The Opportunity

This role is at the center of a national initiative to scale a globally competitive critical technology cluster. As Director of Research & Evaluation, you will define how success is measured, understood, and communicated—shaping the narrative of the region’s growth and prominence for local stakeholders, federal partners, and global audiences.

Working across a grant portfolio, this role extends beyond the scope of a traditional program evaluation role. You will build a collective impact measurement framework that captures industry growth, workforce expansion, capital investment, technology advancement, and ecosystem performance—translating complex data into clear, credible insights that influence strategy and demonstrate impact. You will report to the President and Regional Innovation Officer (RIO) of the KC BioHub, serving on the program leadership team and managing a data analyst.

What You Will Do

Evaluation and Grant Reporting

Build and Lead the Program Evaluation Function

• With input from consortium members, refine and implement the evaluation framework for all KC BioHub programs and projects.
• Own accurate, rigorous, and on-time impact reporting to EDA and other funders, coordinating data collection with other project leads and consortium members as necessary.
• Help colleagues set and chart progress toward measurable targets and evaluation plans for new proposals and programs. This will require involvement in both grant writing and operational processes.
• Identify opportunities to make changes that drive our work to a larger, higher-order, or more effective impact.
• Build AI tools and workflows that make each year of evaluation and reporting faster and more reliable, such as automated surveys, data cleaning and draft reporting. Account for accuracy and data-privacy risks.

Economic Impact Tracking, Dashboard Management, and Storytelling

• Track regional results in industry growth, workforce, investment and technology against KC BioHub’s economic impact projections. Work with the RIO and regional research partners to create and maintain a consistent methodology.
• With the data analyst, build and maintain a public economic impact dashboard and the data systems behind it, including data standards and quality.
• Lead the creation of an annual impact report supported by the communications team.
• Support leadership President and RIO in development of data-driven storytelling messages and materials, including fielding research requests, developing slides, and reviewing remarks and presentations for accuracy.

Leadership and team

• Turn complex data into clear, decision-ready insights for leadership and partners.
• Drive data into the strategic conversations to ensure work is aligned with target impact.
• Have the ability to not only perform, but also to manage and critically examine data analysis and modeling (Python or similar), data visualization (Tableau or similar), and data hygiene (advanced Excel or similar).
• Manage and develop the data analyst.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• A clear, credible, and widely adopted evaluation framework across initiatives
• High-quality, accessible public reporting that strengthens the region’s reputation
• Strong alignment between data, strategy, and decision-making
• Clear, rigorous, and reliable methodologies support economic and impact projections and metrics reporting
• Consultative relationships with colleagues, serving as a go-to technical expert
• Positive feedback from funding partners on rigor and clarity of reporting

Who You Are

• 7+ years of experience in evaluation, data strategy, economic analysis, or impact measurement and 3+ years managing people
• Experience building evaluation systems across multiple partners
• Hands-on skill in data analysis (R or Python) and visualization (Power BI, Tableau or similar), as well as the ability to manage and critically examine the technical work of others
• Ability to lead through influence and explain complex data to non-technical audiences
• Practical experience using generative AI in analytical work
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in economics, public policy, data science, or related field preferred
• Experience with federal grant reporting (EDA, NSF, or similar) preferred
• Familiarity with a diversity of datasets, including economic impact analysis and public datasets (BLS, BEA, Census, Lightcast, or similar), innovation datasets (patents, venture capital), and or industry datasets (clinical trials, FDA pipelines) preferred
• Enthusiastic booster of Kansas City

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to define how a nationally recognized innovation ecosystem measures and communicates its success. Your work will directly shape strategy, influence investment, and position the region on a global stage—bringing clarity, credibility, and visibility to one of the most important growth sectors in the economy.

 

Salary Range: $135,000 – $160,000

Apply By: November 18 | Interviews Start: November 23

 

FLSA Status: Exempt

This position works primarily in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers. The role requires extended periods of sitting and computer use, and occasional lifting of up to [15] pounds. Some local travel to partner sites and regional events may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BioNexus KC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

BioNexus KC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change at any time with or without notice. This description does not constitute an employment contract; employment with BioNexus KC is at-will.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.