Researcher

Overview

Join AIR as a Education Finance Researcher with our (ESP) team and be involved in our longstanding legacy of providing rigorous, impartial evidence-based research and resources on pressing and perennial education issues.

The ESP team studies and supports organizations and infrastructure at the local, state, and national levels focusing on the people who operate PK-12 education systems to improve the organization of schooling and advance the organizations within those systems.

We are seeking a candidate with an understanding and practical experience in employing cutting-edge education finance research methodologies.

This expertise should be directed towards tackling pivotal policy questions concerning the adequacy, equity, and efficiency of federal, state, and local funding systems.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong passion and aptitude for evolving into a thought leader in the realms of education finance research methods and policy.

They will achieve this by actively engaging in collaborative, client-centric projects at AIR and by proactively pursuing their personal research interests through external funding opportunities.

This position has the flexibility to work remote from anywhere in the United States or from any of AIR's . This does not include U.S. territories.

About AIR :

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.

S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment.

At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities / disabilities, racial / ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement.

Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by .

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the position include :

• Develop research designs for the economic evaluation of education and social programs.
• Apply appropriate quantitative evaluation techniques to collect and analyze data.
• Identify and implement empirical approaches to investigating educational cost across a variety of areas including early PK-16 education, youth development, health, and social welfare programs.
• Manage or lead projects and tasks, assuming greater responsibility for project management over time.
• Prepare written materials (e.g., technical reports, policy briefs) that describe study findings in ways that accessible and impactful to policymakers and other decision makers.
• Present findings to clients, professional associations, and the public.
• Participate in, and where appropriate lead, efforts to prepare research proposals that generate external funding for education finance-related research.
• Supervise and provide mentorship and support to junior staff by sharing approaches to solving concrete problems and providing feedback on their work.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience :

• Ph.D. / Ed.D., or master’s degree with 4-7 years of demonstrated experience, in education policy, economics, or related social science field with expertise in the economics of education, education finance, and / or educational policy setting and / or conducting education research.
• Training in and experience applying rigorous economic evaluation methods, including Resource Cost Modeling and the Ingredients Method, and the ability to communicate effectively about these methods to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience collecting and analyzing a wide variety of primary and secondary educational data including fiscal data detailing school and district expenditures.
• Expertise in advanced social and behavioral science statistical methods including the use of regression models and rigorous program evaluation design including longitudinal data analysis.

Skills :

• Advanced expertise in using MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to effectively collaborate and / or consult with others on incorporating economic evaluations in larger evaluation efforts.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment with individuals at all levels and from diverse background.

Last updated : 2024-05-12