Director Research & Data Analytics.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the design and execution of research, analytics, and evaluation initiatives involving administrative and linked data.

• Establish methodological standards and analytical protocols that promote rigor, reproducibility, transparency, and policy relevance.

• Identify emerging research opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and promote innovation across education, workforce, human services, and justice.

• Serve as Project Lead for assigned engagements, managing scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and internal and external contributors.

• Develop organization-wide quality assurance and quality control processes, including review protocols for analytical code, methods, and findings.

• Ensure research deliverables meet high standards of validity, documentation, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.

• Promote best practices in data documentation, version control, and reproducible research workflows.

• Build relationships with government agencies, foundations, and research partners to identify and secure funded research opportunities.

• Provide technical leadership for proposals, concept papers, and partnership development, collaborating with senior leadership on new research offerings.

• Represent the organization as a thought leader through publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder engagements.

• Monitor developments in research methodologies and technologies relevant to administrative data analysis.

• Collaborate with training, product, and data enclave teams to translate research innovations into scalable courses, tools, visualization products, and demonstration projects.

• Advise leadership on research-related risks, strategic opportunities, and potential investments.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related discipline; a PhD is strongly preferred.

• At least 10 years of experience conducting applied research or evaluations using administrative or linked data.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with state and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or academic partners.

• Strong expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research design.

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary research projects and coordinate diverse internal and external collaborators.

• Strong record of research publications, conference presentations, or other forms of thought leadership.

• Experience contributing to successful proposal development, client engagement, and partnership building.

• Familiarity with secure data environments and privacy-preserving research practices.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex analytical findings into actionable insights for policy and operational audiences.

• Strong project management, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.

• Ability to work effectively in a remote environment and collaborate across teams and stakeholders.

• East Coast location is strongly preferred.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends when project needs require.

Benefits:

• Annual salary range of $160,000–$170,000, with final compensation based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

• Health insurance.

• Employer retirement contributions.

• Paid time off.

• Paid holidays.

• Professional development support.

• Fully remote, full-time work arrangement within the United States.

• Opportunity to contribute to research and data initiatives with meaningful public-sector and policy impact.