Senior Researcher, Education Systems & Policy (Part-Time)

The American Institutes for Research is a nonpartisan organization that conducts behavioral and social science research. They are seeking a Part-Time Senior Researcher to lead and manage projects focused on strengthening accountability systems for underperforming districts and schools in K–12 education.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and execution of rigorous policy analysis projects and support project leadership across work of increased scope and complexity
• Provide high-level expertise on evidence-based strategies related to accountability (school designations, measures, state ESSA plans, waivers, local supports)
• Assume primary responsibility for writing reports and presentations that describe and interpret findings for clients, partners, and stakeholders, with a focus on accountability and school improvement
• Design and apply appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methods to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret data, maintaining AIR’s quality standards
• Translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for client reports, technical memos, and presentations
• Manage projects or major workstreams of increased scope and complexity, including planning timelines, overseeing deliverables, and managing project-level client relationships
• Engage with stakeholders and partners through meetings, briefings, and dissemination activities
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive work environment by providing guidance and feedback to team members and supporting high-quality project outcomes

Requirements:

• PhD in related subject area (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Policy, or related field) with 3+ years of relevant experience or Master's degree with 7+ years of relevant experience
• Experience managing project and/or task teams on research and evaluation projects
• Experience working on research or evaluation projects for federal, state, or local agencies or other public or nonprofit entities
• Understanding of federal accountability requirements and relationship to state accountability systems, rationale for specific indicators and measures, accountability reporting and data use at the local level, and supports for identified schools(s)
• Expertise in school improvement research, continuous improvement frameworks, effective school-level practices, and prior experience conducting related evaluations or research
• Strong understanding of state extant and policy data sources; experience collecting and analyzing state policies
• Demonstrated experience with research design, data analysis, and reporting
• Experience with data collection activities from the field using a variety of methodologies and data collection techniques such as interviews, focus groups, observations, and/or survey research
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in at least one statistical or qualitative analysis tool (e.g., R, Stata, Python, NVivo, Dedoose)
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to convey complex information, and collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment
• Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Teams, SharePoint)
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in data analysis and report writing
• Excellent organizational and time management skills