Research Associate

Research Associate

Digital Promise's Learning Sciences Research (LSR) team focuses on the why, what, and how of learning. This position, which is ideally hybrid and Washington, DC- or California-based, will work with teams on several funded initiatives focused on education research and development. These funded initiatives include both research studies and community hubs, and have a focus on supporting development of evidence-based digital learning systems in postsecondary education.

Working closely with principal investigators and other senior research team members, the Research Associate will help to orchestrate and support the efforts of project teams at Digital Promise as well as the additional funders, universities, nonprofits, school districts, and scientific advisors we work with on these projects. The Research Associate will draw on their experience working on projects in postsecondary education and/or K-12 education and substantive knowledge about research processes. They will coordinate schedules, agendas, and action items with multiple stakeholders in complex projects. As such, this role will involve coordination with internal groups (e.g., communications and contracts) and external constituencies such as educators, researchers, educational product developers, funders, and relevant partners. They will also contribute to research activities such as developing protocols, conducting interviews, supporting data collection, and preparing datasets for analysis. The Research Associate will contribute to drafting presentations, field notes, and other written products.

Digital Promise serves all students while seeking clear progress for students from populations that have been historically and systematically underserved. Experiences and strengths that align with Digital Promise's Impact Goals are desired. The projects also aim to communicate insights and recommendations for solutions that improve education outcomes for all learners and mitigate persistent achievement and attainment gaps to national audiences. Strong ability to communicate verbally and in writing (e.g. emails) with a wide range of audiences is important to the role.

This position will be supported by interactions across the 30-person LSR team. LSR is a community, and this role will be a member of the community; likewise, opportunities for interaction will be available across Digital Promise. LSR provides professional development opportunities for all staff. This position is a one year term with the potential to extend.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management and logistical support for multiple research hubs and research studies, including working with Digital Promise's administrative unit to execute contracts and process invoices.
• Support the operations of complex research projects, including collaborating with recruitment efforts, assisting in collection and secure management of research data, and building and maintaining internal systems for tracking completion of project tasks and meeting reporting requirements and deadlines.
• Coordinate, communicate with and build relationships with external collaborators, funders, and team members across Digital Promise through strategic use of multiple communication channels.
• Maintain agendas for meetings, take notes, and follow up with others to ensure action items are completed and contributors are prepared for future meetings.
• Participate in research activities including developing protocols, conducting interviews, coding transcripts, and preparing data for analysis.
• Support project-related communication including emails, social media, and newsletters;
• Support project-related deliverables by drafting written products and creating presentation shells;
• Support the organization and execution of project events including in-person convenings, professional development, technical assistance, and data collection.
• Support project leads to track and manage progress towards project milestones and deliverables including preparation of required quarterly and annual reports to funders.
• As requested, liaise with LSR's finance manager to monitor project spending and stay within budget on specific tasks or activities, such as the budget for a convening.

Qualifications

• Either a master's degree in Education, Evaluation, Public Health, Psychology or a related discipline, or a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of experience in research and/or project management in the context of educational or related projects, preferably in postsecondary contexts.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment dealing successfully with multiple short- and long-term priorities simultaneously.
• Strong collaborative, and problem-solving skills, with ability to engage across the team to proactively identify issues, analyze root causes, and co-develop effective solutions.
• Advanced organizational skills, with impeccable attention to detail, the ability to establish processes, monitor progress on multiple project strands
• Experience conducting research in postsecondary education institutions and/or collecting and analyzing qualitative and/or quantitative education data.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate in written and verbal formats with a variety of roles to facilitate engagement in the research both internal to DP and with partners, participants, and funders.
• Creativity and flexibility, with the ability to adapt to changing project needs and work across different types of efforts such as contract management, communications, and funder relations.
• Working knowledge of learning sciences research processes and strong desire to learn more about complex, multi-institutional research in education.
• Familiarity with digital learning systems and how they are implemented in educational settings.
• Strong proficiency with a variety of technical tools and platforms, including office and cloud software (e.g., Google Docs, Excel, Slack), Salesforce, Asana, and Qualtrics.

At Digital Promise, we also seek candidates with:

• A strong commitment to working toward Digital Promise's mission and impact goals
• An interest in redesigning learning systems to better serve those who are historically and systemically excluded
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional team members to ensure information is shared, projects are completed on time, and goals are reached.

Working Conditions

Digital Promise Global is a hybrid organization. The position is primarily working in a remote environment. Employees are expected to travel at least 4 times a year for in-person meetings and the annual staff retreat. Additional travel may be required based on role and responsibilities.

Physical/Sensory Demands: Fast-paced working environment. Extensive computer usage and online engagement & communication. Must be willing to build inclusive relationships and collaborate with employees at all levels within the organization and external partners.

Compensation

We consider candidate experience and location when determining where a candidate may fall within that range. Digital Promise Global offers a competitive total rewards package including coverage of 85% of health insurance premiums for employee coverage and 75% of health insurance premiums for dependent and family coverage, 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 3% 401k employer contribution, 3% employer 401k match, and a flexible work environment.

The full-time salary range for the position is based on geographical regions, with exact salary depending on relevant experience.

California: $89,275-$97,152

DC Metro Area & NYC: $81,159-$88,320

National: $73,043-$79,488

To Apply

Please apply and submit your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis until the search is successful.

Digital Promise is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex/gender, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.