Director, Research & Insights

JFF•Boston, MA

10h•$120,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

JFF is seeking a Director, Research & Insights to lead and strengthen our enterprise-wide impact measurement systems and data infrastructure. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives at the intersection of research rigor, data strategy, and organizational learning. The Director will support and lead major initiatives including the American Job Quality Survey (AJQS) and North Star measurement, State Impact Strategy, and the development of an AI–powered research repository that centralizes data and insights across JFF. The Director will also support research activities on select funded projects, and contribute to fundraising and proposal development to expand JFF’s research portfolio.

Requirements

Experienced researcher and systems thinker with at least 12 years of experience in applied research, evaluation, or data strategy within education, workforce, or social impact settings.
Skilled in both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, with demonstrated ability to design and interpret surveys, analyze large datasets, and synthesize qualitative data (e.g., interviews, focus groups, open-ended feedback) into actionable insights.
Experience with various data collection, data analytic, and data visualization tools (e.g. Baserow, Domo, Alchemer, SPSS, etc).
Adept at integrating mixed-methods findings and working with external research partners to tell cohesive stories about program impact and organizational learning.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level data infrastructure or research systems that drive strategy and performance improvement.
Deep understanding of impact measurement frameworks, performance indicators, and data governance practices.
Ability to deal with ambiguity, and manage multiple stakeholders
Exceptional communicator who can translate complex data into compelling narratives for technical and non-technical audiences alike.
Proven experience managing and mentoring high-performing teams and fostering inclusive, collaborative, and learning-oriented environments.
Strong writing and proposal development skills, with experience contributing to concept papers, RFPs, and funder deliverables.
Commitment to JFF’s mission of equitable economic advancement and enthusiasm for leveraging data and insights to drive measurable impact.
Operates with a growth mindset and high standards. You’re agile, creative, and equity-centered, with a disciplined yet flexible approach to execution.
Is deeply aligned with JFF’s mission, vision, and values, and committed to advancing JFF’s performance and people management principles in all aspects of your work.

Nice To Haves

Experienced in solution research including concept testing, user research, market analysis, and translating field insights into viable product hypotheses is optional but a plus

Responsibilities

Support JFF’s Job Quality Measurement and North Star Efforts
Provide technical guidance on survey design, analysis, and interpretation to our external research partners
Analyze a large, complex dataset on job quality to answer enterprise inquiries and elevate intriguing findings to support strategic decision making.
Define and implement a process for internal data use, including repository integration, access protocols, and sensemaking across business units (BUs).
Facilitate Business Unit (BU)-specific work sessions and targeted discussions to help leaders apply AJQS data within their portfolios.
Align job quality measurement with JFF’s North Star impact drivers, ensuring internal alignment and contribution to our impact platform
Oversee Reporting for State Impact Strategy
Lead data analysis related to JFF’s State Impact strategy, ensuring consistency, rigor, and relevance across workstreams.
Reporting data to produce actionable insights that inform organizational strategy, investment priorities, and storytelling.
Recalibrate and re-score system maturity indicators on a defined cycle, synthesizing updated state-level evidence to track progress across employer, education, government, and population domains
Apply contribution-based frameworks to assess organizational influence on system change, drawing defensible conclusions from incomplete or lagging data without overclaiming causation
Analyze ecosystem behavior change to distinguish between organizational activity outputs and meaningful shifts in how state-level actors engage with workforce systems
Partner with state leads and internal leadership to pressure-test measurement logic, identify gaps in the evidence chain, and maintain framework integrity as strategies evolve
Skilled at navigating multiple stakeholders with competing priorities including funders, internal teams, state partners, and external experts — and building the trust and shared understanding needed to move research and decision-making forward.
Advance Business Development and Proposal Strategy
Partner with colleagues to develop proposals, concept notes, and funder materials, translating complex research and measurement work into compelling narratives.
Lead or co-lead sections of proposals that require research design, evaluation plans, or measurement frameworks.
Support funder cultivation by contributing data-informed insights, storytelling, and briefings.
Support Research Activities on Funded Projects
Oversee or advise on select research activities, ensuring methodological quality and alignment with JFF’s priorities.
Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to co-design studies
Synthesize and share findings with internal and external audiences to drive learning and influence the field.