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

American Institutes for Research is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to behavioral and social science research. They are seeking a Part-Time Senior Researcher to lead and manage projects that support state and local education agencies by providing analytic and capacity-building services in K–12 education.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and execution of rigorous applied research or evidence-driven technical assistance projects and support project leadership across work of increased scope and complexity
• Assume primary responsibility for writing reports and presentations that describe and interpret evidence for practitioners and policymakers
• 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 a related subject area (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Policy, or related field) with 3+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 7+ years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading applied research studies for state or local education agencies
• Experience working in contract research, evaluation, or consulting environments
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more PreK–12 topic areas, such as school improvement, accountability, literacy, numeracy, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, or absenteeism
• Demonstrated experience partnering with state or local education agencies to identify high-leverage priorities, develop logic models and aligned research questions, and design descriptive, quasi-experimental, or experimental studies
• Experience conducting field-based data collection using a range of methodologies (e.g., interviews, focus groups, observations, surveys)
• Experience providing coaching or technical assistance to education leaders in state and/or local education agencies
• 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 written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and work effectively in a virtual environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment
• Strong organizational and time management skills with high attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Teams, SharePoint)
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with individuals at various levels within education agencies