Education Policy Researcher

Job Type: Regular Position Description RAND's Economics, Sociology and Statistics (ESS) department is seeking talented Education Policy Researchers to contribute to impactful research on career and technical education (CTE) and education-to-workforce transitions. RAND researchers lead and contribute to projects that deliver objective, rigorous evidence to inform policymakers, state education agencies, federal agencies, and funders. CTE and education-to-workforce researchers in ESS work on multidisciplinary teams to analyze how secondary CTE programs shape students' postsecondary and labor market outcomes.

Active projects include multi-year state CTE alignment studies and program evaluations supported by funders such as Arnold Ventures and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Researchers in this area work extensively with state administrative data that links K-12 records with postsecondary enrollment and workforce wage data.

Why RAND?
· Reputation for Excellence:
Be part of a non-profit, non-partisan organization renowned for its rigorous and objective research.
· Dynamic Opportunities:
Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams on diverse projects that challenge and expand your skills.
· Poised for Impact:
Your research will inform state policymakers, legislators, and national stakeholders working to strengthen pathways from education to careers.

Responsibilities:

Education Policy Researchers at RAND apply their analytical and substantive expertise to:

Design and execute rigorous empirical research studies on high school to postsecondary and workforce transitions.

Link and analyze state administrative datasets spanning K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems to track student pathways longitudinally.

Apply causal inference and other advanced quantitative methods to evaluate programs on education to postsecondary and workforce transitions.

Use cutting edge technologies like AI/ML responsibly to improve quality and efficiency

Communicate findings to policy audiences through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations to state agency partners and funders.

Contribute to business development efforts, including proposal writing and cultivating relationships with state agencies, IES, and private funders.

Mentor junior researchers and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive research environment.

Qualifications All research positions at RAND require:

Demonstrated training in quantitative research methods

Strong analytic skills and intellectual curiosity

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English The ability to work effectively as a member of inclusive, multidisciplinary teamsA strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity

Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following content areas:

Career and technical education (CTE) policy, program design, or evaluation

Secondary and postsecondary education policy and student outcomes

Education-to-workforce transitions, including postsecondary enrollment, credential attainment, and labor market entry

State longitudinal data systems (SLDS) linking K-12, postsecondary, and workforce administrative records

Labor market analysis, workforce development policy, or occupational supply-demand dynamics

Applicants must have demonstrated quantitative research skills, including experience with two or more of the following:

Causal inference methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, matching)
Analysis of linked administrative data across K-12, postsecondary, and/or state workforce agencies

Multi-level or longitudinal statistical modeling

Machine learning or data science methods applied to large-scale education or workforce data

Experience

Successful…