Senior Researcher, Employment & Economic Opportunity Program (Part-Time)

AIR's Employment & Economic Opportunity Program is seeking a Part-Time Senior Researcher to upport project teams dedicated to collecting and disseminating valid and reliable data on how U.S. education compares internationally..
The Senior Researcher provides technical support and coordinates research, operational, and analytic activities that support U.S. participation in major international large-scale assessments and surveys, including studies conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), such as TIMSS, PISA, and TALIS. Working closely with project leadership, clients, and international partners, this role oversees study activities across the assessment lifecycle, including instrument development and review, study operations, data quality review, analysis, reporting, and dissemination. The role contributes to the development, analysis, and interpretation of international education statistics and research findings, translating technical information into clear, actionable insights for a range of audiences.
Engagements are typically project-based, part-time, and may vary in duration and hours depending on project needs.
This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. This position requires availability to participate in meetings across all continental U.S. time zones and, occasionally, international time zones, predominately Central European Time/Central European Summer Time.
About AIR:
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.
Responsibilities:
The responsibilities for the position include:
Manage day-to-day project operations in roles such as principal investigator, project director, or task lead.
Lead collaborative project teams by developing timelines, coordinating staff assignments, and ensuring deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
Identify research problems and design studies to address key questions in applied research contexts.
Apply subject-matter expertise to design and implement relevant, responsive, and impactful research projects.
Develop study designs with aligned research questions, methodologies, and analytic plans.
Lead and contribute to research proposals for federal, state, foundation, and other clients.
Devise and implement innovative solutions to practical challenges in applied research.
Lead data collection and analysis efforts.
Oversee the design and planning of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection tools, such as interview protocols, focus group guides, and surveys.
Supervise field-based data collection activities, including interviews, observations, focus groups, and document reviews.
Conduct or oversee data analysis using appropriate tools and techniques for various data types.
Communicate study progress and findings clearly and effectively.
Prepare reports, briefs, visualizations, and other materials that interpret and present research findings for clients and stakeholders.
Represent the organization professionally in all client interactions.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
Foster and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships.
Manage client and stakeholder relationships with professionalism and awareness of the broader policy and practice landscape.
Contribute thoughtfully and creatively to project teams.
Qualifications:
Education, Knowledge, and Experience
PhD in related subject area (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Policy, or related field) with 3+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.
Firm understanding of implementation science.
Ability to take big ideas and develop work plans and timelines.
Experience at contract research and/or evaluation organization(s).
Experience with data collection methodologies (including but not limited to structured interviews, observations, survey research) and analysis activities (including but not limited to experience with quantitative and/or qualitative analytic software packages [such as Stata, R, Exce