Founded in 1960, The Skillman Foundation works to transform the education system, nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth. In 2024, we launched People Powered Education, a ten-year initiative that equips youth, educators, parents, and communities to collaborate with policy and systems leaders to advance excellent and equitable education in Detroit. For more information, please visit www.skillman.org.
The Learning & Impact Team strengthens the Foundation’s capacity to promote community-led education policy change while fostering a culture of collaboration and shared learning with one another, our grant partners, and the communities we serve. Our approach to evaluation and learning is grounded in emergent learning, systems thinking, and equitable evaluation.
The Foundation is seeking a Learning & Impact Manager to support a culture of continuous learning, guide evaluation and knowledge-sharing, and strengthen the Foundation’s ability to measure progress and assess impact. Under the leadership of the Vice President of Learning & Impact, this role will work closely with the border program team and other colleagues across the Foundation.
The Learning & Impact Manager will design and implement learning agendas, manage evaluation projects, and share insights internally and externally. This position also plays a key role in executing the Foundation’s data strategy, including managing a portfolio of grants to strengthen the K–12 education data ecosystem in the city of Detroit.
Principal Responsibilities
- Co-develop and implement learning agendas aligned with the Foundation’s strategic priorities.
- Facilitate meetings, workshops, and collaborative learning sessions for staff and partners.
- Partner with program staff to integrate learning and evaluation practices into strategies and initiatives.
- Manage evaluation contracts and grants, including developing RFPs, selecting consultants, and ensuring high-quality deliverables.
- Maintain and improve data tools and systems to track strategy implementation and impact.
- Develop actionable knowledge products, including briefs, case studies, blogs, and presentations, for internal and external audiences.
- Collaborate with communications staff to share learnings with grant partners, peers in philanthropy, and the broader field.
- Provide technical assistance to grant partners to strengthen evaluation capacity and support their ability to assess impact.
- Prepare reports and materials for Foundation leadership and trustees as needed.
- Assist with the management of the Foundation’s data grantmaking portfolio and maintain relationships with grant partners.
- Model and uphold the Foundation’s values in all aspects of the work.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities
- Subject matter expertise in research, evaluation, and strategic learning.
- Demonstrated experience commissioning or managing evaluations using qualitative and quantitative methods, with the ability to tailor products for usability.
- Experience developing and applying theories of change, logic models, and performance indicators.
- Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly to diverse audiences.
- Strong project management, with superior time management and a proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive work forward in fast-paced environments.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Commitment to expanding opportunities for Detroit children and youth, and to ensuring evaluation and learning serve the communities we support.
- Experience facilitating, training, and coaching others to reflect, learn, and apply new processes or information.
Education and Professional Experience
- Master’s degree in social sciences, applied research, or related field, or equivalent experience required.
- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in strategic learning, evaluation, or related roles.
- Experience working in philanthropy, research institutions, or within a mission-driven nonprofit is preferred.
How to Apply
If you are interested, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@skillman.org no later than Wednesday, October 1, 2025. No phone calls, please.