Program Evaluator Opportunity at Swarthmore College – Jun 30

Posted by Swarthmore College Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility on June 17, 2025

The Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility at Swarthmore College seeks a consultant to comprehensively evaluate the Lang Opportunity Scholarship (LOS) Program. This evaluation will also cover two related, small pilot programs: one for FLI undergraduates (Civic Scholars) and one for recent alumni (Lang Social Impact Fellowship) — both of which were inspired by the LOS Program and recommended in previous evaluation feedback. Your work will not “sit on the shelf,” rather it will help shape our programs.

Purpose: 

Each program aims to empower grantees to contribute to meaningful social impact with communities in the US and around the world by offering financial resources, education, training, and mentorship. This support fosters ethical engagement, systems practice, and engaged scholarship (meaningful connections between academics and practical, collaborative action).

Objective: 

Anticipating the next generation of students and trends in higher education, we would like to know whether the current programs’ form, content, coursework, staffing, and advising/training structures require modification to better align with evolving student needs and community aspirations.

Process: 

• Documents review, including but not limited to:

  • Finding Lives of Meaning in Social Justice: How the Lang Opportunity Scholarship Program Can Embrace Social Entrepreneurship in the Liberal Arts (2015);

  • 10-Year Lang Opportunity Scholarship Program Retrospective (2010, 2020);

  • Program web pages and handbooks; and

  • Sample of past Scholars applications and proposals, as well as internship and project reports.

• Develop and refine interview questions in consultation with Lang Center staff.

• Stakeholder engagement:

  • Interviews and/or focus groups with key stakeholders including at least one representative from each category: faculty, staff, and program alumni, with a larger group of students (~5-6 students) virtually.

• Reporting:

  • Complete draft report due October 30, 2025. (~20 pages)

  • Final report due December 30, 2025.

Compensation:

• The base stipend is $5000, with potential for negotiation based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
• As an independent contractor, the successful candidate will need to submit a W9, set up FIS (i.e., direct deposit), and provide three invoices for ⅓ of the agreed-upon stipend amount during the project.

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD or EdD in a relevant field such as social sciences, public administration, organizational development, social work, or a related discipline.
• Experience in program evaluation and social impact assessment, preferably within educational or non-profit sectors during the past five years.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative research, including interviews and/or focus groups.
• Strong report writing skills with the ability to synthesize data and present clear, actionable insights.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• Ability to manage timelines efficiently and adhere to deadlines for draft and final report submissions.

To apply:

• Email your cover letter, CV, writing sample showcasing a past program evaluation or social impact assessment and the contact information for two professional references from previous evaluation projects to Jennifer (Jen) Magee, jmagee1@swarthmore.edu by June 30, 2025.