Director, Research - Work-Based Learning

Full-time | Hybrid, 2 days/week in our Washington, DC or Indianapolis, IN office | Reports to the Vice President, Research

Strada’s postsecondary education research team develops evidence and insights that connect people to opportunity through postsecondary education, especially those who face the greatest barriers to doing so. We conduct innovative, actionable research grounded in student experiences, and we point to solutions that bring stakeholders into partnerships that deliver progress for all.

We are looking for a Director, Research who brings a strong foundation in quantitative and economic methods and the ability to translate complex findings into practical guidance for non-technical audiences. You will lead the research that supports Strada’s work-based learning portfolio, designing studies that estimate the economic and institutional value of programs, policies, and practices. Your work will inform decisions by state leaders, university and college systems, institutions, employers, and Strada’s own grantmaking and technical assistance.

• Incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into research design, topic selection, vendor selection, analysis, and interpretation.

• Support an inclusive and collaborative team culture.

• Support knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the organization.

Required:

• A PhD (completed or imminent) in education, economics, public policy, political science, sociology, demography, or a related discipline.

• Advanced skills in quantitative research methods, including causal inference, and experience conducting economic evaluation such as cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, or ROI modeling, along with a proven ability to assess the quality and rigor of research design.

• Experience using administrative and linked education-workforce data to estimate economic returns to education or training programs.

• Expertise in Stata.

• Experience designing surveys and writing survey questions, and producing descriptive reports using survey data.

• Strong knowledge of research and innovations in policy and practice in postsecondary education and training, with a focus on work-based learning.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and communicate complex research findings, and experience developing effective strategies for research communications and thought leadership.

• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely for public audiences.

• Experience managing projects with internal and external partners, and strong collaborative skills in planning, coordinating, aligning, and completing projects.

• Knowledge of effective strategies for partnership development and stakeholder engagement.

• The ability to connect individual projects and initiatives to organizational priorities and make specific recommendations to improve strategic alignment.

• A proven ability to build and manage positive, mutually beneficial relationships at all levels of an organization and with outside partners, supported by sound judgment and emotional intelligence.

Preferred:

• Training or demonstrated experience in applied microeconomics, labor economics, public finance, or program evaluation.

• 2–5 years of experience after completing your PhD working in a state or national higher education or workforce development organization. Candidates with less experience may be considered at the Senior Researcher level.

Also important:

• Commitment to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through postsecondary education and training, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers, and alignment with Strada’s values.

• Commitment to, and professional experience advancing, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including incorporating stakeholder perspectives into the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic efforts.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, high-profile environment with internal and external deadlines, and an operationally minded approach to improving efficiency, quality, and effectiveness.

• A positive, energetic, collaborative approach and sound judgment.

Strada Education Foundation is a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the connections between education and employment, with a particular focus on people who’ve faced the greatest barriers to economic opportunity through postsecondary education and training. Our strategic plan centers on five priorities: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordable postsecondary education and training, work-based learning, and employer alignment.

We partner with education and training providers, employers, policymakers, and peer organizations, and we bring philanthropy, research, advocacy, and communications together to advance equitable pathways to opportunity. We invest in our people the same way, with real learning and professional development opportunities inside the organization and out.