Director, Professional Research & Evaluation Services

Compensation Range: Annual Salary: $79,930.00 - $107,900.00 Position Summary The Director, Research & Evaluation Services provides leadership for the development and delivery of National University’s externally facing research, evaluation, and advisory services. This role is responsible for growing and sustaining a portfolio of client engagements that advance both institutional priorities and community impact. Working closely with university leadership and external partners, the Director shapes service offerings, guides project design and delivery, and supports the long-term success of a scalable professional services model. The role combines strategic thinking, client engagement, project scoping and applied research expertise, with flexibility to adapt approaches across diverse contexts and partner needs. Essential Functions: Service Development & Engagement Leadership Collaborates with partners to understand needs and shape appropriate research, evaluation, or advisory solutions. Develops scopes of work, proposals, and engagement strategies. Supports the evolution of service offerings and delivery models over time. Portfolio Oversight & Delivery Provides oversight across multiple projects or engagements. Ensures high-quality, timely delivery of work products. Coordinates internal contributors and external partners to achieve project goals. Tracks expenditures, staffing costs, and contribution margins. Monitors contract performance, resource utilization, and delivery risk. Client & Partner Relationships Builds and maintains strong relationships with external clients and community partners. Serves as a trusted advisor and point of contact across engagements. Supports efforts to expand partnerships and opportunities over time. Strategy & Growth Contributes to the growth and sustainability of the professional services portfolio. Identifies opportunities to expand reach, impact, and revenue. Provides input into positioning, partnerships, and long-term development of the service model. People & Collaboration Works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and other contributors to support project delivery. Contributes to building a strong network of internal talent. Fosters a culture of quality, learning, and continuous improvement. Performs other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsi bilities: Responsibility for recruiting, coordinating, and ensuring quality work is provided by internal faculty, staff, and student contributors on contracted projects. The role also supports the development and readiness of our internal talent through training, guidance, and ongoing coaching. As the business grows, supervisory responsibilities may expand. Requirements: Education & Experience: Master’s degree required in a relevant field, Doctoral degree preferred Eight plus (8+) years of experience in professional research, evaluation, and consulting Demonstrated experience in scoping, proposal development, and client negotiations Proven ability to manage multi-project portfolios Supervisory or team leadership experience in applied or project-based environments Experience within the higher-education industry preferred Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills: Synthesizes complex information, anticipates client needs, and guides decision‑making with sound judgment and strategic insight. Builds trust and communicates effectively across diverse stakeholders. Manages multiple priorities and drives work forward. Strong command of research design, program evaluation models, and quantitative/qualitative methods. Applies research and evaluation concepts appropriately in real-world contexts. Works effectively across organizational boundaries. Understands financial drivers, pricing logic, and cost modeling to support sustainable, data‑informed recommendations. Identifies opportunities to enhance processes, scalability, and service delivery; proactively recommends improvements. Ability to recruit, develop, and manage diverse contributors. Demonstrates responsiveness, reliability, and a solutions‑focused approach. Communicates complex or technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders, including senior leaders. Demonstrates maturity, tact, and strong interpersonal skills in sensitive or high‑stakes situations. Location: Remote, USA Travel: up to 20% travel #LI-Remote Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu . For Part-time benefits, please click here . National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals. National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.