Senior Manager, Data & Impact in NEW YORK, New York at America Needs You

Full-time, Hybrid Role

About Us

Today, more than half of all college students in the U.S. are first-generation—the first in their families to navigate college and forge a career path beyond graduation. But only 21% of first-generation college students graduate within six years. While there are a multitude of programs for first-generation college students, few offer the deep mentoring relationships and skill-building necessary to graduate and launch successful careers. This is where America Needs You (ANY) comes in. After completing our Fellows Program, 96% of ANY Fellows graduate college and go on to earn a median income significantly higher than their peers.

ANY is the national nonprofit connecting first-generation college students with transformative mentorship and intensive career development for economic mobility. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York City, ANY expanded to New Jersey in 2012, Illinois in 2015, and our operation continues to grow. In 2021, ANY launched FirstGenU, a flexible digital career development program designed to help first-generation college students across the country launch great careers. Visit americaneedsyou.org to learn more about our programs and their impact.

Position Overview

America Needs You is seeking a Senior Manager, Data & Impact to lead the organization’s program data, impact measurement, evaluation, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts. Reporting directly to the Chief Impact & Innovation Officer, this role is responsible for both managing the day-to-day execution of ANY’s data and evaluation work and strengthening the systems, processes, and practices that support organizational learning and decision-making.

The Senior Manager, Data & Impact will assess current data collection and reporting practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and design practical solutions that improve the quality, consistency, accessibility, and usefulness of information across the organization. This role will serve as ANY’s primary internal expert on program measurement, qualitative and quantitative evaluation, Fellow voice, data-informed decision-making, and impact reporting.

The Senior Manager will independently manage recurring data collection, quality assurance, surveys, qualitative feedback, dashboards, analysis, and reporting while also recommending and implementing improvements to ANY’s data infrastructure and practices. The role will translate findings into actionable recommendations, partner with leaders and staff across departments to drive continuous improvement and ensure that data is not only collected and reported but actively used to strengthen programs, improve participant experiences, and communicate organizational impact.

Our Ideal Candidate:

• Is committed to ANY’s mission of supporting ambitious, first-generation college students

• Is excited by the opportunity to strengthen how ANY collects, manages, uses, and communicates data

• Loves making systems clearer, more useful, and easier for teams to follow

• Can translate data, feedback, and findings into clear recommendations that help teams make decisions

• Builds trust with colleagues and can support staff with different levels of comfort using data

We Offer:

• A warm, collaborative work environment with a rich culture of support and feedback

• A generous benefits package (health/dental insurance, 403(b), FSA, three weeks’ vacation, etc.)

• Connections to an expansive professional network

Responsibilities Include:

Data Strategy, Systems Improvement & Innovation

• Assess and strengthen ANY’s organization-wide data collection, reporting, evaluation, impact measurement, and data governance practices.

• Conduct ongoing reviews of data systems, workflows, surveys, dashboards, trackers, reporting processes, documentation, and ownership structures to identify inefficiencies, gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement.

• Evaluate whether current data collection methods provide meaningful, timely, and usable information and recommend what ANY should continue collecting, stop collecting, simplify, automate, or add.

• Develop practical recommendations that improve data quality, accessibility, consistency, efficiency, staff adoption, and usefulness across the organization.

• Design and implement scalable systems, tools, workflows, and accountability structures that support program measurement, organizational learning, external reporting, and decision-making.

• Establish and maintain clear data definitions, reporting standards, documentation, decision rights, ownership, timelines, and quality expectations across departments.

• Lead efforts to streamline workflows, reduce duplicative and manual tracking, improve system integration, and create clear sources of truth.

• Lead implementation and change management for approved improvements, including piloting new approaches, gathering staff feedback, refining processes, and supporting organization-wide adoption.

• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented changes and recommend further adjustments based on data quality, usability, staff experience, and organizational needs.

• Research emerging practices, technologies, and tools in nonprofit data management, program evaluation, impact measurement, qualitative research, automation, and data security and recommend relevant opportunities for ANY.

• Serve as the organization’s internal subject matter expert on data systems, evaluation, impact measurement, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with the Chief Impact & Innovation Officer to identify priorities and strategic opportunities to strengthen ANY’s use of data and evidence in program design and organizational decision-making.

Impact Measurement, Evaluation & Fellow Voice

• Develop and implement practical evaluation and impact measurement approaches aligned with ANY’s Theory of Change, strategic priorities, program model, and program optimization work.

• Define, track, and interpret indicators related to Fellow persistence, Mentor Coach persistence, workshop attendance, engagement, internships, career outcomes, alumni outcomes, program quality, and other organizational priorities.

• Design and manage surveys, assessments, focus groups, interviews, listening sessions, pulse checks, reflection activities, and other quantitative and qualitative feedback methods.

• Strengthen how ANY captures and uses Fellow voice, Mentor Coach feedback, alumni perspectives, and staff observations in evaluation and program decision-making.

• Develop focus group questions, interview protocols, survey instruments, consent language, and other collection tools that are accessible, participant-centered, and aligned with the intended learning goals.

• Synthesize qualitative feedback into clear themes, findings, implications, and recommendations and elevate these insights alongside quantitative outcomes.

• Identify opportunities to gather feedback in ways that are relational, engaging, culturally responsive, and less burdensome for Fellows, Mentor Coaches, alumni, and staff.

• Champion ethical, respectful, consent-based, and non-exploitative practices for gathering, interpreting, and communicating participant feedback and stories.

• Evaluate new assessment approaches and recommend what should continue, change, expand, or be discontinued.

Data Collection, Quality Assurance & Management

• Manage the systems and recurring processes used to collect, track, clean, organize, store, and use program and impact data across national and regional work.

• Ensure data collection requirements are integrated into program calendars, staff workflows, surveys, reporting cycles, and operational processes.

• Establish and monitor regular data quality reviews and audits to identify missing, late, inconsistent, incomplete, duplicative, or inaccurate information.

• Partner with staff to resolve current data quality concerns and identify the root causes of recurring issues.

• Clarify what data is required, why it matters, who owns it, when it is due, how it should be submitted, and how it will be used.

• Maintain accurate and accessible documentation of source systems, data definitions, workflows, reporting calendars, quality standards, responsibilities, and changes to processes.

• Manage the administration of recurring surveys and assessments, including timelines, distribution, reminders, response tracking, follow-up, and data preparation.

• Monitor response rates and collection progress and work with teams to address barriers to timely and meaningful participation.

• Maintain confidentiality, appropriate access, ethical data use, and sound data-management practices.

Analysis, Recommendations & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze quantitative and qualitative information to identify trends, patterns, disparities, strengths, risks, barriers, and opportunities for improvement.

• Move beyond describing results by explaining what findings mean, why they matter, and what actions ANY should consider.

• Develop clear, practical recommendations based on data, participant feedback, program context, and organizational priorities.

• Facilitate regular data reviews, quarterly learning cycles, program reflections, and decision-making conversations with Program teams and organizational leadership.

• Help teams determine what should continue, change, expand, be tested, or be discontinued based on available evidence and operational realities.

• Track decisions, owners, next steps, and implementation commitments that emerge from data and learning conversations.

• Assess whether implemented program or process changes are producing the intended results and recommend adjustments when needed.

• Support a culture of learning in which staff use data for reflection, accountability, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

Reporting, Dashboards & Impact Communication

• Manage monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc program and impact reporting for internal and external audiences.

• Develop and maintain dashboards, scorecards, trackers, visualizations, presentations, summaries, and written narratives that communicate findings clearly and accurately.

• Ensure reports are timely, aligned with source data, transparent about limitations, and appropriate for the intended audience.

• Prepare programmatic and impact updates for the Executive Leadership Team, Board, staff, funders, partners, and other stakeholders.

• Collaborate with Revenue-generating teams and Finance to support accurate and compelling funder reports, grant applications, corporate partner updates, and external reporting requirements.

• Partner with Marketing & Communications to translate findings into charts, data snapshots, impact stories, and other external communications.

• Maintain a reporting calendar that identifies deadlines, required metrics, responsible parties, source systems, and submission status.

• Respond to and prioritize ad hoc data requests while balancing recurring commitments and organizational priorities.

• Translate complex findings into clear language that helps different audiences understand ANY’s progress, outcomes, challenges, and impact.

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Implementation & Capacity Building

• Serve as the primary day-to-day partner for program data, evaluation, reporting, and impact measurement across National and Regional Program teams, Operations, Revenue-generating teams, Finance, Marketing & Communications, and organizational leadership.

• Build trusted working relationships with staff who have varying levels of experience and comfort with data.

• Translate data priorities and recommendations into practical steps, tools, timelines, and expectations that staff can understand and implement.

• Create and deliver training, guidance, and resources related to data entry, collection, surveys, dashboards, definitions, reporting, data quality, and data use.

• Help teams incorporate data responsibilities into program calendars and operational workflows without creating unnecessary administrative burden.

• Clarify roles, responsibilities, handoffs, and accountability for data collection, review, reporting, and follow-up across departments.

• Troubleshoot implementation barriers, recommend solutions, and elevate decisions that require the Chief Impact & Innovation Officer or other senior leaders.

• Build staff capacity to interpret information, ask meaningful questions, and use findings to improve programs and practices.

• Support major internal meetings, Board updates, funder meetings, strategic planning conversations, audits, and monitoring processes as needed.

Special Projects & Other Duties

• Lead or support special projects related to data systems, program evaluation, technology integration, qualitative research, reporting, audits, program optimization, organizational learning, or impact communication.

• Represent ANY in relevant external learning communities, peer exchanges, or field-building opportunities when appropriate.

• Contribute to a collaborative, learning-oriented culture that values accuracy, curiosity, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

Data Strategy and Systems Improvement: Assesses complex data environments, identifies root causes and opportunities, and designs practical systems that improve accuracy, efficiency, accessibility, and use.

Impact Measurement and Evaluation: Builds and implements meaningful quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand program quality, participant experience, outcomes, and long-term impact.

Analysis and Recommendation-Making: Interprets information, identifies patterns and implications, and translates findings into clear, practical recommendations and decisions.

Project and Change Management: Moves complex, cross-functional work from assessment through implementation while clarifying roles, managing timelines, and supporting adoption.

Communication and Collaboration: Communicates complex information clearly and accurately, builds trust across teams, and helps colleagues with different levels of data knowledge participate successfully in shared processes.

Qualifications:

• Significant progressive experience in university partnerships, higher education, business development, strategic partnerships, growth strategy, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience developing and advancing complex partnerships with senior institutional stakeholders.

• Strong strategic and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate opportunities, synthesize information, and make clear recommendations.

• Experience building and managing a multi-stage pipeline or portfolio of external partnerships.

• Ability to develop strategy while also owning the detailed follow-through required to move opportunities forward.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and negotiation skills.

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across long and sometimes changing timelines.

• Ability to work collaboratively across functions and influence without direct authority.

• Comfort working in an evolving environment and helping create new systems, processes, and approaches.

• Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree or equivalent relevant experience is welcome.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and relationship management or CRM systems, especially Salesforce.

• Ability to travel as needed to cultivate, assess, and support university partnerships across markets.

Salary Range:

$75,000 - $80,000