Job Abstract

Senior Project Director II - Education Research Department (Remote or Hybrid)

Job no: 502360 Work type: Regular Full-Time Location: Bethesda, MD Capability Area: Education and Child Development

JOB DESCRIPTION:

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Senior Research Director II to join the Education and Child Development department.

We are primarily looking for qualified candidates in the Chicago or DC markets who can work at least some of the time from one of our main office locations in Chicago, IL or Bethesda, MD.

DEPARTMENT:Education & Child Development (https://www.norc.org/research/education.html)

For more than 40 years, NORC has been committed to conducting high quality education research. Our department’s research covers the full array of education-relevant populations, from birth across the life course. NORC is a leader in conducting large national surveys, as well as more targeted state and local studies, collecting reliable, actionable data. The scope of our education research methodologies is wide-ranging, as well – including primary data collection, analysis and reporting of existing data, transcript abstraction, classroom observations, qualitative analysis, and experimental and quasi-experimental designs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct or manage significant tasks(s) or component(s) of – large and complex projects with assistance from other staff. Experience conducting recruitment efforts collecting educational related information from students, teachers, administrators, and parents in Pre-K to 12 school systems, collecting data from the general public about school-related information or school outcome issues, and/or working with higher education institutions to coordinate research efforts is required.

• Function in a leadership role with ultimate responsibility for all activities on project assignments, including management of primary and secondary data and operational procedures required to deliver including contracted deliverables. Must be adept at client interaction.

• Ensure effective project staffing for the range of projects supervised. Develop all training strategies, protocols, and materials relative to project needs. Provide supervision and technical assistance (methodological, management, and substantive) to other staff assigned to the project and lead project teams.

• Ensure and manage staff development, mentorship, and technical assistance particularly in special areas of expertise (either substantive or methodological), management guidance, performance evaluations, and other feedback on performance of staff.

• Manage internal support resources to meet project needs, such as IT, production center, field, communications, methodological, and statistical staff.

• Interact with clients frequently to clarify their needs, report on progress, discuss contractual matters, resolve problems, allay concerns, and provide information and recommendations. Experience with federal, state, and local government clients is a plus.

• Hold significant budgeting responsibility on components of large research projects, including monitoring project budget, resources, and schedule. Manage subcontracts and vendor relationships. Oversee budget development for project modifications.

• Perform significant business development responsibilities, including authoring various sections of the technical proposal, generally including those most methodologically or conceptually challenging and/or those most substantive/technical in nature. Oversee budget development and business proposals for new work. Manage a full proposal effort typically of medium to larger scale – proposal submission size and dollar value.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences or related field; master’s degree or higher preferred

• Advanced knowledge of the principles, processes, and methods of social science research and/or programs and policies related to NORC's mission; advanced knowledge in at least one substantive or methodological area and publication/reputation within that area; working knowledge of computing platforms, data processing procedures, and data file construction.

• Experience conducting Pre-K to 12 school-based research (national and local) or post-secondary institutional research is required. Experience in overseeing the implementation of complex sampling designs, multi-mode survey development, sample recruitment, non-response follow-up methods, and data file production and findings dissemination.

• Advanced project management skills.

• At least 9 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in social research, public policy or related field. Experience must include extensive project management responsibilities.

• Experience in client communications, financial management, and relationship management.

• Strong proficiency with MS Office software; proficiency with statistical, financial and resource management/analysis packages. Working knowledge of computing platforms, data processing procedures, and data file construction. Experience with computer-based data analysis.

• Must have experience hiring, managing and mentoring staff.

• Occasional travel to client meetings is expected.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The pay range for this position is $133,000 to $207,000

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment

• Dental and vision insurance

• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program

• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance

• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency

Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC).

WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT:

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.

Advertised: May 21, 2024 Eastern Daylight TimeApplications close: May 28, 2024 Eastern Daylight Time