Director, Texas Schools Project & Open-Rank Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Position

Position Description Director, Texas Schools Project & Open-Rank Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Position The School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) at The University of Texas at Dallas invites applications for the Director of the Texas Schools Project (TSP) and an open rank faculty position. Exceptional candidates at the Assistant Professor level with a demonstrated trajectory toward research leadership and external funding will be considered. The Director will lead one of the nation's premier centers for education policy research and will hold a tenure-home appointment in an EPPS program aligned with their disciplinary training: Economics, Public Policy, or a related field. We seek a scholar whose research program addresses education policy in the United States— including, but not limited to, K–12 accountability and finance, teacher labor markets, school choice, early childhood education, postsecondary access and completion, career and technical education, or the transition from education to the labor market. The appointment commences for the fall 2027 semester. About the Texas Schools Project Founded in 1992, the Texas Schools Project supports and conducts independent, high-quality academic research to inform education policy and practice and improve student outcomes across Texas and the nation. TSP researchers work across the full educational spectrum — from early childhood through postsecondary attainment and workforce outcomes — using advanced quantitative and mixed methods, and in close collaboration with education leaders and policymakers. TSP also administers the Education Research Center (ERC) at UT Dallas, one of three state-designated centers providing secure access to individual-level, longitudinal education and workforce data for Texas. The ERC's holdings encompass more than 1.5 billion student and workforce records spanning nearly three decades, and more than 250 researchers have used TSP to access these data. Research produced through TSP appears regularly in leading academic journals and shapes state and national policy debates. Learn more at . Position: Director, Texas Schools Project & Open-Rank Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Position Organization: The University of Texas at Dallas Location: Richardson, TX United States Posting Start Date: 10/23/2026 Date Posted: 10/23/2026 Requirements & Qualifications Minimum Education and Experience: A PhD in economics, public policy, or a related discipline is required prior to employment. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in quantitative methods for causal inference and in the analysis of large-scale administrative and longitudinal microdata. Candidates must have a record of external research funding appropriate to their career stage and evidence of effective collaboration with policymakers, practitioners, or agency partners. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, engaging, and dynamic environment comprised of individuals with a range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. We are seeking candidates able to produce research and scholarly or creative achievements that enhance the program and the discipline, and able to deliver high-quality teaching using evidence-based practices to effectively engage students from a range of backgrounds and experiences. Preferred Education and Experience: Experience directing a research center, institute, lab, or comparable multi-investigator enterprise. Candidates are expected to have familiarity with state longitudinal data systems, restricted-use data environments, and the legal and ethical frameworks governing student data (e.g., FERPA, IRB, Interagency data-sharing agreements). Candidates should have a track record securing and managing grants from federal agencies (IES, NSF, NIH) and major foundations, demonstrated success in mentoring graduate students and early-career researchers, and have demonstrated the ability to translate research for policy and public audiences. #J-18808-Ljbffr Aefpweb