Director of Research

AIM, comprising AIM Academy and the AIM Institute for Learning & Research, is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing literacy through a research-to-practice approach. We are a community of educators, researchers, and leaders committed to shaping the future of learning by ensuring every learner develops a strong foundation in literacy and unlocks lifelong opportunity. Our core purpose is to transform and empower lives through literacy, with an ambitious goal of impacting 100 million lives. At AIM, we translate the latest scientific research into effective, evidence-based instructional practices, equipping educators with the knowledge, tools, and professional learning needed to drive meaningful outcomes for students. Through our Institute, we partner with schools, districts, and state education agencies to deliver scalable, research-backed professional development grounded in the science of reading. Through AIM Academy, we provide a college-preparatory education for students with language-based learning differences, applying research-based interventions in an innovative learning environment. At the intersection of research, innovation, and practice, AIM is working to create systemic change in literacy education nationwide and beyond. We are driven by a shared belief that when research and practice come together, all learners can thrive.

Because AIM is dedicated to creating a culture of equity and inclusion, candidates should value engaging in open dialogue, questioning, confronting assumptions, and attuning to all voices.  Please review AIM’s Equity and Diversity Statement online.

At AIM, our hiring process reflects our culture, ethics, and core values: Care for Others, Creative Problem Solving, Commitment to Excellence, and a Can-Do Attitude. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of Research is responsible for directing, integrating  and operationalizing the research-to-practice agenda of the AIM Institute for Learning & Research in direct service of the Institute's organizational strategy, product roadmap, and classroom impact goals. This role has dual reporting responsibilities reporting directly to the Head of Product and is equally accountable to the Head of the Institute for Learning and Research. This role exists to ensure that research meaningfully informs professional learning design, product development, and instructional practice, with a consistent focus on translating evidence into accessible and actionable tools and resources for educators. Research within the AIM Institute is purpose driven and applied. The Director of Research ensures that all research activities advance strategic priorities, strengthen products and services, and drive evidenced based content to classroom outcomes.

STRATEGIC PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Director of Research advances the institute’s position as a trusted, research-informed leader in literacy and the science of reading by ensuring that research directly supports strategic decision making and instructional impact. This role bridges external research communities, internal product, and authentic classroom environments to ensure that research informs practice and practice informs future research priorities. The objective of this role is the formalization of this virtuous cycle, ensuring that the AIM Institute remains a leader in research to practice implementation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Research Leadership and Accountability

• Define clear goals, objectives, and key performance indicators focused on research to practice impact directly aligned to the Institute’s strategic goals and objectives
• Ensure research efforts are aligned with product development timelines and organizational priorities
• Establish standards for research quality, rigor, and applied relevance
• Build internal capacity by supporting staff understanding of evidence informed practice

Research to Practice Translation

• Ensure that research findings are translated into actionable insights that inform product strategy, solutions, and accessible design
• Collaborate with product, content, technology, and delivery teams to embed evidence based principles into solutions and services
• Support the development of practitioner facing research, consulting and thought leadership outputs such as briefs, guidance documents, and resources
• Maintain a consistent focus on usability, implementation, and classroom relevance in all outputs
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert within the AIM Institute by providing research informed guidance and actionable insights to support client engagements, RFP development, product and solution design, and other organizational initiatives that require high quality research to practice translation

Integration with AIM Academy

• Partner with similarly aligned roles within AIM Academy to design and oversee reciprocal research initiatives
• Support school based research efforts with the strategic goals of the AIM Institute for Learning & Research
• Leverage the AIM Academy as an applied research environment that informs professional learning tools, instructional content, technology-enabled solutions, and classroom practices
• Create structured feedback loops between classroom practice and in collaboration with product development

Applied Research Initiation and Research Partnerships

• Propose research initiatives that directly support AIM Institute’s strategic priorities, product roadmap, and literacy mission
• Participate in field based research initiatives that align to AIM Institute’s strategic priorities, product roadmap, and literacy mission 
• Propose the pursuit of strategic research partnerships and funded initiatives where aligned to organizational goals and objectives
• Represent AIM in research focused collaborations and professional forums when aligned to AIM Institute’s strategy

Research Advisory Board Coordination and Support

• Support and participate with the Head of the AIM Institute for Learning and Research and their engagement with the AIM Research Advisory Board
• Support institute leadership in leveraging advisory board expertise to inform applied research initiatives, product development, and professional learning priorities
• Synthesize guidance from advisory board members and facilitate communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing between with AIM Institute leaders, staff, and teams

External Representation and Thought Leadership & Consulting

• Serve as a visible research leader representing AIM Institute for Learning and Research in external settings including conferences, convenings, and professional forums
• Present applied research findings and research informed perspectives that advance and are aligned to the Institute’s strategic priorities and reinforce content to classroom impact
• Contribute to thought leadership through presentations, panels, publications, webinars, podcasts, and practitioner facing communications
• Strengthen AIM’s reputation as a research informed, practice focused organization through credible and accessible external engagement
• Ensure that external representation consistently reflects AIM Institute for Learning and Research strategies, point-of-view, applied research stance, and strategic goals

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in education, literacy, cognitive science, psychology, or a related field
• Deep expertise in literacy and the science of reading with applied research orientation
• Experience participating in and/or leading research initiatives within professional learning organizations, nonprofits, or education focused institutions
• Demonstrated success translating research into accessible products, services, technology enabled solutions, professional learning environments, or instructional practice
• Experience working in partnership with schools or school systems
• Ability to collaborate effectively across Institute teams and practitioner communities

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Applied content and research leadership
• Research to practice, content to classroom execution
• Strategic alignment with product and organizational goals
• Cross functional collaboration
• Clear communication multi-disciplined audiences, including academic and practitioner communities

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Strong integration between the AIM Institute and the AIM Academy through applied research efforts
• Research initiatives that directly influence AIM’s product strategy and roadmap 
• Demonstrable impact of research on classroom practice and educator outcomes
• Strengthened and advanced AIM Institutes reputation as a research informed, practice focused organization differentiated by its research to practice methodology.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to our Human Resources Manager, Cheryl Ferst at cferst@aimpa.org.