Our client is an acclaimed global social research firm that impacts Australia’s most influencial projects. The business blends deep local expertise with proven methodologies, combining traditional  approaches with emerging technology to help organisations understand and anticipate the behaviours and motivations of  customers and citizens.

The Role
This leadership role will grow and lead the evaluation practice within a public policy and social research division. You will be recognised as an expert in evaluation methodology with a track record of delivering nationally significant policy and program evaluations, directing inputs from research teams, subcontractors and partners. The role combines strategic leadership of the evaluation service line with hands-on delivery on key accounts, while building the organisation's reputation and client relationships across the evaluation and monitoring space.

Responsibilities
This role spans the full breadth of the evaluation practice, including:

• Set and drive the strategic direction of the evaluation practice, sitting on the divisional senior leadership team
• Build and formalise monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capability, including methodology standards and quality assurance
• Identify and develop new service offerings aligned to government priorities (e.g. Indigenous affairs, social policy, health, climate and environment)
• Lead and quality-control evaluation proposals and tender responses, including budgeting and commercial terms
• Develop senior relationships with Commonwealth and state government departments, agencies and not-for-profit clients
• Represent the business at conferences, sector forums and professional bodies
• Design and oversee delivery of complex evaluations, including process, outcome, impact and economic evaluations
• Apply and oversee evaluation frameworks including theory of change, RCTs, quasi-experimental designs, and cost-benefit/cost-effectiveness analysis
• Provide senior technical review and sign-off on evaluation reports and recommendations before client delivery
• Manage, mentor and develop a multi-disciplinary team of evaluation consultants, researchers and analysts
• Support recruitment, career pathing and professional development within the practice

About You
To succeed in this role, you will bring the following experience and capabilities:

• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in evaluation, applied social research or public policy, including senior leadership of an evaluation function
• Proven ability to lead and win evaluation proposals and manage senior government client relationships
• Deep expertise across quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods evaluation approaches, economic evaluation and cost-benefit analysis
• Strong understanding of the Australian public policy and government procurement environment
• Experience working respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and stakeholders, or a strong commitment to developing this capability
• Excellent report writing, presentation and stakeholder communication skills
• Demonstrated people leadership experience
• Postgraduate qualification in social science, public policy, economics or a related field highly regarded

Benefits

• The opportunity to lead a growing, high-impact evaluation practice within a well-established research organisation
• A hybrid working environment and flexible working arrangements
• Access to a learning platform and ongoing professional development
• A collaborative, values-driven culture and the chance to influence policy outcomes that matter to Australian communities

Please note that you must have permanent residency/citizenship for Australia to be considered for this role.

We look forward to hearing from you.