Job Summary
The Engagement and Evaluation Specialist will primarily focus on supporting regional engagement activities and evaluation of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) projects and programs that are funded by different grants. In this role, you will have ability to understand data team outputs, presenting regional economic data dashboards, interpretation of the economic data, and other planning works as needed. Additional work includes engaging with regional agencies as needed, preparing questionnaire surveys and evaluation tools, and contributing to PCRD’s program reporting, such as the quarterly and the annual work-reports. The engagement and evaluation specialist will collaborate with PCRD colleagues, fostering a teamwork-oriented environment for the successful implementation for evaluation and engagement activities.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Working closely with PCRD director and evaluation manager to coordinate essential project and program evaluation activities
- Collaborating with the evaluation manager to developing focused evaluation strategies for the highest-priority projects
- Utilizing targeted mixed methods approaches for critical data collection needs
- Creating streamlined visualizations to communicate key findings
- Engagement and presentations to various regional planning organizations in Indiana
- Assisting with preparing project related monthly, semiannual, and annual reports
- Documenting essential evaluation outcomes to share with PCRD director and Evaluation Manager as well as project funding agencies if necessary
- Collaborating with PCRD team to secure grants, contracts, and other resources to support and strengthen PCRD/Engagement and applied research activities
- Building and maintaining effective partnerships that can guide the development and delivery of priority community/regional programs and technical assistance activities
- Taking an active part in professional development opportunities and participate in relevant professional organizations, meetings and conferences and represent PCRD
What We're Looking For:
- Master’s degree in Educational Science, Measurement and Evaluation, Public Policy, Community and Economic Development, Urban and Regional Planning or a closely related field
- 1 year of experience in regional and community development/planning and evaluation
- Knowledge of economic, community and/or regional development theories and practices
- Ability to plan, guide, and implement community and economic adjustment and diversification activities that help reduce the negative economic impacts and strengthen the long-term vitality of the communities/regions, especially those facing declines
- Capacity for publishing applied research products and/or produce educational products (such as training curricula, newsletters, blogs)
- Capacity to work with a wide array of university and external collaborators
- Ability to secure grants and contracts that advance the work of PCRD’s regional and community development efforts
- Capacity to work and function successfully in a team environment
- Ability to incorporate innovative approaches (including distance education strategies) in reaching PCRD/Engagement audiences
- Strong formal training and/or experience in designing, implementing, analyzing, and reporting impacts of educational/economic development/other program activities
- Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative techniques for collecting program accountability and impact data
- Ability to develop and implement online data collection tools and strategies for program evaluation activities
- Knowledge of evaluation methodologies and best practices
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
- Excellent writing skills for clear and comprehensive evaluation reports
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with community stakeholders and PCRD colleagues
Nice to Have:
- PhD degree in a relevant field
- 2-3 years of experience in regional and community development/planning and evaluation
What We'd Like You to Know:
- Learn more about Purdue’s benefits summary
- Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
- A Background Check is required for employment in this position
- FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
- Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Waiting Period
Career Stream
Professional 2
Pay Band S060
Link to Purdue University's compensation guidelines: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/mngcareer/compguidelines/index.php
Job Code #20002086
Link to Career Path Maker: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/careerpathmaker/
*Effective August 1, Purdue implemented a new background screen policy: any internal transfer will receive a new background screen if one has not been run within the last year.
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