Senior Researcher, Employment and Economic Opportunity (Part-Time)

American Institutes for Research

4d • $57 - $64

About The Position

The Senior Researcher joins AIR’s Employment and Economic Opportunity Program and provides technical support while managing research, operational, and analytic activities for AIR’s NAEP Technical Support Contract. The role leads technical reviews throughout the assessment cycle, including reviews of assessment data, results, and technical documentation, and supports external research, assessment, and partnership initiatives as well as business development opportunities. Engagements are generally project- or pursuit-based, part-time, and may vary in duration and hours according to project needs.

The position may be performed remotely within the United States or from a U.S. office location; U.S. territories are excluded. Qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements depending on project work. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis; employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Master’s degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience, or PhD with at least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Deep knowledge of NAEP content, procedures, and operations.
• Experience working with the Department of Education, including the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
• Experience reviewing national education reports for U.S. audiences.
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with the federal government to conduct assessments and surveys.
• Extensive knowledge of reading content and assessment systems and operations.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams on federally funded research projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills for working with stakeholders at various levels and from a range of backgrounds.
• High attention to detail and a strong commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Strong project management skills, including timeline tracking, risk identification, and management of competing priorities.
• Self-motivation and reliability, with the ability to work independently and take ownership of complex tasks with minimal supervision.
• Effective communication skills and a commitment to validity, clarity, and evidence-based messaging.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners in a virtual work environment.
• Currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct cyclical technical reviews of NAEP data files, data companions, technical documentation, the Nation’s Report Card, and other NAEP products and publications.
• Support management of the NAEP Validity Panel through technical reviews and advisory support.
• Support NAEP assessment systems activities, including attending systems update meetings; monitoring, documenting, and tracking bugs and known issues; participating in milestone and user acceptance testing reviews; and coordinating with project staff to identify and communicate systems-related issues.
• Provide content expertise for NAEP Reading assessment content development by reviewing items, passages, and related materials for content quality and alignment and providing feedback throughout development and review cycles.
• Lead business development activities, including proposal management and writing, market research, and capture planning.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Senior