Research, Evaluation & Learning Manager at The Food Bank… · Sparks

Why We Exist
At the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, we believe that no one should go hungry, not today, not ever. Hunger isn’t just about food; it’s about dignity, opportunity, and the power of community. Every meal we provide is a step toward hope, a step toward equity, and a step toward a future where food insecurity is no longer a reality.

How We Do It
We’re not just a food bank, we’re a movement. A team of dedicated individuals, rowing together, driven by a shared commitment to making a real, measurable impact. Every role here, from warehouse operations to community outreach, is part of a bigger mission, Feeding neighbors facing hunger today and solving hunger for tomorrow through community partnership.

What We Offer

This is not the place to chase titles, clock in for a paycheck, or climb a corporate ladder. This is the place for people who care deeply, work hard, and stand together, because the work we do is bigger than any one of us. If you’re looking to be part of a team that values purpose over prestige and collaboration over competition, we’d love to have you on board. At the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, we don’t just feed people, we fuel change. Come be a part of something greater; we’re not just a paycheck!

We are a safety-sensitive, drug free workplace. *Not all positions at the Food Bank are considered Safety Sensitive, but those that are- are 100% drug free - per federal safety sensitive guidelines.

Job Purpose:
The Research, Evaluation & Learning Manager leads the Food Bank of Northern Nevada's efforts to understand community needs, evaluate program effectiveness, measure community impact, and translate research and evaluation findings into actionable insights that strengthen organizational strategy, program design, and service delivery.

This position develops and implements research and evaluation frameworks that assess food access, food insecurity, program outcomes, community needs, service gaps, and the effectiveness of FBNN's programs and partnerships across its diverse urban, rural, and frontier service area.

The Manager works collaboratively with internal stakeholders and departmental teams, community partners, and people experiencing food insecurity to ensure that organizational decisions are informed by reliable evidence, meaningful community input, and an understanding of the conditions that contribute to food insecurity.

The position leads research design, community needs assessments, program evaluation, outcomes measurement, and organizational learning. It uses existing data infrastructure and collaborates with internal functions to assess, analyze, and interpret data without duplicating responsibility for the development or maintenance of data systems, dashboards, or routine operational reporting.

Primary focus: Research, program evaluation, community needs assessment, impact measurement, community voice, and evidence-based organizational learning.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 403/b Retirement Savings Plan
• 12 (+) Paid Holidays per year
• Generous PTO Accrual
• STD
• LTD
• Life Insurance
• AD&D
• Paid Education Reimbursement
• Paycheck Advance (On-Demand Pay)
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Friendly and collaborative work environment

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, public policy, sociology, evaluation, research methods, statistics, community development, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in program evaluation, applied research, community needs assessment, outcomes measurement, or a related field.
• Experience developing research methodologies, surveys, evaluation frameworks, and data collection instruments.
• Experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative data and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to develop research reports, executive summaries, and presentations for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, coordinate cross-functional initiatives, and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate complex research findings in clear, practical, and accessible language.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to ethical research practices, confidentiality, cultural responsiveness, and respectful engagement with communities experiencing food insecurity.

Preferred Education & Experience:

• Master's degree in public health, social work, public policy, sociology, evaluation, research methods, statistics, community development, or a related field.
• Experience in food banking, food security, public health, human services, nutrition, nonprofit program evaluation, or community-based research.
• Experience conducting research in rural, frontier, Tribal, or geographically dispersed communities.
• Experience with mixed-methods research, survey sampling, qualitative analysis, and outcome measurement.
• Familiarity with logic models, theories of change, evaluation frameworks, and continuous improvement methods.
• Experience evaluating nutrition assistance, food access, health equity, or community-based programs.
• Familiarity with GIS, Power BI, Excel, statistical analysis software, or qualitative research tools.
• Experience with grant-funded evaluation, research partnerships, or academic and community research collaborations.

Technical Skills & Research Platforms

Demonstrated proficiency in research, evaluation, and data analysis tools, such as:

• Survey development and data collection platforms such as Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Microsoft Forms, or equivalent.
• Statistical analysis and data interpretation tools such as SPSS, R, Python, or equivalent.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS), preferably ArcGIS, for geographic research, community needs assessments, and service area analysis.
• Qualitative research and analysis tools such as Dedoose, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or equivalent.
• Microsoft Office applications, including advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Data visualization and reporting platforms such as Power BI.

Experience with program evaluation frameworks, logic models, theories of change, mixed-methods research, outcomes measurement, and community-based research methodologies is strongly preferred. The ability to select appropriate research tools, develop effective data collection strategies, interpret findings, and translate research into actionable organizational recommendations is essential.

Essential Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Community Needs Assessment & Service Area Research

Lead FBNN's efforts to understand food insecurity, food access, community needs, and service gaps across its approximately 90,000-square-mile service area.

Responsibilities include:

• Co-Leads the development, implementation, and analysis of the triennial Service Area Assessment and related community research initiatives in partnership with the Community Engagement Manager
• Develop county-level and regional assessment frameworks that examine food insecurity, food access, existing services, unmet needs, and barriers to accessing nutritious food.
• Assess the availability, accessibility, capacity, and geographic distribution of charitable food resources and other food access supports.
• Incorporate neighbor, partner agency, Tribal community, producer, and other stakeholder perspectives into community assessments.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to understand differences in food access needs across urban, rural, and frontier communities.
• Identify gaps in service availability, geographic coverage, cultural responsiveness, and access to nutritious foods.
• Lead research on communities experiencing limited grocery access, transportation barriers, and other structural challenges affecting food access.
• Develop research findings and recommendations to inform FBNN's three-year Operational Response Plan, strategic planning, program development, and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with data team to use GIS maps, partner agency data, food insecurity estimates, and other available datasets to support assessment and planning.

2. Program Evaluation & Outcomes Measurement

Develop and implement evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness, accessibility, quality, and outcomes of FBNN programs and services.

Programs include but not limited to:

• Mobile Harvest
• Senior Hunger and CSFP
• Child Nutrition
• SNAP Outreach
• Food as Medicine
• Partner Agency Network
• TEFAP and Tribal partnerships
• Rural Food Hub initiatives

Responsibilities include:

• Work with program leaders to define intended outcomes, program objectives, target populations, and measures of success.
• Develop program logic models, theories of change, evaluation plans, and outcome measurement frameworks.
• Establish appropriate evaluation methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches.
• Evaluate whether programs are reaching intended populations and addressing identified community needs.
• Assess barriers to participation, accessibility, neighbor experience, and equitable program delivery.
• Examine program outcomes and identify factors that contribute to or limit program effectiveness.
• Develop recommendations for program improvement, expansion, redesign, or further study in collaboration with program leadership.
• Establish evaluation approaches that are feasible, proportionate to program resources, and appropriate to the available evidence.
• Distinguish between program outputs, short-term outcomes, longer-term outcomes, and broader community-level changes.

3. Research Design, Survey Development & Community Voice

Lead the design and implementation of research methods that meaningfully incorporate the experiences, needs, and perspectives of neighbors and community partners.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop research instruments, surveys, interview guides, focus group protocols, and other data collection tools.
• Establish appropriate research methodologies, sampling strategies, recruitment approaches, and data collection procedures.
• Lead or coordinate neighbor surveys, partner agency assessments, community listening sessions, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews.
• Ensure research tools are accessible, culturally responsive, and appropriate for diverse communities and populations.
• Develop approaches to gather input from rural and frontier communities, Tribal partners, culturally diverse populations, and people who may face barriers to participating in traditional surveys.
• Coordinate FBNN teams and programs to integrate community feedback into organizational planning and program improvement.
• Analyze qualitative information, including themes, experiences, perceptions, and barriers identified through community engagement.
• Establish processes to communicate research findings back to participants, partners, and communities where appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality, informed consent, and ethical research practices, including safeguards for sensitive participant information.

4. Community Impact & Equity Analysis

Lead the development of approaches to understand and communicate FBNN's contribution to improved food access and reduced food insecurity.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop an organizational impact measurement framework that connects FBNN's activities and services to intended community outcomes.
• Assess how food distribution, direct service programs, and partner agency networks contribute to access to nutritious food.
• Examine differences in food access, program participation, and outcomes across counties, geographic areas, and populations.
• Evaluate the accessibility and cultural responsiveness of food distribution models and program services.
• Conduct research on culturally preferred foods, community food preferences, and barriers to obtaining nutritious and culturally appropriate food.
• Lead the Culturally Responsive Food Research initiative to inform food sourcing, purchasing, distribution, and program design.
• Evaluate the implementation and early outcomes of the Rural Food Hub, including access, service capacity, partner experience, and operational response to identified community needs.
• Develop appropriate methods to measure changes in food access and food security while recognizing the limitations of attributing community-level outcomes to a single organization or program.
• Collaborate with the Data Analyst to incorporate reliable operational data, geographic information, and program participation measures into impact analyses.

5. Strategic Planning, Advocacy & Policy Research

Provide research and evaluation support to inform FBNN's strategic priorities, advocacy efforts, and organizational response to changes in the food and social service systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitor and research emerging issues affecting food insecurity, food access, nutrition, poverty, and community well-being.
• Assess the potential and observed implications of federal, state, and local policy changes affecting food-insecure households and FBNN's service area.
• Research relevant changes in SNAP, Medicaid, nutrition programs, food assistance policies, and other programs affecting community food security.
• Analyze publicly available demographic, economic, food insecurity, and community resource data to identify trends and emerging needs.
• Develop research briefs, policy impact summaries, and evidence-based materials to support organizational leadership and advocacy priorities.
• Provide research and evaluation findings to support strategic planning, the Operational Response Plan, program development, and organizational resource allocation.
• Collaborate with Advocacy and Communications teams to translate research findings into accurate, accessible materials for community stakeholders, policymakers, and the public.
• Maintain a clear distinction between documented findings, research limitations, and policy or program recommendations.

6. Organizational Learning & Continuous Improvement

Establish a practical and sustainable approach to organizational learning that ensures research and evaluation findings are used to improve FBNN's programs, partnerships, and community impact.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop a coordinated annual research and evaluation work plan aligned with FBNN's strategic plan and organizational priorities.
• Establish processes for reviewing evaluation findings with program leaders and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitate program learning sessions, evaluation debriefs, and cross-departmental discussions of research findings.
• Work with departments to translate evaluation recommendations into actionable improvement plans.
• Track organizational responses to evaluation findings and document lessons learned.
• Identify emerging research, evidence-based practices, and promising approaches relevant to food banking, rural food access, and community food systems.
• Build internal capacity by developing evaluation guidance, research resources, and practical tools for program staff.
• Promote a culture of inquiry, accountability, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Ensure findings are communicated in ways that are accessible and useful to program staff, leadership, partners, and the Board.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Research design and evaluation methodology
• Critical thinking and evidence interpretation
• Community engagement and cultural responsiveness
• Program and systems thinking
• Strategic analysis and recommendation development
• Project management and cross-functional collaboration
• Written communication and presentation
• Ethical research and data confidentiality
• Continuous learning and organizational improvement

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This job has no supervisory duties

Travel:

This position requires limited/occasional travel throughout the reno/sparks area.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full time. Schedule is Mon-Fri 8:00 am- 4:30 pm (Flexible)

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly works in an office setting.
• Employee utilizes a computer a significant portion of the day.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate computers, objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.

EEO Statement:

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.

In addition to federal law requirements, The Food Bank of Northern Nevada complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.