Data Collector (Casual I)

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that works with partners to advance every person’s journey to learn, work, and be well. For more than 65 years, EDC has partnered with communities, governments, and private sector to improve education, workforce development and health outcomes.

By combining interdisciplinary expertise with real-world experience, EDC works across these pillars to design, implement, and scale evidence-based solutions that help partners address complex challenges and create lasting change.

Founded in 1958, EDC today brings together a global team working across the United States and around the world. Our diverse portfolio of programs is supported by federal agencies, philanthropic foundations, multilateral institutions, and corporate partners.

Job Description

The Data-Collector (Casual I) reports to the Project Director and is a hybrid position that requires in-person administration of science assessments for kindergarten and first grade students in their elementary school classrooms.

We are seeking 5 part-time, Data-Collectors (Casual I) to work on a study for a federally funded project to examine how integrated science and literacy curricula affect early elementary students’ understanding of science both in the short term (over one school year) and long term (sustained over two academic years). The Data-Collector (Casual I) will support kindergarten and 1st grade students as they complete self-administered tablet-based assessments in their elementary school classrooms. The candidate must have willingness, availability, and flexibility for travel. We are specifically looking for data collectors who are based in Wisconsin, Oregon, New York , California, and available during the following assessment data collection time periods: October-November 2026, May-June 2027, October-November 2027, and May-June 2028.

The total number of expected work hours will vary dependent on the number of schools and classrooms within each study location but is expected to total between 100-200 hours per school year for a total of three school years. The data collector is expected to work approximately 15–20 hours per week during the October–November pre-test window and the May–June post-test period. Weekly hours will vary by study site and data collection schedule. Additional time may include remote training, reliability assessments, travel, tablet setup and testing, school-based assessment, and post-collection data management. Training and preparation activities will be scheduled flexibly around staff availability; school-based data collection will involve approximately two weeks of data collection, with up to six hours of assessment work per day during school hours.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

You will:

• Participate in study orientation meeting and all data collection and study trainings
• Become a reliable assessment administrator
• Undergo required background checks and fingerprinting procedures
• Complete required CITI research ethics course
• Travel locally/regionally to and from elementary schools within data collection sites (Madison, Wisconsin; East Syracuse, New York ; Portland, Oregon; San Juan, California)
  • Travel costs (e.g. mileage) for up to a one-hour commuting distance will be reimbursed
• Conduct assessments with kindergarten and first grade students
• Complete data entry and follow-up notes within 24 hours of data collection
• Communicate effectively with teachers and other school staff during the study about scheduled visits to classrooms
• Facilitate project teamwork by communicating effectively and engaging collaboratively
• Coordinate and communicate with study team leaders to follow established data collection protocols, and to submit completed data collected in a timely fashion
• Troubleshoot potential technical difficulties during assessment administration
• Maintain responsibility for the maintenance, safety, and set-up of the study’s assessment tablet technology and related accessories
• Potentially also conduct classroom observations of science activities in study locations

Qualifications

This position requires excellent communication skills, demonstrable initiative and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively as part of a research team; and comfort in school settings working with elementary school students to administer assessments. Specific requirements:

• Successful completion of Human Subjects training and certification
• Successful completion of child assessment training
• Data collectors who work with students in schools will be required by the state Department of Education to pass a criminal background check.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education & experience

Skills & Experience:

• Experience working with young children
• Experience teaching within elementary schools
• Experience conducting assessments with young children

Preferred Education, Skills & Experience: 

• Experience in early childhood conducting kindergarten through first grade child assessments
• 1–2 years of related research or education experience
• Experience administering assessments to children using technology
• Individuals with prior experience serving as a teacher in elementary classrooms encouraged to apply

Additional Information

EDC affirms its steadfast commitment to uphold the highest standards of conduct, ensuring the protection of all individuals from misconduct, and maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of these rights. Safeguarding refers to the measures and practices put in place to protect individuals, particularly vulnerable groups, from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship. At this time, the EDC is unable to support employment-based visa sponsorship.

EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits.

EDC casual employees generally work as needed. A casual position ends when work is complete; however, there may be opportunity for other data collection opportunities on other projects, dependent on funding. 

A casual position is a non-benefits eligible role that receives statutory benefits of Social Security contributions, Medicare contributions, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and sick leave. .

The starting hourly rate range for this position is $33 - $35/hour. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the EDC job opportunities website as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by e-mailing  View email address on us.fitly.work or by calling View phone number on us.fitly.work.