Executive Director Full Time

About CPER

The Center for Program Evaluation and Research (CPER) is a mission-driven nonprofit organization based in San Antonio that advances meaningful, learning-oriented, and equity-centered evaluation. CPER partners with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, school districts, higher education institutions, and community initiatives to measure impact and apply data as a practical lens for improving program design, delivery, and decision-making. Through rigorous evaluation, accessible technical assistance, and a commitment to building a robust network of evaluative thinkers in San Antonio, CPER helps organizations learn from their work and strengthen community outcomes.

Mission

CPER delivers high-quality evaluation services and fosters evaluative thinking to help organizations measure, communicate, and strengthen impact across communities. CPER leads the San Antonio region in advancing a culture where evaluation is understood as learning-oriented, equity-centered, and essential for improving community impact—not as compliance or punitive accountability.

Guided by its North Star Goals, CPER:

• Champions a mission-driven, action-oriented culture of meaningful evaluation;
• Fosters and sustains a vibrant community of evaluative thinkers; and
• Provides tailored evaluation, learning, and capacity-building services that help organizations embed evaluative thinking into their work.

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) serves as CPER’s chief executive and thought leader, responsible for stewarding the organization’s mission, strategic direction, and organizational health during a pivotal period of growth and transition. CPER has formally transitioned from a successful for-profit evaluation firm into a nonprofit organization, entering this next chapter with established contracts, a diversified earned-revenue base, and deep credibility in the regional evaluation ecosystem. CPER currently operates with a small core staff and delivers its work through its team and a network of approximately 15 contract evaluators.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED leads strategy execution, organizational development, partnerships, and sustainability efforts while ensuring CPER delivers high-quality, accessible, and values-aligned evaluation and learning services. This role requires a leader who can both leverage existing revenue and relationships and build the infrastructure, culture, and field-building capacity of a mission-driven nonprofit.

The ideal candidate is a trusted nonprofit executive with a demonstrated history of championing and/or engaging in the mission-driven approach to learning, data, and evaluation that is at the core of CPER’s identity. The ideal candidate will be someone who can translate CPER’s strategic vision and North Star Goals into action, steward the organization’s transition from founder-led enterprise to durable institution, and position CPER for long-term impact and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Mission Stewardship

• Lead implementation of CPER’s strategic plan and North Star Goals, translating vision into clear priorities, workplans, and outcomes.
• Champion a shared definition of meaningful, mission-driven evaluation across the region.
• Serve as CPER’s primary ambassador and thought leader, advancing evaluative thinking as essential to community impact.
• Ensure all programs, partnerships, and operations reflect CPER’s commitment to equity, learning, and practical application.

Organizational Development & Operations

• Build and manage CPER’s foundational operating infrastructure, including policies, benefits, systems, and internal processes. 
• Hire, supervise, and support CPER’s hybrid staffing model, including full-time and part-time staff, contract evaluators, consultants, interns, and fellows in alignment with CPER’s culture and growth stage.
• Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure clarity, consistency, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop internal tools, workflows, and communications that strengthen CPER’s identity and capacity as a new nonprofit entity.

Program Evaluation, Learning & Technical Assistance

• Oversee the design and delivery of high-quality evaluations, assessments, and applied research projects.
• Ensure rigorous, appropriate, and equity-centered qualitative and quantitative methodologies are used across projects.
• Guide development of standardized tools, templates, and resources (e.g., logic models, dashboards, improvement cycles).
• Support the creation of a tiered continuum of services, including low-cost technical assistance, workshops, and learning series.

Field-Building, Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Convene and sustain a vibrant community of evaluative thinkers, including practitioners, students, funders, and organizational leaders.
• Explore opportunities to serve as steward and convener for regional evaluation networks and communities of practice.
• Build and maintain partnerships with nonprofits, funders, higher education institutions, and cross-sector collaborators.
• Expand CPER’s reach into aligned sectors (e.g., health, housing, arts, workforce) through values-driven partnerships.
• Maintain a visible public presence through conferences, publications, events, and thought leadership.

Resource Development & Financial Stewardship

• Develop and execute a diversified revenue strategy, including grants, contracts, fee-for-service work, and partnerships.
• Maintain a balanced portfolio of external evaluation contracts that subsidize lower-cost services for smaller organizations.
• Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, controls, and grant-readiness systems.
• Ensure financial sustainability while maintaining equitable and transparent pricing aligned with CPER’s values.

Board Relations & Governance

• Partner with the Board of Directors to strengthen governance, strategy, and organizational accountability.
• Support board development, engagement, and mission alignment.
• Provide timely, clear reporting on organizational performance, finances, and strategic progress.
• Engage board members as ambassadors, advisors, and partners in fundraising and field-building.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management, evaluation, research, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in program evaluation, applied research, and learning-oriented measurement approaches.
• Strong understanding of equity-centered and participatory evaluation practices.
• Proven success in securing grants, contracts, and partnerships.
• Experience building organizational systems and infrastructure in a growing or early-stage nonprofit.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Comfort serving as a public-facing leader and thought partner to funders, boards, and community stakeholders.

Compensation & Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $120,000-$140,000, commensurate with experience, qualifications, and scope of responsibility. CPER also offers paid time off and professional development support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CPER is an equal opportunity employer and is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented communities and lived experiences aligned with CPER’s mission to apply.

To apply, please email a resume and optional cover letter to hiring@cper-eval.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.