Director of Evaluation

You might be a Principal Consultant who’s looking for your first Director role and an exciting new challenge (D1) or you might be an experienced Director looking for your next organisational home (D2). Either way, as Director of Evaluation, you will hold strategic responsibility for generating high-quality, policy-relevant evidence that drives meaningful change for young people in the UK and globally. You will bring deep expertise in evaluation methodologies, education research, and policy, with a proven track record of delivering evidence that influences decision-making and practice at scale. 

You will lead and inspire a high-performing team, providing leadership and coordinating work across our specialist teams to ensure analytical rigour and relevance. You will identify and develop opportunities for a range of high-quality evaluations, drawing on the latest methodological innovations and understanding how these intersect with education, inclusivity and youth development. 

Oxford MeasurEd prides itself on analytical rigour and we strive to achieve excellence in everything we do. This commitment is matched by dedication to our core purpose – working to understand and improve learning around the world. We are a fast-paced organisation, focused on responding to the information needs of our partners as well as contributing to longer-term policy debates. Candidates will need the ability to work at pace on multiple projects at the same time within an academically-rigorous and policy-engaged team. 

Working closely with Oxford MeasurEd’s Senior Leadership Team, you will play a central role in setting the strategic direction of our evaluation portfolio, building partnerships across the sector/s, and ensuring our programmes contribute to long-term systems change. You will also act as a visible thought leader, representing Oxford MeasurEd externally, influencing policymakers, funders and practitioners, and strengthening Oxford MeasurEd’s reputation as a trusted partner in education research and evaluation. 

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Oxford MeasurEd at a critical point in our growth. Now in our sixth year of operation and halfway through our second strategic period, we are investing intentionally in our team and expanding our portfolio of high-profile, high-impact projects. As Director of Evaluation, you will be at the forefront of this growth, helping to define priorities, foster innovation, and maximise the impact of our work on education outcomes worldwide. 

Main duties and responsibilities 

Strategic leadership 

• Contribute to long-term organisational development, including talent development, new roles, and innovative ways of working. 

• Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to decision-making on organisational priorities. 

• Ensure our work informs national and international debates and policy decisions. 

• Shape (D1) or shape and lead (D2) Oxford MeasurEd’s evaluation strategy. 

• Work with SLT colleagues to drive organisational strategy, manage risks, and embed a positive, inclusive culture (D2). 

Business development and external engagement 

• Build and maintain influential relationships with policymakers, funders, practitioners, and academic partners. 

• Act as a visible thought leader, representing Oxford MeasurEd through publications, events, media contributions, and advisory panels, strengthening our reputation as a trusted education evaluation partner. 

• Ensure evaluation findings are communicated effectively to diverse audiences, from policymakers and funders to practitioners and the public. 

• Contribute to external funding proposals and strategic partnerships that align with Oxford MeasurEd’s strategic priorities. 

Programme and evaluation oversight 

• Fill the roles of Project Director, Team Lead and/or Principal Investigator on strategically important evaluation programmes in both the UK and internationally. 

• Provide oversight and quality assurance of all evaluation activity, ensuring projects are methodologically rigorous, ethically sound, and policy relevant. 

• Lead the design and implementation of high-impact evaluation programmes, aligning them with organisational priorities and sector needs. 

• Guide and support the project delivery teams, while stepping into hands-on delivery where required. 

• Keep abreast of developments in evaluation methods, ensuring Oxford MeasurEd remains at the cutting edge of research and practice. 

• Anticipate and respond to emerging evidence gaps identified by policymakers, funders, and practitioners, positioning Oxford MeasurEd as the go-to source of insights (D2). 

Team leadership and development 

• Actively contribute to staff engagement and internal communications, ensuring transparency and alignment across the organisation. 

• Ensure effective resource planning, including recruitment, team workplans, and building a sustainable talent pipeline.  

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, providing direct line management to staff members.  

• Champion professional development, ensuring staff are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge. 

We are a small and collaborative organisation, and our Directors lead by example – working flexibly, sharing responsibility across teams, and stepping in to support colleagues where needed, while also driving forward their own strategic portfolio. 

About you 

Essential requirements 

• A strong publication record (academic or grey literature) in education evaluation in either the UK or in low- and middle-income countries. 

• Advanced expertise and skills in quantitative impact evaluation methodologies and quantitative data analysis. 

• Proficiency in quantitative analysis software packages including Stata. 

• Ability to lead and quality assure the design, delivery, analysis and reporting of a range of evaluation designs, including qualitative and mixed-method approaches. 

• Outstanding analytical and communication skills, able to interpret complex data and convey findings to diverse audiences. 

• Deep knowledge of the education sector, and an understanding of relevant policy environments. 

• Experience of securing and managing external funding. 

• Substantial experience managing client and partner relationships. 

• Strategic leadership experience, including setting organisational direction, managing risk, and ensuring financial sustainability (D2). 

• Experience of leading high-performing teams, supporting staff, and fostering an inclusive, positive culture. 

• Ability to thrive in a small, entrepreneurial organisation – combining strategic influence with hands-on delivery where needed. 

• A strong personal commitment to Oxford MeasurEd’s mission and to equity, diversity and inclusion. 

• Willingness and ability to travel both in the UK and abroad. 

• Written and oral proficiency in English. 

Desirable characteristics 

• Strong track record in delivering rigorous evaluations in both the UK and in low- and middle-income countries. 

• Technical knowledge and experience designing and implementing holistic learning outcome measures. 

• Expertise in inclusive education and/or inclusive evaluation methods – including SEND and disability.  

We particularly welcome applications from under-represented communities and groups. 

How to apply  

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement (no more than 1,500 words) by email to recruitment@oxfordmeasured.co.uk with the subject line “Director of Evaluation”.  

Your supporting statement should explain: 

• If you’re applying for D1 (no or little previous experience as a Director) or D2 (confirmed previous experience as a Director) 

• Why you want to work in this role at Oxford MeasurEd 

• How you meet the essential requirements listed in the job description 

We will assess your application based only on your supporting statement so please make sure it includes all the information that you want us to consider. Your CV and personal information will only become visible to the people assessing applications if you are shortlisted.