Senior Researcher, Education Systems and Policy; Part-Time

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

US-Remote | US-VA-Arlington | US-NC-Chapel Hill | US-IL-Chicago | US-CA-Sacramento | US-TX-Austin

AIR’s Education Systems and Policy program is seeking a Part-Time Senior Researcher to support project teams dedicated to state and local education agencies’ needs for high‑leverage topics in K–12 education. The Senior Researcher will lead and manage projects providing analytic and capacity‑building services to state and local education agencies. This role involves designing research studies, conducting policy scans, collecting and analyzing extant data, writing briefs and reports suitable for a policy or practice audience, and presenting findings to education leaders.

In this role, the Senior Researcher exercises independent judgment, supports project leadership, and serves as a subject‑matter resource for project teams and clients.

Engagements are typically project‑based, part‑time and may vary in duration and hours depending on project needs. The position can be located remote from anywhere in the U.S., but requires availability to participate in meetings across all U.S. time zones.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not‑for‑profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. AIR generates evidence and applies data‑driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

• 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 work streams 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.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• 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.

Skills

• 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…