Associate Research Officer
Walton Family Foundation
Washington, DC
The Walton Family Foundation is seeking a skilled research and evaluation professional to join the Evaluation Unit as an Associate Research Officer. The position will be based in the Foundation’s offices in Washington, D.C.
About the Walton Family Foundation
When Sam and Helen Walton launched their modest retail business in 1962, one of their goals was to increase opportunity and improve the lives of others along the way. This guiding principle has played a major role in the phenomenal growth of their small enterprise into a global retail leader. This principle – to the benefit of deserving people and inspiring projects around the world – also drives the philanthropic mission of the Walton Family Foundation.
Today the foundation is more focused than ever on sustaining the Walton’s timeless small-town values and their deep commitment to making life better for individuals and communities alike. By working with grantees and collaborating with other philanthropic organizations, the foundation is dedicated to making a positive difference in three focus areas:
 Systemic K-12 education reform
 Freshwater and marine conservation
 Quality of life initiatives in its home region
During 2013, the foundation invested more than $325 million in domestic and international projects that addressed significant social and environmental issues. The foundation continues to implement and expand grant making to fund a positive difference in many diverse communities – and in the lives of the people who call them home.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, with offices in Washington, D.C., Jersey City, New Jersey, and Denver, Colorado, a staff/consultant base of approximately 66 associates conducts the day-to-day operations.
About the Evaluation Unit
The Walton Family has made a decisive and explicit commitment to evaluation. The Evaluation Unit, established in 2010, is tasked with leading the development and application of the Foundation’s evaluation framework. Evaluation Unit staff work with program staff and, where appropriate the Foundation Board, to set performance metrics, to assess and report on performance at all levels, from grants through to strategies and initiatives, and to identify lessons learned that can strengthen future grant making.
The Evaluation Unit reports directly to the Executive Director and currently includes five staff: a Director, a Deputy Director (who also leads evaluation in the Environment Focus Area), a Senior Research Officer and Associate Research Officer working on the Education Reform Focus Area, and a Research Officer who oversees the Home Region Focus Area. The Evaluation Unit thrives on a high-performing work environment, with the ability to work effectively both as a team and independently. More information about the Evaluation Unit can be found at http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/about/evaluation-unit
Responsibilities
The Associate Research Officer will assist the Foundation’s Evaluation Unit in providing the data and analyses that program staff and others need to conduct their work, with a particular focus on grant making in the Environmental Focus Area. He or she will report to the Evaluation Unit Director and work closely with the Evaluation Unit team, as well as with program and administrative staff from across the Foundation.
Specific duties will include assisting with or, where appropriate, taking the lead in:
 Collecting, cleaning, and managing data from publicly available secondary sources, grantees, and other proprietary data sources
 Conducting data summaries, syntheses, and analyses
 Assessing grantee performance and conducting detailed analyses on prior grants awarded, including:
 Reviewing grantee reports;
 Processing primary and secondary data, external research, and historical reviews of the work of grantees
 Tracking third-party research of issues relevant to the program areas and producing summary reviews for evaluation and program staff
 Reviewing and refining indicators/metrics and targets to assess grant-making impact and progress in achieving programmatic goals and objectives
 Developing and reviewing evaluation reports and other materials to be presented to Foundation staff and/or Board, ensuring appropriate consistency and style across reports and Focus Areas
 Refining and managing the Evaluation Unit’s data management system and processes
Administrative activities, including, but not limited to:
 Tracking the Evaluation Unit budget for the Environmental Focus Area
 Managing research and evaluation contracts and grants
 Other duties as needed
Qualifications and Experience
The position calls for an understanding of or a willingness to learn about the grant making programs of the Foundation’s focus areas – Systemic K-12 Education Reform, Environment, and Home Region. The role requires an ability to take in information from multiple sources and to synthesize and summarize it concisely, strong research and analytical skills, exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, a commitment to creating high-quality products, and a capacity to give and receive constructive feedback. The Foundation seeks to recruit a strong team member with a team-oriented attitude who is critical to the effective support of the work of the Board and staff.
The Evaluation Unit Associate Research Officer should ideally possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
 A commitment to the mission of the Walton Family Foundation and a passion for the environment. In particular, preference will be given to experience in river systems (e.g., ecology, management, conservation).
 At least three years’ experience in a professional setting, ideally with a strong focus on data collection, management, and analysis
 Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively detailed technical material to non-technical audiences.
 Experience and comfort working both independently and under close supervision, as required by the task.
 Unquestionable ethics and personal integrity, attention to detail, and a commitment to producing accurate, rigorous, and impartial information
 Proactive approach to problem-solving and sharp thinker
 Diplomatic approach and an innate understanding of customer service
 Technologically savvy, with demonstrated competency with the Microsoft Office suite of programs, including the ability to retrieve, array, summarize, and graph data using Excel
 A high level of discretion and confidentiality for both business and personal affairs
 Master’s degree in a relevant field required (e.g., environmental policy, biology, economics, public policy)
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects and/or controls. The employee is required to sit, walk, talk and hear; and move/carry files. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color, and the ability to adjust focus in order to handle extensive data collection, analysis and summary reporting. Computer work will be a part of the daily workflow and process.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics for this job are typical for this type of job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is reflective of a mid-sized office.
Compensation and Benefits
The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with skills and experience. This position will be located in the Foundation’s office in Washington, D.C. Some travel will be necessary.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume or CV referencing “Environmental Associate Research Officer Job Posting” to Janet Post, Human Resources and Training Manager, Walton Family Foundation,
by no later than February 13, 2015. Please be sure to reference the job responsibilities and your relevant qualifications and experience in your cover letter and explain clearly how your skills and experience would be a good fit. Please note: This is not a position for a career-changer or someone new to formal research and evaluation. Formal training and/or experience in research and evaluation are required.
The Walton Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

by e-mail to: evaluationAPO@wffmail.com