Senior Technical Assistance Consultant, Rural Education; Part-Time

AIR's Education Systems and Policy program area is seeking a Part-Time Senior Technical Assistance (TA) Consultant to support project teams dedicated to meeting clients' needs for improving educational outcomes in rural schools and districts. The Senior Technical Assistance Consultant will provide technical assistance and capacity‑building services tailored to the unique needs and challenges of rural education environments. This role involves developing and implementing tools, resources, and processes to strengthen rural education systems at the school, district, and state levels.

Engagements are typically project‑based, part‑time, and may vary in duration and hours depending on project needs, ranging from 25–70%.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR's U.S. office locations, but requires availability to participate in meetings across all continental U.S. time zones. 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 generate evidence and apply data‑driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

• Design, develop, and deliver TA and training in various formats (virtual, in‑person, hybrid).
• Create TA and capacity‑building materials such as toolkits, guides, fact sheets, and web‑based resources.
• Facilitate meetings, communities of practice, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Provide expertise on rural education issues, including access, community engagement, and resource allocation.
• Support research activities related to rural education, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Contribute to reports and presentations that describe and interpret findings for clients, partners, and stakeholders, with a focus on rural education contexts.
• Collaborate on project teams and manage/lead projects or tasks as assigned.

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with a minimum of 7 years; or Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 9 years of experience in rural education.
• Previous experience as a school administrator or other school leader working in or with rural schools, districts, or education agencies.
• Knowledge and experience with school finance, district budgets, or tax policy related to K‑12 education.
• Knowledge of evidence‑based practices for improving instructional quality and student outcomes in rural contexts.
• Experience providing direct training, coaching, or technical assistance to rural educators or instructional leaders.
• Experience collaborating with rural education service providers, researchers, or professional associations.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for working with stakeholders at various levels and from a range of backgrounds.
• Ability to be flexible and accommodating to partners' needs and capacity.
• Ability to identify and elevate local knowledge, expertise, and skills when providing technical assistance in rural settings.
• High attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Ability to lead and collaborate effectively in both in‑person and virtual environments.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and nationally.

Ability to travel up to 15% of the time.

This position is open to U.S. citizens only. Upon hire, incumbent will be required to obtain clearance through the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e‑QIP) system.

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…