Director, Research

The Director, Research is a full-time position within Strada’s postsecondary education research team, reporting to the Vice President, Research who has leadership in affordability and quality coaching activities. The Director leads research on postsecondary education and training, with emphasis on quality education-to-career guidance and affordability. The Director analyzes findings from a range of sources, generates insights, and examines policy and practice implications of the research. This Director also leads the development of reports and other audience-facing communications that engage institutional leaders, employers, policymakers, the research community, and other higher education stakeholders. In addition, the Director, Research contributes to Strada’s broader strategic initiatives through research, partnership development, grantmaking, and identifying opportunities to inform mission-aligned priorities.
The Strada postsecondary education research team develops evidence and insights to help connect individuals to opportunity through postsecondary education — especially those who face the greatest barriers to doing so. We conduct innovative and actionable research, grounded in student experiences, and pointing to solutions with the power to bring stakeholders into partnerships that deliver progress for all. 
Our team pursues a long-term strategic research agenda focused on improved affordability, increased access to valuable work-based learning experiences, and quality coaching with effective education-to-career guidance. Across our portfolio of work, we support a range of activities that includes conceptualization, design, partner selection, partnership development, project management, data collection, analysis, insight generation, reporting and dissemination. As appropriate, our team leads in these activities or engages individuals and organizations with specialized expertise. This position will be located in Washington, DC or Indianapolis, IN with a hybrid work environment working in the Strada office at least two days a week, with the option to work remotely otherwise.
Context
Strada Education Foundation supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between education and employment in the U.S., with a special focus on helping those who have faced the greatest challenges securing economic opportunity through postsecondary education and training. Our strategic plan focuses on improving equitable pathways to opportunity through post-high school education through five strategic areas of focus: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordability, work-based learning, and employer alignment. 
We work with partners in education and training, nonprofit organizations, industry, startups, philanthropy, and public policy. We leverage strategic philanthropy, investments, research, communications, advocacy, and collaborating organizations in the pursuit of our mission. Strada offers a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative professional environment full of learning and professional development through both internal and external partnerships.
Key responsibilities: The Director has four core responsibility areas, listed below with the approximate percentage of time required for execution.

1. Research Planning and Execution (35%)

• Identify research topics and questions of value to the field, with a focus on strategies to improve the experiences and outcomes of students.
• Develop projects, conduct research, and analyze findings.
• Generate insights and learnings from grants and initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to develop and produce research.

2. Communicate Research and Insights (30%)

• Synthesize data and insights across key topics to contribute to knowledge management and subject matter expertise for the organization.
• Author briefs, reports, infographics, and other documents for stakeholder audiences including educators, employers, and policymakers.
• Guide the development of publications authored by colleagues through content strategy and developmental editing.
• Work closely with research, philanthropy, communications, and other teams to develop compelling stories that communicate challenges and innovations across Strada’s strategic priorities.
• Be a public representative for Strada at external events, including panels, conferences, and symposia.
• Create sets of data and insights for use across Strada’s communication efforts, aligning the communications of research and insights across different publications and channels.

3. Develop and Support Strategic Initiatives (25%)

• Build relationships and develop partnerships that advance research priorities.
• Conduct research to identi