Manager of Data & Evaluation

As a member of Friends of the High Line's (FHL) Special Projects team within the Administrative division, the Manager of Data & Evaluation plays a critical role in developing and implementing comprehensive evaluation frameworks that measure program impact, inform strategic decision-making, and directly strengthen the effectiveness of our programs and park operations for the communities we serve. This position transforms operational and programmatic data into compelling stories and actionable insights that help programming teams identify areas for improvement, elevate successes we want to build upon, and ensure our work continues to evolve in response to community needs—while also demonstrating the High Line's impact as a vital civic asset. By partnering closely with program staff, this role ensures that evaluation is not just about reporting results, but about continuously improving outcomes for participants and visitors. This position reports to the Manager, Administration & Special Projects and collaborates cross-departmentally to address FHL's data collection, measurement, and evaluation needs.

The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 – $90,000

Program Evaluation & Impact Measurement

• Design, implement, and review evaluation frameworks and metrics that capture the impact of High Line programs, which include but are not limited to public events, educational initiatives, and park operations
• Conduct regular assessments of program effectiveness and provide actionable recommendations for continuous improvement
• Develop data collection methodologies and administer tools that support both formative and summative program evaluations, ensuring alignment with funding timelines and funder reporting needs
• Create compelling data-driven narratives and visualizations that communicate program impact to diverse audiences, including donors, board members, institutional funders, and the public
• Collaborate with the Development team to translate program evaluation findings into fundraising materials, grant proposals, and impact reports
• Establish benchmarks and key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with organizational goals and contemporary urban park management standards
  
  

Data Systems & Infrastructure

• Work from within the Administration Division to identify and develop solutions for organization-wide data and evaluation needs, ensuring sustainable, data-driven cross-division support
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to design data collection and analysis frameworks that reflect contemporary program evaluation and public space research
• Lead efforts to standardize data reporting methods and establish sound principles of data governance appropriate for an urban park stewardship nonprofit in a manner that:
• Reflects best practices in contemporary urban research methodologies
• Provides actionable insights for park management and urban design strategies
• Implements comprehensive data quality standards and validation procedures
• Establishes metadata standards for spatial and non-spatial data
• Maintains data retention policies
  

Technical Systems Management

• Support the implementation and management of FHL’s databases, including but not limited to:
• Administering enterprise-grade geospatial information systems (GIS) including but not limited to Esri's ArcGIS Enterprise
• Monitoring and possibly managing the implementation of people counting sensors throughout the park
• Selecting and leveraging self-service systems for organization-wide metrics retrieval and analysis
• Participating in needs assessments, facilitating data reviews, opening support tickets, and coordinating updates as needed
• Maintaining documentation of FHL information systems, working in tandem with the IT department to ensure sound data governance practices
• Collaborate with the Digital Transformation and IT functions to ensure that software and accompanying systems/services fulfill and align with organizational data and evaluation needs
• Work with the Planning, Design & Construction department to interpret construction drawings, as-builts, and project documentation, generating advanced geospatial visualizations of landscape, infrastructure, and operational dynamics

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Leadership

• Lead the Data Working Group, a cross-departmental unit of engaged internal stakeholders who provide regular strategic insights and thought partnership on key data and evaluation needs
• Partner with program staff across departments to build evaluation capacity and foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement
• Maintain an openness to creative, technology-oriented cross-departmental support and collaboration in pursuit of the organization's purpose of being a civic connector on the Far West Side of Manhattan

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Program Evaluation, Public Policy, Data Science, Geospatial Information Systems, or an equivalent field, plus five (5) years of experience in program evaluation, impact measurement, and data analytics

• A master's degree or higher in a comparable field may be considered as an acceptable substitute for some of the work experience requirements above
• Demonstrated experience developing program evaluations and impact metrics to support fundraising efforts, grant applications, and organizational storytelling
• Proven ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling narratives for non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated expertise in:
• Program evaluation methodologies and frameworks
• GIS platforms such as ArcGIS (including ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Enterprise) or QGIS
• Programming languages (e.g. Python or R) for data analysis
• Data visualization tools such as ArcGIS Dashboards, Google Looker Studio, Microsoft PowerBI, or Tableau
• Survey design and administration tools
• Strong understanding of urban spatial dynamics, public space design principles, and nonprofit program management
• Familiarity with outcome measurement frameworks and logic models
• Proven foundations in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis and evaluation methods
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present data findings to diverse stakeholders
• Experience working in nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven environments preferred
  

This is a Full-Time, year-round, exempt position. The location for the role remains hybrid, with a requirement to physically report to the office at least three days per week (located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in New York City).

Benefits

• Discounted Citi Bike Membership
• Discounts with vendors on the High Line & around the Meatpacking neighborhood
• Free entrance to Whitney Museum
• 20 Vacation days, 7 sick days, and 10 paid holidays with 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid primary and secondary caregiver leave
• Supplemental short-term disability insurance and paid life insurance
• Winter Fridays
• Commuter benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Contribution in a 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Growth & Development career opportunities
  

About Friends of the High Line

The High Line is both a nonprofit organization and a public park on the West Side of Manhattan. We’re devoted to reimagining public spaces to create connected, healthy neighborhoods and cities through our work with communities on and off the High Line.

Built on a historic, elevated rail line, the High Line was always intended to be more than a park. You can walk through the gardens, view art, experience a performance, enjoy food or beverage, or connect with friends and neighbors while enjoying a unique perspective of New York City.

Nearly 100% of our annual budget comes through donations. The High Line is owned by the City of New York, and we operate under a license agreement with NYC Parks.

EEO Statement

The High Line is guided by a series of values through which we make decisions, including hiring. These values include proactively creating access points for all people, regardless of age, sex, color, creed, race, income, country of origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As part of our commitment to living up to these values and advancing equity within our organization and through our work, we are committed to an equitable hiring process. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with a broad range of lived experiences. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.