Head of Data and Research

About the Organization

The Asian American Foundation serves the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in their pursuit of belonging and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and to address the long-standing underinvestment in AANHPI communities, TAAF mobilizes to fight against hate and violence, reclaim our narratives and celebrate our stories ensuring prosperity, safety and belonging. Through our high-impact initiatives, events, and investments in national and local nonprofits, we’re creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AANHPIs in the United States. For additional information about TAAF, please visit www.taaf.org.

About the Role

The Head of Data and Research will establish TAAF as a national leader in evidence-based insights, thought leadership, and actionable research connected to TAAF’s programmatic strategy — shaping how we frame issues, measure progress, and drive innovative solutions that matter for AANHPI communities.

The Head will oversee the development of TAAF’s data and research agenda, ensuring insights are deeply connected to real problems and solutions. They will lead efforts to go beyond surface-level understanding, capturing the nuanced needs and experiences across the most diverse racial group in the country. They will define how TAAF collects, interprets, and communicates data to influence policy, philanthropy, and public discourse.

In addition to establishing and executing a public research agenda, the Head will also lead the in-house team responsible for measuring the impact of TAAF’s programs, initiatives, and investments in order to facilitate internal learning and strategy development. The Head will bring knowledge of effective program evaluation and the complexities of measuring philanthropic impact with an awareness of equitable practices that support trust and community partnerships. 

As a senior leader on the Programs team reporting into the Chief Programs Officer, the Head will manage a high-performing team, oversee all data and research initiatives, and collaborate across teams to translate insights into tangible action, both externally and internally. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in social science research and a passion for using data to shape narratives, inform policy, and inspire change. They will embrace innovative approaches to leveraging data for impact, while leading with integrity, curiosity, and empathy.

Most importantly, they are driven by purpose and committed to creating a future where every AANHPI community can thrive. If you are energized by innovation, impact, and building something that lasts, we would love to have you on our team.

Responsibilities

Strategic Thought Leadership & Vision (25%)

• Develop and execute TAAF’s future Data and Research strategy, ensuring that research insights inform every aspect of our innovative work
• Position TAAF as a national thought leader on AANHPI data, trends, and solutions.
• Frame complex social, economic, and civic issues in ways that connect data to real problems and actionable solutions.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with research institutions, think tanks, and philanthropic funders to expand the scale and impact of TAAF’s research.
• Develop strategies for funding studies balancing self-funded research with co-funded or commissioned work.
• Represent TAAF in research collaborations, public forums, and convenings.
• Research, Data, and Insight Development (30%)
• Oversee the development of white papers, reports, and thought pieces on key issues in the areas of safety, belonging, prosperity and overall representation.
• Commission large-scale qualitative and quantitative studies to capture community needs at a granular level—not based on opinions, but grounded in data.
• Design and implement studies that answer critical questions for the community. Oversee and expand on existing research to identify gaps, patterns, and opportunities across cities, states, and issue areas.
• Establish consistent methodologies and data standards across TAAF programs.

Impact Evaluation and Strategic Learning (30%)

• Establish a streamlined approach and core metrics to support continuous learning and improvement at TAAF, in partnership with the Chief Programs Officer and Head of Programs.
• Refine qualitative and quantitative metrics to measure impact over time of TAAF and partner organizations.
• Oversee the development of data dashboards and reporting policies to assess progress towards strategic impact goals.
• Oversee the development of TAAF’s Annual Impact Report, digital impact stories, and other public facing materials.

Team/Operational Management and Organizational Collaboration (15%)

• Build and manage a high-performing team of researchers and analysts to execute data projects and maintain TAAF’s organizational database of AAPI-serving organizations.
• Manage budgets, staffing, and vendor relationships for research and evaluation projects.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to a high standard of rigor and ethics.
• Serve as a senior thought partner to ensure data informs TAAF’s initiatives and storytelling.
• Collaborate with other teams to package and disseminate findings for maximum visibility and impact, evaluate programs, identify learning goals, and align outcomes with TAAF’s mission and impact model.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree required; Ph.D. in a related field (social sciences, data science, demography, public policy, or education) strongly preferred.
• Ten or more years of relevant experience in research, data strategy, program evaluation, or impact measurement, including at least five years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and leading complex research initiatives, from framing questions to communicating results.
• Proven success and experience leading high-performing teams that consistently deliver results while fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture. 

Skills and Knowledge

• Deep understanding of research design, data analysis, and impact measurement.
• Exceptional ability to synthesize and communicate data-driven insights to diverse audiences.
• Strategic thinker with the capacity to balance visionary leadership and operational execution.
• Strong understanding of AANHPI communities and issues, with experience engaging them as key constituencies.
• Proven success securing or managing research partnerships and funding.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and mission-driven approach to achieving organizational goals.
• Excellent organizational skills, with an ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Working Hours

• Occasional weekend, off-hours, or evening work required.
• Some travel required.

Location

• The work arrangement is hybrid if based in New York or San Francisco with three days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)

• TAAF provides competitive compensation and benefits including health insurance (including dental and vision) and a 401k retirement plan to all employees.
• Anticipated salary is $185,000.00.