Associate Director, Research and Strategic Advisory Services (Administrative Effectiveness)

EAB•Richmond, VA

40d•Remote

About The Position

Associate Directors on our Strategic Advisory Services team (within the Research Discovery & Design division) help develop research agendas and design research projects and services that address the major strategic, management, and operational issues facing education today. Our researchers conduct in-depth interviews with campus executives at diverse institutions and perform data and root-cause analyses to identify market-leading strategies and best practices in our pursuit to make education smarter. As a member of our team, you will play an important role in innovating and producing syndicated research and high-value services for partner organizations, including on-site workshops, web-conferences and publications. You will also be a valued expert to EAB partner organizations, advising them on strategy and best practice implementation. This particular role will be positioned within our Administrative Effectiveness higher education pillar. The Associate Director in administrative effectiveness primarily works on research topics related to cost management, revenue generation, and efficiency and effectiveness. Recent research topics in this terrain have included financial planning, university space optimization, organizational transformation, and workforce development. A successful candidate for this position will: Bring strong professional judgment and clear communication skills, with the ability to translate complex findings into accessible insights for campus leaders Thrive in collaborative, fast-moving environments - taking initiative, following through on details, and adjusting quickly as priorities evolve Combine analytical rigor with intellectual curiosity and agility, getting up to speed on key issues quickly and taking ownership over sub-terrains Be willing to draw on a range of sources and deploy various methods to generate actionable advice for campus leaders that is both strategic and tactical in nature Have experience beyond academic research and publications to include consulting, client-responsive projects, or advisory work that translates insights into strategy and action This role is based in Washington D.C. and is also open to candidates in Richmond, VA or open to remote employment in the continental U.S. The position may require occasional travel (up to approximately 10%) for presenting research findings to our partners as well as facilitating strategy sessions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, with an excellent academic record and 5+ years of post-graduate, professional experience; or 4+ years of post-graduate, professional experience and an advanced degree; or bachelor's degree and 4+ years of post-graduate, professional experience, including 2+ years of experience in EAB Research
Willingness to travel up to 10%
Experience with at least two of the following: Management or strategy consulting University/education strategic planning Conducting long-term research (at least 3 months in duration) Conducting primary and secondary research Higher education experience

Nice To Haves

Experience with administrative effectiveness functions, such as finance, IT, Facilities, or operations
Advanced degree or equivalent experience demonstrating strategic, analytical, and business problem-solving capability (MA, MPP, PhD, JD, or similar preferred)
Majors and/or advanced degrees in economics, political science, data analytics, statistics or other quantitative fields preferred
Experience working in a team environment, as well as independently and autonomously in ambiguous and fast-changing contexts
Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior executives in both oral and written formats
Experience with solution-focused problem solving and thinking through problems creatively
Experience working with clients in a consultative role
Experience experimenting and piloting AI solutions for both internal and external use
Demonstrated experience in managing projects and meeting deadlines
Commitment to embracing a continual learning environment and contributing to a dynamic and welcoming culture of fairness, authenticity, and belonging in support of EAB's mission, values, and aspiration.

Responsibilities

Design and lead strategic research projects from conception to completion, ranging from two to four months for smaller projects to approximately nine months for the largest, most complex projects.
Provide intellectual leadership and analytical direction throughout all stages of the research process, working through extensive primary and secondary research, hypothesis generation and testing, rigorous analysis of findings, design and execution of implementation resources, and the final presentation of ideas
Synthesize complex ideas into actionable insights for our members
Use persuasive writing, storytelling, and graphics to communicate ideas and information
Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Conduct market-sizing, testing calls and product design analysis for new research and product enhancements
Collaborate with individual project leads, subject matter experts, and project teams to ensure that new deliverables are designed for scalable execution and interactive partner engagement
Manage and coach junior-level research staff by developing critical skills, providing actionable feedback, and managing workloads
Deliver initial services and presentations to executive-level clients and leadership teams

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; dependents and domestic partners eligible
20+ days of PTO annually, in addition to paid firm and floating holidays
Daytime leave policy for community service and flextime for fitness activities (up to 10 hours per month each)
401(k) retirement savings plan with annual discretionary company matching contribution
Health savings account, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account, and pre-tax commuter plans
Employee assistance program with counseling services and resources available to all employees and immediate family
Wellness programs including gym discounts, incentives to promote healthy living, and family access to the leading app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
Fertility treatment coverage and adoption or surrogacy assistance
Paid parental leave with phase back to work program for birthing and non-birthing parents
Access to milk shipping service to support nursing employees during business travel
Discounted pet health insurance coverage for dog and cat family members
Company-provided life, AD&D, and disability insurance
Financial wellness resources and membership in a robust employee discount program
Access to employee resource groups, merit-based advancement, and dynamic professional growth opportunities