Director of Research and Evaluation
Posted
Description
Job Title: Director of Research and Evaluation
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Department: Research and Training
Reports to: VP of Research & Training
Updated: November 2026
Job Summary
The Director of Research & Evaluation is a key leadership position at Hanna Center, responsible for advancing the organization’s research, evaluation, and continuous improvement agenda as Hanna works toward becoming a national leader in mental health and trauma-informed, healing-centered care. Reporting to the Vice President of Research & Training, the Director works closely with program directors, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure that research and evaluation inform organizational strategy, strengthen program effectiveness, and improve outcomes for the individuals and communities Hanna serves.
The Director joins Hanna at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its Research & Evaluation function. With foundational internal systems and processes established, Hanna is positioned to expand beyond internal program evaluation and data systems toward a broader research agenda that combines the conduct of applied research with the translation of external evidence into practice. The Director will build on this foundation to strengthen Hanna’s research capacity, evaluate the impact of its programs and services, and identify evidence-based approaches that advance mental health and trauma-informed care.
In partnership with the Vice President of Research & Training, the Director will establish research priorities, guide the application of evidence across Hanna’s programs and services, and build staff capacity to use data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement. The Director will also identify opportunities to extend Hanna’s expertise through external research partnerships, innovative evaluation methods, technology, software applications, training, and consulting services that help other organizations improve practice and demonstrate impact.
The Director will directly supervise the Research & Evaluation Data Analyst and interns, providing strategic direction, guidance, and professional development while ensuring the quality and relevance of research and evaluation activities. Through this work, the Director will help Hanna translate research into meaningful improvements in practice, contribute to knowledge and innovation in the field, and establish a sustainable research and evaluation function that extends Hanna’s impact beyond its own programs and services. Ultimately, the Director will play a critical role in positioning Hanna as a nationally recognized leader in applying research, evidence, and innovation to improve mental health outcomes and advance trauma-informed, healing-centered care.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
1. Strategic Research & Evaluation Leadership
- Establish and lead the strategic direction for research, in alignment with Hanna Center’s mission and its goal of becoming a national leader in mental health and trauma-informed, healing-centered care.
- Partner with the Vice President of Research & Training and senior leadership to identify research priorities, evaluate organizational needs, and align research activities with strategic objectives.
- Build on established internal research and evaluation systems to expand Hanna’s capacity to conduct applied research, translate external evidence into practice, and demonstrate measurable impact.
2. Applied Research & Knowledge Translation
- Lead and conduct applied research addressing mental health, trauma-informed care, program effectiveness, service delivery, and organizational priorities.
- Identify, critically assess, interpret, and translate relevant external research into practical applications for Hanna’s programs, services, training, and consulting.
- Design and oversee research studies that assess the effectiveness of existing programs, new services, and emerging interventions.
- Build relationships with academic institutions, researchers, community organizations, and other partners to advance collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
- Communicate research findings through reports, presentations, publications, and other appropriate channels to inform practice and contribute to the broader field 3. Community Partnerships & Engagement
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, nonprofits, healthcare, government, and community-based organizations. • Serve as a point of contact for partner organizations, assessing their training needs and coordinating follow-up support.
- Launch and facilitate communities of practice, professional learning networks, and alumni groups for training participants.
- Represent the Research & Training Division at community meetings, conferences, and panels to share mental health and wellness practices and strengthen collaborations.
- Identify partnership opportunities and share them with Research & Training leadership to inform program planning.
3. Research Systems, Data & Innovation
- Oversee the continued development and improvement of Hanna’s research infrastructure, data systems, evaluation tools, and reporting processes.
- Promote staff access to meaningful information and build organizational capacity to interpret and use data to improve outcomes.
- Identify opportunities to apply technology, software development, and data analytics to strengthen research, evaluation, and service delivery.
- Guide the development and testing of practical, scalable tools and systems that can be adapted for use by other organizations.
- Ensure research and data practices reflect appropriate standards for quality, privacy, confidentiality, ethical oversight, and responsible data management.
4. External Partnerships & Service Development
- In collaboration with the Vice President of Research & Training, identify opportunities to extend Hanna’s research and evaluation expertise through external partnerships, consulting, technical assistance, and training.
- Assess the research, evaluation, and data system needs of external organizations and identify opportunities to develop relevant services and solutions.
- Translate Hanna’s internal expertise and applied research into transferable tools, methodologies, software applications, and evidence-informed services.
- Support the development of sustainable external offerings that extend Hanna’s impact, strengthen its reputation, and contribute to the financial sustainability of Research & Training. • Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of external services and partnerships.
5. Team Leadership & Supervision
- Directly supervise the Research & Evaluation Data Analyst and interns, establishing priorities, delegating responsibilities, monitoring performance, and supporting professional development.
- Provide direction and oversight for research design, data analysis, evaluation activities, and reporting to ensure high-quality outputs.
- Foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment that supports professional growth, innovation, accountability, and shared learning.
- Coordinate with program staff and organizational leaders to integrate research and evaluation into daily practice.
- Establish clear workflows, expectations, and performance measures for research and evaluation activities.
Core Competencies
- Research Design and Statistical Analysis: Expertise in research methodology, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches, and analysis of complex data.
- Program Evaluation and Outcomes Measurement: Ability to assess program effectiveness, measure outcomes, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Research Translation and Innovation: Ability to translate evidence into practice and develop effective data systems, dashboards, and evaluation tools.
- Strategic Leadership: Ability to align research and evaluation priorities with organizational goals and advance Hanna Center’s leadership in mental health and trauma informed, healing-centered care.
- Communication and Data Storytelling: Ability to communicate research findings clearly and translate data into actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.
- Collaboration and Partnership Development: Ability to build effective relationships across departments and with external research, education, and community partners.
- Team Leadership and Development: Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop research staff, analysts, and interns.
- Ethical and Culturally Responsive Research: Commitment to research integrity, responsible data stewardship, and culturally responsive practices, particularly in mental health and human services.
Work Environment
This position is based at Hanna Center in Sonoma, CA, and may require travel within the region Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet the needs of participants and partner organizations.
Physical Demands
- This position requires the ability to sit, bend, squat, stoop, and walk-up a flight of stairs and be able to safely lift 50 pounds and carry 20 pounds. Reach with hands and arms and use hands and fingers to handle objects and operate tools, computers, and/or controls.
- Must have a valid Driver’s License and ability to be insured by Company policy.
- Must clear background check for a Community Care Licensed facility, including physical, TB, and drug test.
Education and Experience
- Minimum qualification: Master’s degree in statistics, research methods, evaluation, quantitative psychology, public health, education, social sciences, or a related field with a strong emphasis on statistics and quantitative analysis, or commensurate professional experience.
- Preferred qualification: Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in statistics, quantitative research methods, measurement and evaluation, biostatistics, or related discipline, or commensurate experience demonstrating equivalent expertise.
- Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, research design, quantitative methods, and outcomes measurement.
- Experience conducting applied research and program evaluation, including developing evaluation frameworks, analyzing complex datasets, interpreting findings, and translating results into actionable recommendations.
- Experience applying statistical methods to assess program effectiveness, identify trends, measure outcomes, and support evidence-informed decision-making.
- Experience developing or improving data systems, dashboards, evaluation tools, and technology-enabled research processes.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate statistical findings clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences, including organizational leaders, practitioners, funders, and community partners.
- Experience in mental health, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, or related human services is highly desirable.
- Experience supervising research staff, analysts, or interns and collaborating across interdisciplinary teams is preferred.
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position, with a standard schedule of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position includes the option to work remotely one day per week, in coordination with the supervisor and organizational needs.
Affirmative Action/EEO Statement
Hanna is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
Other Duties
This job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to change at any time. Other duties may be assigned as needed to support organizational goals.
Signatures
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