Who We Are
The Learning Policy Institute (LPI) is a national organization that conducts and communicates independent, high-quality research to shape education policies and improve learning for each and every child. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, LPI connects policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels with the evidence, ideas, and actions needed to strengthen the pre-k to grade 12 education system and address the complex realities facing public schools and their communities. Working with policymakers, researchers, educators, community groups, and others who care about improving public schools, the Institute advances evidence-based policies that support empowering and equitable learning for all children. For more information, visit www.learningpolicyinstitute.org
The Position
LPI seeks a full-time Senior Researcher to join its team of research, policy, and communication staff. The Senior Researcher will support LPI’s growing portfolio of quantitative and mixed methods projects that use national datasets, state-level student and teacher administrative datasets, and survey datasets collected by LPI or partner organizations. The team primarily uses Stata as its analytic software. The position will involve leading data analyses of these and other datasets and collaborating with other research staff.
Major Responsibilities
- Lead and serve on a variety of LPI research projects in one or more of LPI’s areas of focus: early childhood, educator quality, equitable resources and access, and whole child education
- Serve as a reviewer of other LPI research projects using quantitative methods, particularly those that rely on national, state, or survey datasets
- With the LPI Research Director, refine LPI’s systems for data security, review of data analysis, and management of documents related to data sharing
- Serve as an advisor for researchers with interest in honing their quantitative data analysis within mixed methods projects
- Assist researchers and policy advisors in translating quantitative and mixed methods research into actionable policy
- Present and facilitate conversations that help policymakers and other education leaders understand quantitative and mixed methods research
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
- Doctoral degree in the social or behavioral sciences
- Demonstrated experience (minimum 5 years) conducting quantitative policy research studies
- A track record of publications, preferably in one or more of our four focus areas: early childhood education, educator quality, equitable resources and access, or whole child education
- Strong quantitative methodological skills (and the ability to work with teams of researchers in mixed methods studies)
- Familiarity using and managing restricted quantitative datasets in team settings, while adhering to data sharing agreements and related memorandums of understanding
- Experience conducting and analyzing surveys (including online surveys)
- Experience conducting policy-oriented research and communicating it to policy audiences
- Knowledge of and experience working in state and federal education policy arenas
- Passion for and commitment to LPI’s mission
- A strong knowledge of pre-k–12 education issues
- Excellent and persuasive written and oral communication skills
Dispositions
- Passion for ensuring that all children receive empowering and equitable learning, especially historically underserved students
- Self-starter mentality and the ability to both work independently and foster collaborative working relationships, and to work well in a team setting
- A demonstrated commitment to excellence and equity
- Ability to execute and exhibit good judgment
- An understanding and appreciation of the varied and complex educational policy landscape, and the ability to translate that understanding to policymaker and lay audiences
- An optimistic outlook and a flexible, innovative nature
The Learning Policy Institute has a deep commitment to its staff’s health and well-being and strives to embody the organization’s values within the organizational structure. LPI offers competitive compensation and benefits; prioritizes and provides financial support for professional development; supports diversity, equity, and inclusion work internally; and values a collaborative culture. LPI is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to http://jobs.enlist.io/learning_policy_institute/jobs/33076af9-14cd-4fae-bb0f-23ded481eed8?enlist-source=AEFP
Candidates invited to continue through the interview process will be asked to complete a job-related task/performance assessment at that time.