Part-Time Senior Researcher

Join AIR as a Part-Time Senior Researcher and use your experience and knowledge to help us deliver on our mission: to generate and use rigorous evidence that contributes to a better, more equitable world for all. The Senior Researcher will lead and manage complex research projects by designing and executing studies, overseeing teams and data collection, analyzing findings, and communicating results to stakeholders, all while applying subject-matter expertise and maintaining strong, collaborative client relationships. This Senior Researcher will join AIR's Learning Supports program area, where we provide research and technical assistance to clients, primarily focusing on the supports children need to be ready to learn in the K-12 education system. Our Learning Supports program area uses a proactive and preventative framework to support these content areas:

• Early childhood
• English learners
• Multi-tiered system of support
• Special education

Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of ourU.S. office locations.This does not include U.S. territories.

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day project operations in roles such as principal investigator, project director, or task lead.
• Lead collaborative project teams by developing timelines, coordinating staff assignments, and ensuring deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
• Identify research problems and design studies to address key questions in applied research contexts.
• Apply subject-matter expertise to design and implement relevant, responsive, and impactful research projects.
• Develop study designs with aligned research questions, methodologies, and analytic plans.
• Lead and contribute to research proposals for federal, state, foundation, and other clients.
• Devise and implement innovative solutions to practical challenges in applied research.
• Lead data collection and analysis efforts.
• Oversee the design and planning of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection tools, such as interview protocols, focus group guides, and surveys.
• Supervise field-based data collection activities, including interviews, observations, focus groups, and document reviews.
• Conduct or oversee data analysis using appropriate tools and techniques for various data types.
• Communicate study progress and findings clearly and effectively.
• Prepare reports, briefs, visualizations, and other materials that interpret and present research findings for clients and stakeholders.
• Represent the organization professionally in all client interactions.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Foster and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships.
• Manage client and stakeholder relationships with professionalism and awareness of the broader policy and practice landscape.
• Contribute thoughtfully and creatively to project teams.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• 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.
• Firm understanding of implementation science.
• Ability to take big ideas and develop work plans and timelines.
• Experience at contract research and/or evaluation organization(s).
• Experience with data collection methodologies (including but not limited to structured interviews, observations, survey research) and analysis activities (including but not limited to experience with quantitative and/or qualitative analytic software packages [such as STATA, R, EXCEL, NViVO, and Access]).
• Experience managing project and/or task teams on research and evaluation projects.
• Experience building and maintaining client and partner relationships.
• Experience with business pursuit (e.g., grant and proposal writing).

Skills:

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills including strong communication skills with the ability to produce concise, high-level summaries and briefings.
• Strong negotiator and communicator, with excellent client management skills.
• Strong presentation, professional development delivery, and facilitation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when writing.
• Can collaborate effectively in a virtual work environment.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE:If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone attboone@air.orgor call 202.403.5000.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

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If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

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