Director, Data and Impact
Cambridge, MA
Job Type
Full-time
Description

ABOUT AXIM COLLABORATIVE

Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit that transforms education to work pathways by facilitating collaboration and innovations to build an ecosystem of solutions to drive better outcomes for millions of learners. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster partnerships, convene leaders and scale innovations to strengthen pathways for learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs and prepare them to excel in their careers. Axim Collaborative is a joint endeavor between Harvard and MIT that evolved from edX, the pioneering online learning platform that launched in 2012.

 

ABOUT THE DATA IMPACT DIRECTOR ROLE 

The Data and Impact Director will work across Axim’s partnership and grantmaking teams to measure our partner’s progress towards learner success, implement and refine frameworks for collecting data and tracking partnership goals, and use data, research, and other evidence to develop insights and drive strategic decision-making. You will play a critical role in helping Axim become a truly data-driven and learning organization.


You won't just track data—you will design, implement, and champion the rigorous frameworks needed to measure progress toward learner success. You will transform programmatic raw data, research, and evidence into actionable knowledge that drives profound, system-level change, collaborating with external partners to maximize effectiveness and help to shape field level insights. If you are passionate about using data to ensure every learner can persist, graduate, and excel in their career, this is your opportunity. 


The Director of Data and Impact is a highly autonomous, collaborative, and detail-oriented individual capable of operating in a small, fast-paced environment and driving significant organizational change. You are both detail- and service-oriented, focused on delivering the most strategic insights while also supporting our partners in building capacity and data fluency.


This role is a hybrid, working in-person in Axim’s Cambridge office at least 2 days per week at the manager’s discretion and based on business needs that may evolve and change from time to time. This role will also require occasional travel to partner sites, conferences and in-office meetings.  Additionally, you will be required to attend in person monthly all-staff meetings and our week long in-person programming three times a year.

Requirements

 Operational & Knowledge Management

  • Design and maintain data dashboards, reports, and visualizations using a range of analytic and tools to communicate partner progress and learner outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Support data quality across the partner portfolio, including collaborating with partners to ensure data submissions are accurate and consistent.
  • Maintain and update internal knowledge management systems and resources, including an internal research & evidence library, partnership data files, and partner-facing tools, to ensure information is current, accessible, and actionable.

Partnerships

  • Provide high-impact technical assistance to Axim’s partners to optimize data access, analysis, and use to drive learner impact and decision making, including advising on data systems and technology tools that capture and surface meaningful insights.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to review proposals and grant agreements with a data and impact lens, develop capacity-building opportunities for partners, and translate data and insights into practice and decision-making activities.
  • Participate in convenings and peer networks, and contribute to the broader field by disseminating  learning and insights from Axim’s partnerships and impact work.

Strategy and Internal Collaboration

  • Assist in the implementation and refinement of Axim’s impact, data, and learning strategy, including enhancing and establishing processes and tools that will support our partners' ability to document and disseminate their impact on student success.
  • Improve Axim’s strategic and tactical decision-making through data analysis and synthesis.
  • Contribute to the development of research and learning strategies that address organizational goals and advance Axim's understanding of what drives learner success.
  • Contribute thought partnership as Axim continues to build out its growing data, research, and function across its partnership portfolio.
  • Provide support to additional initiatives and projects as needed to support Axim’s mission.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in education, the social sciences, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience, plus at least 5 years of experience analyzing data and/or collecting education (or related field) data, engaging in research and evaluation studies, and using data to drive decision-making and develop insights. Certificate or experience in data analytics and data visualization desirable.
  • Data and impact experience in an impact-driven nonprofit or philanthropic organization required. Experience using or analyzing K-12, post-secondary education data preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience working with education institutions, technology firms, social enterprises, or philanthropic organizations to establish goals, metrics, outcomes with strong results.
  • Experience designing data visualizations and dashboards using tools such as Google/ Google Data Studio, Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, and related technologies.
  • Experience providing respectful, high-impact technical assistance to partner organizations on how to build or leverage data systems that track student outcomes and progress, surface insights that inform ongoing decision-making.
  • Strong strategic, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity, attend to detail, and turn data challenges into practical solutions.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data for continuous improvement, communicating impact, and tracking progress toward internal and external goals.

Additional Qualifications

  • Willingness and ability to engage in strategic thinking and planning in a team environment.
  • Excellent project management and time management skills, with the ability to independently structure work, manage a demanding workload, and take initiative in collaborative ways.
  • Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex data and analysis clearly and accessibly to diverse audiences, including internal teams and external partners and stakeholders.
  • Comfortable with the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence for ideation, drafting, and refinement.

Benefits Statement 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, a competitive 401(k) plan, and a generous employer match.


Axim Collaborative is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. We believe that a diverse workforce is critical to enabling our partners' and the learners they serve to realize their educational and career aspirations. Axim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. 


This role is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).


Please Note: This role is not VISA sponsorship eligible. 

Salary Description
$165,000 - $195,000 per year