Associate Program Officer – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Background

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE), launched in 2017, is the only public-private partnership dedicated to funding and collaborating on solutions to end the overdose crisis. Guided by those with lived experience and unafraid of new ideas, RIZE is building networks, creating programming, and supporting community partners using novel approaches to preventing overdose and increasing access to treatment. Since its inception, RIZE has awarded over $22 million to more than 275 organizations aligned with our mission.

Our multifaceted strategy is designed to address the complexity and enormity of the crisis and will only be effective if based on evolving realities on the ground. We listen to and learn from our partners, monitor the success of our collaborations, and hold each other accountable toward a shared vision of “Zero stigma. Zero deaths.” Our work is iterative, designed to support and expand upon our focus areas to maximize impact. We are a learning organization that consistently evaluates progress toward our short-term and long-term impact goals, so we are committed to regular strategic planning. RIZE’s vision is that our funding will lead to meaningful and positive results in addressing not just the immediate crisis of opioid overdose death but will also improve alignment among the overall addiction treatment ecosystem and evidence-based addiction treatment and recovery practices. In 2024, the Healey-Driscoll Administration selected RIZE to create and manage Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic). Funded by the MA Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund and the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Mosaic is a unique public-private partnership that allows small, community-based organizations and municipalities to apply for settlement funds. It is specifically designed to support communities and populations that have been historically underserved and have experienced a higher rate of opioid-related overdose deaths. Mosaic is community-led and culturally responsive, aimed at reaching individuals and families affected by the opioid overdose epidemic. The grants, approximately $5 million annually, strengthen prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, trauma, and family support programs. In 2025, RIZE also assumed the training and technical program for municipalities. Receiving opioid abatement funds. This unites all Mosaic programs in a cohesive and coordinated way, creating a powerful impact for our communities.

Position Overview

The APO-MEL will work across RIZE and Mosaic programs and initiatives to lead the implementation of comprehensive evaluation and learning strategies to understand and strengthen the foundation’s impact. This position supports the development of evaluation projects, analysis of data and evidence, strategic planning/implementation, and reporting on progress and impact to inform and improve processes through regular internal reflection and data analysis. The APO-MEL will build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, outside evaluators, board & staff, advisory committees, and subject matter experts, including people with lived and living experience. The APO-MEL should be committed to making data relevant and useful and should have skills in communicating and displaying data in user-friendly ways for non-experts.

Major Responsibilities

Analysis of Data and Evidence

• Collaborate with the senior team to apply emergent and mixed-methods approaches—leveraging qualitative methods (e.g., case studies, participatory approaches) and quantitative techniques (e.g., exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, and data visualization)—to evaluate the outcomes and impact of the foundation’s programs and initiatives.
• Coordinate with the program team to ensure alignment around collecting and documenting indicators and metrics. Enter and track collected information in the grants management system (Salesforce) to capture metrics and narrative entries for analysis.
• Collaborate with external evaluators on assessments of RIZE’s grants and programs (e.g., providing feedback on evaluation objectives and data collection instruments, providing input into data collection strategies, helping coordinate across grantees and other parties, supporting data synthesis and interpretation as needed, and identifying key points from evaluation reports to inform RIZE’s decision-making).
• Analyze and summarize mixed methods data (e.g., survey responses, demographic data, grantee progress report narratives, secondary data sets) as needed, utilizing descriptive statistics and thematic analysis approaches to understand community needs, guide program improvements, and identify outcomes and impact of the foundation’s work.
• Conduct research and literature reviews and provide summaries and updates on evidence-based, evidence-informed, or evidence-generating models, policy initiatives, and advocacy efforts. Identify opportunities and insights within collected data that can help RIZE be responsive to the community and field.
• Contribute to the development of new projects, including grant guidelines, collecting background information/research, developing knowledge on specific focus areas, participating in meetings regarding projects, and preparing follow-up memorandums on meetings.
• Support the management of a portfolio of projects, including research grants.

Learning (Organizational & Grantee Capacity Building)

• Guide RIZE’s approach and engagement with grantees related to evaluation, including understanding principles and practices and building skills related to evaluation and learning.
• Support the program team, external evaluators, and grantees in designing and updating individualized evaluation frameworks (helping grantees document their grant projects at a basic level—activities, outcomes, and measures—using RIZE’s templates and grants management system.)
• Support grantees and external evaluators in “right-sizing” evaluation efforts and advise (when needed) on data collection, analysis, and submission to RIZE.
• In collaboration with the program team, co-lead and document learning check-ins with grantees. Support grantees in telling their own stories of progress and impact.
• Synthesize findings from evaluation reports, check-ins, feedback surveys, and other data sources (quantitative and qualitative) regularly to identify themes related to progress, barriers and facilitators to progress, internal process improvement, and ongoing needs.
• Participate in coalitions, community events, and other meetings or gatherings of organizations active in addiction treatment, harm reduction, and recovery communities to engage grantees and other stakeholders in reviewing, assessing, and providing insights related to evaluation and learning data.

Reporting on Progress and Impact

• Create presentations, graphs, and other visualizations of data to report findings and lessons learned (e.g., Word reports, PPT slide decks, etc.).
• Update and maintain dashboards and other information-sharing tools related to evaluation.
• Assist with program-related materials for board and board committee meetings.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reporting of metrics, outcomes, performance benchmarks, and program support activities related to RIZE and Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership.
• Prepare and submit grant reports, ensuring adherence to funder requirements and deadlines.
• Contribute to and develop briefing materials, policy briefs, conference abstracts, and journal articles for publication.
• Possible work on survey instruments, analysis of survey data, and the dissemination of survey results.
• Collaborate with the engagement and development team to identify ways grantee evaluation activities can help to support RIZE’s larger storytelling efforts, including providing accurate and compelling narratives and metrics for funder-facing and external documents such as the annual report and sharing knowledge through the development of executive summaries and high-level narratives.
• Participate in strategic planning and managing long-term objectives.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social sciences, public health, or other related area with graduate-level research experience preferred.
• Experience in social science, behavioral science, evaluation, organizational development, or other fields doing data collection, data analysis, or evaluation and learning practices.
• Experience with philanthropy, grantmaking, and program evaluation is a plus.
• Ability to conduct effective, non-extractive evaluations in communities that have been marginalized and among those with lived and living experience of the overdose crisis. Experience supporting equitable evaluation and learning practices preferred.
• Ability to understand the difference between “what” and “so-what” data, and skilled in pulling meaningful insights and hypotheses from information rather than just reporting facts.
• Intellectual curiosity, rigor, and integrity. Ability to keep an open mind and embrace new ideas and approaches while critically evaluating their potential impact and effectiveness.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal skills; ability to clearly and persuasively articulate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Experience in drafting briefs, reports, and literature reviews.
• Problem-solving skills, initiative, and a can-do attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and use time management skills, demonstrate flexibility, and sound judgment as this role requires independently keeping track of multiple funding timelines and various evaluation activities.
• Comfortable working as part of a small team and in a fast-paced, impact-driven environment, highly collegial.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Constant Contact, Zoom, and WordPress is a plus.
• Proficiency in using PowerPoint, Canva, and other software to create engaging and effective presentations. Understanding of audience needs and the ability to tailor presentations accordingly.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience.

The APO-MEL is a full-time, hybrid role. RIZE is in downtown Boston; travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. The role may require evening and occasional weekend work.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and other status protected under law.

To apply, please complete an application using this link.