Research Lead II

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust seeks a Research Lead II in our New York office (EdTrust-New York). The Research Lead II will join a staff who are committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

The Research Lead II functions with a high degree of autonomy and plays a leadership role in shaping EdTrust-New York’s research agenda and strategy in support of our early childhood, K-12, and higher education policy and advocacy agenda. This role shapes the office’s approach to qualitative and quantitative research and brings creative direction to a small research team currently comprised of one full-time senior data analyst and an external consultant.

EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.  

This role, available immediately, works mainly from a home office in New York or New Jersey. Proximity to New York City is highly preferred. The Research Lead II reports to the Chief of Staff.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The responsibilities and objectives for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with EdTrust-New York’s leadership team to create and execute a research agenda in alignment with our early childhood through higher education policy and advocacy priorities
• Serve as a research expert for the EdTrust-New York office’s quantitative and qualitative advocacy research work, including advising internal and external stakeholders on research matters
• Inform and manage EdTrust-New York’s research agenda by monitoring and being well-informed on current and emerging areas of education research that support EdTrust-New York’s policy and advocacy agenda in New York City, New York State, and across the country
• Manage multiple qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-method research projects – using publicly available data, with internal and external team members, that examine socioeconomic and race-based patterns and deliver results on time and on budget
• Recruit, hire, and manage a small team of employees, interns, and/or external consultants, including delegating tasks, coaching, mentorship, development, and assessing performance
• Conduct and oversee research and data analyses and syntheses, guiding and supporting other researchers on the team to produce insights to inform policy design and practice related to trends in remedying disparities in opportunity to learn and improving student outcomes
• Write, edit, and review reports, briefs, blogs, and other resources that highlight EdTrust-New York’s research findings and inform policymakers, educators, journalists, and other public audiences on our priority policy topics.
• Elevate EdTrust’s research agenda and priorities by developing key relationships with external researchers and partners and representing the organization externally with partners, funders, the media, policymakers, and other advocates and stakeholders.
• Lead complex collaboration within the EdTrust-New York team and across EdTrust when relevant to achieve annual individual and team goals
• Support the development of new grant opportunities and proposals, and manage relevant grants and grant components to ensure all funding requirements are met
• Oversee and upgrade existing data tools, and design new tools and dashboards aligned with evolving organizational priorities to strengthen data visualization and accessibility.

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in Ed Trust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity with a focus on racial equity
• Dedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment
• Advanced knowledge and experience designing quantitative and qualitative research projects
• Advanced knowledge and experience in Excel and Stata, or other statistical analysis tools, including demonstrated ability to manage and manipulate data and conduct descriptive analyses with excellence
• Deep knowledge of publicly available data related to the education sector in the state of New York and the ability to leverage what is publicly available or bring creativity and ideation to work-around limitations
• Skilled in developing and maintaining interactive data dashboards using Tableau and web-based tools; familiarity with front-end coding languages (HTML, CSS, Java Script) to create and integrate custom data visualizations
• Excellent analytic and communication skills, both oral and written
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple complex projects from end-to-end, achieving milestones and key deliverables on-time and on-budget
• A passion for pursuing equity and the key issues that affect low-income students and students of color

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a doctoral degree in education research, public policy/administration, or a related field
• Substantial (e.g., at least 7 years) experience in conducting and managing complex education policy-related research and data projects, including developing research findings and presenting those in digestible ways for diverse audiences
• Proven ability to conduct research and data analyses that advance advocacy goals, particularly in the area of education policy
• Significant knowledge of education policy as it relates to education equity in New York, and familiarity with at least one of our priority areas – early childhood, K12, or higher education policy – in the state of New York and New York City
• Prior experience managing people required

COMPENSATION

The new hire salary range for a Level E position in our New York office is $99,670 to $124,590 and offers will be commensurate with skills, experience and internal equity.

EdTrust prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees and, to that end, offers a highly competitive benefits package. Medical, dental and vision insurance are covered at 100% for the employee, with significant coverage also offered for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents. We provide sick leave, vacation leave, and personal leave, and we follow the federal government for most holiday closures. To ensure staff have synchronous opportunities for rest and renewal, the office is closed for a week-long summer break and a week-long winter break. Among other offerings, we provide an Employee Assistance Program at no cost to the employee, and a generous 7% contribution opportunity on a 403(b)-retirement plan. 

VACCINATION FOR COVID-19

At EdTrust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all Education Trust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. New hires should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources. 

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY

The Education Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To apply: Please provide an updated resume and complete the application, including the short answer questions, in ADP.

Salary : $99,670 - $124,590