Senior Director, Policy Research Center

Lensa is a career site that helps job seekers find great jobs in the US. We are not a staffing firm or agency. Lensa does not hire directly for these jobs, but promotes jobs on LinkedIn on behalf of its direct clients, recruitment ad agencies, and marketing partners. Lensa partners with DirectEmployers to promote this job for Educational Testing Service. Clicking "Apply Now" or "Read more" on Lensa redirects you to the job board/employer site. Any information collected there is subject to their terms and privacy notice.

About ETS:

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners worldwide to be future-ready. For more than 75 years, we've been advancing the science of measurement to build benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment across cultures and borders. Our worldwide impact extends through our renowned assessments including TOEFL®, TOEIC®, GRE® and Praxis® tests, serving millions of learners in more than 200 countries and territories. Through strategic acquisitions, we've expanded our global capabilities: PSI strengthens our workforce assessment solutions, while Edusoft, Kira Talent, Pipplet, Vericant, and Wheebox enhance our educational technology and assessment platforms across critical markets worldwide.

Through ETS Research Institute and ETS Solutions, we're partnering with educational institutions, governments, and organizations globally to promote skill proficiency, empower upward mobility, and unlock opportunities for everyone, everywhere. With offices and partners across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, we deliver nearly 50 million tests annually. Join us in our journey of measuring progress to power human progress worldwide.

Position Summary

The ETS Research Institute seeks a Senior Director for the Policy Center to provide intellectual and strategic leadership for policy-focused research on education systems and workforce readiness. The Policy Center advances rigorous, academically grounded research that informs policy decisions across the education-to-workforce continuum, with an emphasis on strengthening system design, institutional capacity, and the effective use of evidence.

The Senior Director will lead a multidisciplinary team of researchers, shape a forward-looking research agenda, and contribute to national and international policy discourse. This role is well suited to a senior scholar with a strong record of policy-relevant research, experience engaging with policymakers, and an interest in how education systems prepare individuals for further learning, work, and civic life.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Intellectual Leadership

• Set and advance the intellectual direction of the Policy Center, with a focus on education systems, workforce readiness, and the transition from education to work.
• Identify consequential policy questions related to education, skills development, credentialing, assessment, governance, and system performance.
• Develop a coherent, multi-year research agenda that contributes to scholarly knowledge while addressing pressing policy challenges.
  
  

Research Leadership and Scholarship

• Lead and contribute to high-quality policy research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
• Oversee program evaluation, policy analysis, and systems-level research that examines how policies function in practice.
• Ensure the Policy Center’s work meets high academic standards and contributes to peer-reviewed and policy-facing publications.
  
  

Policy Engagement and Dissemination

• Engage with policymakers, research organizations, foundations, and practitioner communities to inform and shape policy conversations.
• Translate research findings into policy briefs, reports, convenings, and presentations for diverse audiences.
• Represent ETS Research in domestic policy forums and, as appropriate, international discussions related to education and workforce development.
  
  

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of research scientists, analysts, and affiliated staff.
• Foster an intellectually rigorous, collaborative environment that supports high-quality scholarship and professional development.
• Support the development of early-career researchers working at the intersection of research and policy.
  
  

Funding and Partnerships

• Lead proposal development for government and foundation funding to support the Policy Center’s research agenda.
• Build and sustain partnerships with domestic and international organizations engaged in education and workforce policy.
• Collaborate with ETS leadership to align the Policy Center’s work with institutional priorities.
  
  

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. or equivalent in education policy, public policy, economics, sociology, political science, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible research and/or program leadership experience post-Ph.D., including evidence of both research excellence and administrative/people leadership.
• Established record of scholarly and applied policy research relevant to education systems and workforce readiness.
• Experience translating research findings into policy-relevant insights for non-academic audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including managing research teams and collaborative projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience working with or advising government agencies or policy organizations.
• Familiarity with international education systems or global workforce and upskilling policy.
• Experience securing and leading externally funded research projects.
• Engagement with interdisciplinary research spanning education, labor markets, and skills development.
  
  

About ETS

ETS is the world’s premier educational measurement organization, dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in education. The ETS Research Institute conducts foundational and applied research to inform policy, practice, and long-term improvement across education and workforce systems.

ETS is mission driven and action oriented

• We are passionate about hiring innovative thinkers who believe in the promise of education and lifelong learning.
• We are energized by cultivating growth, innovation, and continuous transformation for the next generation of rising professionals as leaders. Â In support of this ETS offers multiple Business Resource Groups (BRG) for you to learn and advance your career growth!
• As a not-for-profit organization we will encourage you to lean in to your passion for volunteering. Â At ETS you may qualify for up to an additional 8 hours of PTO for volunteer work on causes that are important to you!
• The base salary range advertised represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base pay is only one aspect of the Total Rewards Package that will be offered to the successful candidate.
  
  

ETS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in creating a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

If you have questions about this posting, please contact support@lensa.com