy, or a related field, with 8+ years of progressive experience in impact evaluation, program assessment, and performance measurement, including a demonstrated ability to generate actionable insights that inform strategy, decision-making, and social impact outcomes.

• 3+ years of people leadership experience, including building, developing, and leading high-performing teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and intellectual rigor, with a proven ability to balance methodological excellence with practical business needs, translating complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methodologies, including the design, implementation, and interpretation of impact assessments. Experience developing, measuring, and reporting social impact metrics is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success partnering with cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholder groups, effectively building relationships, aligning priorities, and driving consensus across organizational levels.
• Exceptional project and program management capabilities, with a track record of managing multiple, concurrent initiatives in dynamic, fast-paced, and evolving environments.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts and findings effectively to executive leadership, subject matter experts, and broad audiences, and facilitate workshops.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.