Senior Evaluation Specialist

Why is this a great job? (From the hiring manager) This role combines rigorous evaluation with real community impact. The Senior Evaluation Specialist will support a multi-year clinical transformation initiative across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, working closely with the clinics and health centers serving their communities.

At LPHI, evaluation is a core part of the organization’s approach. The MEL team is collaborative and mission-driven, and this role will lead evaluation design and build practical monitoring systems, with a focus on equity and community health outcomes.

The position offers a competitive salary, a hybrid work option, and comprehensive benefits.

ABOUT US
The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is a statewide, non-profit organization that has been promoting the health and well-being of Louisianians since 1997. Our employees work alongside 500+ partner organizations at the local, state, and national levels to leverage our broad expertise in public health to achieve our mission of ensuring that everyone has fair and just opportunities to be healthy and well.  

Our strategic plan priority areas include Health Equity, Partnerships and Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization. To learn more, visit www.lphi.org. 

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title: Senior Evaluation Specialist 

Salary Range: $77,000- 95,000 (Professional 3)

• Salary is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related reasons

Work Schedule: 40-hour work week

• LPHI offers traditional (M-F, 8 am-5 pm), flexible (for example, M-F 10 am-7pm), and compressed work schedules (for example, M-Th 8 am-7 pm). Schedule details finalized between employee and manager. 

Location: This is a Louisiana-based, hybrid position with occasional (<20%) travel required

• LPHI maintains an office in New Orleans if the employee prefers to be full-time in-office
• Employee must reside in Louisiana during the time of employment 

Team: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Reports To: Director, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning 

Supervises: MEL Analyst 

Benefits:

• LPHI contributes 7% of pre-tax salary to the employees’ 401k per pay period regardless of employee contribution, after six continuous months of employment
• 100% paid premiums for employee health (Core plan), dental, short-term disability, long-term disability and term life insurance beginning on the first day of the month, on or following one month of full-time employment
• 100% paid Employee Assistance Program
• 100% paid parking at 601 Tchoupitoulas Parking Garage
• Traditional, flexible, or compressed work schedules
• Resources committed to professional development
• Holidays, Vacation and Sick Days:
• 15+ paid holidays per year that includes Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break 
• 10 vacation days accrued per year, years 0-2
• 15 vacation days accrued per year, years 3-5
• 20 vacation days accrued per year, year 6+ 
• 3 personal days
• 1 floating holiday (employee’s choice)
• 12 sick days

ABOUT THE POSITION

LPHI's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team supports some of Louisiana's leading public health programs — from statewide tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives to community health needs assessments conducted on behalf of health systems across the state, to multi-site programs working to improve health outcomes in underserved communities. The MEL team is central to LPHI's ability to deliver high-quality evaluation work across a growing portfolio of public health programs.

LPHI is hiring a Senior Evaluation Specialist to support a multi-year clinical transformation initiative across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast and other projects. This initiative works alongside primary care clinics, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, and health system partners to strengthen the ways clinical settings support community health. You'll be embedded in that work from the evaluation side, helping to design the systems and frameworks that tell us what's working, for whom, and why. This position sits within LPHI's Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team, reports to the MEL Director and works in close collaboration with the Clinical Transformation Associate Director.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

Evaluation Design and Implementation

• Lead the development of a monitoring and evaluation design for clinical transformation, including development of logic models, theories of change, and creation of monitoring systems and evaluation frameworks
• Design and implement mixed-methods evaluation approaches, integrating quantitative and qualitative components as appropriate
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and compliance with ethical standards and funder requirements throughout the project lifecycle
• Lead or support IRB submissions as required

Monitoring System Design

• Identify and define key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with program goals, funder requirements, and organizational priorities
• Design and implement monitoring systems to track KPIs over time, including data collection processes, reporting cadences, and data governance protocols. 
• Develop dashboards and data visualization tools that make performance data accessible and actionable for program teams and leadership
• Establish clear standards and protocols for ongoing monitoring across the MEL portfolio. 

Learning and Knowledge Management

• Synthesize evaluation findings into actionable insights that program teams can apply to improve design and delivery
• Facilitate learning conversations, after-action reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions that connect data to real program decisions
• Document lessons learned and best practices across the MEL portfolio

Supervision and Team Development

• Directly supervise a MEL Analyst, providing day-to-day guidance, ongoing feedback, and formal performance management
• Support the analyst in building technical skills and professional judgment over time
• Serve as a technical mentor and thought partner for other MEL team members on evaluation methods and rigor

Reporting and Project Management

• Prepare high-quality reports for funders, steering committees, and organizational leadership
• Develop dashboards and reporting systems that make program data accessible and actionable
• Manage project budgets, contracts, and invoices for assigned work
• Provide regular written and verbal updates to internal and external stakeholders

Additional Responsibilities

• Train program staff on MEL tools, data collection processes, and data-informed decision-making
• Support the development of communication materials for LPHI's newsletters, website, and social media
• Lead or support convenings with community and organizational stakeholders
• Participate actively in team and organization-wide meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned

ABOUT YOU

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Statistics, Social Sciences, Data Science, or a related field. 
• At least 7 years of experience in program evaluation, monitoring and evaluation, or applied research in a nonprofit, public health, or community-based setting
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative evaluation methods, including multivariate analysis
• Experience designing and leading evaluations for public health or community-based programs
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical quality measures and reporting requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospital systems
• Understanding of HEDIS measures and UDS reporting
• Familiarity with federal grant evaluation requirements, particularly CDC and NIH
• Proficiency with statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, or equivalent) and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex findings to non-technical audiences
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines without compromising quality
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-faceted projects and perform well under pressure.
• Ability to work with diverse personalities with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities 

• Analytical thinking paired with practical problem-solving — able to design a rigorous evaluation and troubleshoot data collection issues in the field
• Strong attention to detail, especially in data quality and reporting accuracy
• Ability to translate evaluation findings into learning that programs can apply
• Comfort working across teams with varying technical backgrounds and organizational cultures
• Leadership presence and confidence in mentoring and developing junior staff
• Collaborative by nature, with the ability to work independently when needed
• Commitment to health equity and community-centered approaches to public health work

Your Impact at LPHI
The work you do at LPHI supports the organization’s ability to operate effectively and serve its mission. Your role contributes to how work gets done across teams—helping ensure efforts are organized, responsive, and aligned to organizational priorities that improve and advance health equity. 

 We value collaboration, respect for lived experience, and continuous learning, and we strive to create an environment where every team member can contribute fully to advancing Health Equity, strengthening Partnerships and Collaboration, building a Healthier Louisiana, and supporting a Thriving Organization. 

How We Work

Work Environment & Physical Considerations: 

We operate in a flexible work environment that includes both hybrid and fully remote roles, depending on position responsibilities and organizational needs. Our approach emphasizes trust, accountability, collaboration, and clear outcomes.

In all roles, employees can expect:

• Clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations
• Regular communication with supervisors and colleagues to support alignment and progress
• Thoughtful use of technology to enable effective collaboration and productivity
• Shared responsibility for maintaining a consistent organizational voice and upholding our values

Some positions require a hybrid schedule, with periodic onsite presence to support collaboration, relationship-building, and key meetings. Other positions are designated as fully remote. Work arrangements are determined by role requirements and may evolve over time based on operational needs.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: Louisiana Public Health Institute is committed to accessibility and inclusion by providing reasonable accommodations and, when appropriate, flexible work arrangements, for qualified individuals with disabilities to support the job application process and performance of essential job functions consistent with applicable laws and organizational requirements. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected]. 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: Louisiana Public Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race (including hair texture and natural hair styles), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and religious grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity (including transgender identity, status and transitioning), gender expression and sex stereotyping, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information (including genetic information), family care or medical leave status, military caregiver status, military status, veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, engaging in protected communications regarding employee wages, requesting a reasonable accommodation on the basis of disability or bona fide religious belief or practice, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any of these factors.

*As with all positions at LPHI, this position is funded through grant and/or contract funding, which is renewed under the provisions of the grantor of the contract. Positions are contingent upon the continuation of grant/contract funding.