Senior Director of Research

• Coordinate with E3 leadership, staff, partners and strategic investors to co-design research priorities and ensure that the highest quality and most responsive and actionable data and information are available to support the work of E3 Alliance in supporting student equity and outcomes. 

• Coordinate with E3 leadership, staff and partners to: 

• improve the accessibility and availability of data to improve decision-making; 

• increase the capacity of stakeholders to make effective use of data; and 

• strengthen the regional and state culture to ensure objective data are a key part of continuous improvement efforts. 

• In conjunction with other E3 staff and district and community leaders, help ensure coordination of resources and information (e.g., common metrics to be used throughout the region). 

• Facilitate a network of education researchers to enhance research capacity at education institutions and to increase research collaboration and opportunities. 

Data Connectivity and Analysis 

• Analyze and summarize data, design and refine metrics, and oversee quantitative and qualitative research and analysis in support of Blueprint objectives and strategies.  

• Coordinate recurring data updates for multiple annual deliverables. 

• Make data analytics available to drive systems change in Central Texas and beyond. Provide earned income support related to data availability and research for E3’s mission. 

• Work with the data systems and research teams to build efficiencies and quality assurance processes across the organization’s data infrastructure.  

Management 

• Oversee the management and continuous improvement of data and information resources and the analytic and reporting systems required to efficiently and effectively support the work of E3 Alliance. 

• Supervise research and data analytics staff: 

• Establish departmental and individual goals and provide routine evaluations of progress toward these goals; 

• Coach staff in achievement of objectives;  

• Support effective team dynamics and staff productivity;  

• Identify and promote professional development opportunities for staff; and 

• Ensure adherence to professional standards and ethics of research activities.  

• Develop and manage project plans, budgets, and timelines: 

• Manage multiple simultaneous data analysis and research projects; 

• Prioritize work of research and data analytics staff; and 

• Oversee a small team of professional researchers and GRA’s to execute research and data analysis and meet deadlines. 

• Work with HR to hire, onboard, and manage staff, consulting researchers, and graduate research assistants.  

• Manage, track, and share progress on research and data analytics projects. 

• Create a culture of transparency and quality around processes and deliverables. 

• Oversee collection and analysis of data from public sources (e.g. TEA, TAPR, THECB, TWC) as well as connecting and analyzing partner data through Data Sharing Agreements.  

• Ensure all data released by E3 Alliance and all data sharing agreements are FERPA compliant. Ensure data is stored and maintained in ways that are FERPA compliant and protective of Personally Identifiable Information.  

Strategic Leadership 

• Work with E3 staff to identify and strategize opportunities to provide school districts, IHE’s and other education providers with data and information required to optimize efficacy of their services and practices. 

• Serve on E3’s Leadership Team to help drive organizational decision-making.  

• Serve as the lead for organizational and regional strategic planning around research and data analytics agendas. 

• Be responsible for business development and thought leadership around earned income related to research and data products, as well as regional and state capacity to use such data. 

• Represent E3 Alliance in statewide and national convenings and conversations, including RP3, StriveTogether, Texas Urban Council and others. 

Data Storytelling 

• Coordinate with research and other E3 staff in the development of charts, graphs, infographics, maps, tables, and other interactive data displays that communicate information clearly and stimulate viewer attention and engagement for a variety of external audiences, effectively telling a story to drive decision-making and behavior change.  

• Ensure that all interactive and flat data products are optimized for user decision-making. 

• Coordinate with the Senior Director of Policy and Communications and other appropriate E3 staff to develop a strategy and framework for disseminating descriptive data, important research findings, education performance information, and regional metrics to inform and influence decision-making and policy optimized to the needs of user audiences. 

• Lead efforts to drive education data connectivity and interoperability across the region and state.  

• Present analytic information to internal and external stakeholders in appropriate and accessible ways, emphasizing systemic transformation and action while respecting data sensitivity. Coach research and other E3 staff to do the same. 

Data Access and Quality 

• Work with TEA, THECB, TWC, Workforce Solutions, traditional and charter school districts, colleges, and other institutional partners to source objective education and workforce data and ensure that data is usable to drive positive action for students. 

• Monitor local, state, and federal education policy to determine education research of value in local and state policy decision-making. 

• Act as primary liaison to the state Education Research Center (ERC) for sourcing and analysis of data; submit detailed research proposals to the ERC for appropriate access to statewide student data and manage staff and volunteers in secure access to ERC data. 

• Collaborate with statewide collective impact and research to practice partnership (RPP) partners to ensure high quality data availability for collective impact work across the state. 

• Other duties as assigned.

Integration to E3’s Best At’s:? 

• Delivering results by ensuring that research and data systems projects are delivered timely and at the highest level of quality 

• Building relationships of trust with external partners to ensure high quality, timely data is available on a schedule that is useful for planning E3’s work. 

• Having the best data by ensuring all data E3 Alliance analyzes is relevant for driving action at the systemic level and is appropriately shared in context to drive action. 

Qualifications:  

Education level 

• M.A. or M.S. in educational statistics or related field with demonstrated examples of completed research projects (Ph.D. preferred; comparable education and industry/institutional experience may be acceptable in certain candidates)  

Experience 

• Minimum of five years of Python, R, and/or SAS programming or other similar programming experience with up-to-date applied technical skills. 

• Proven experience managing self and technical staff to effectively meet deliverables and deadlines including strong project management experience. 

• Proven experience managing productive working relationships with external partners and clients. 

• Strong statistical background in addition to experience in managing and conducting research projects using mixed methodologies. 

• Demonstrated examples of completed research projects in academic/community/business settings. 

• At least five years’ experience working with workforce and/or educational institutions from the public, private or non-profit sectors (preferably in Texas). 

• Experience reviewing others’ work and providing substantive feedback.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Extensive understanding of Texas education data at the early childhood, PK-12, and/or higher education levels; experience with ERC data sets and processes ideal. 

• Personal contacts with related agencies that are providers and users of education data – e.g. TEA, THECB, ERC’s, legislative staffers, superintendents, higher education leaders. 

• Experience in Microsoft Office 365, Outlook/Exchange, project management tools, team data sharing, and web presentation tools. 

• Experience with the design and management of SQL databases to maintain data sets, and with programming languages for the manipulation of analytical data and data visualizations.   

Required specific skills  

• Self-directed. 

• Strong written and oral communication skills including public presentations to a variety of audiences in ways that influence action and behavior. 

• Ability to design and implement program evaluation projects. 

• Recognition and respect for diversity of culture and background.  

Compensation and Benefits

E3 Alliance is supported by founding partner Austin Community College District (ACC), and through this partnership utilizes ACC payroll and human resource systems. Through ACC, E3 Alliance staff have access to ACC compensation and benefits systems, including generous vacation and sick leave, insurance, and other benefits. 

Salary Range: $95,500 - $119,000 

• Salary based on experience and expertise  

• Health care and dental insurance, TRS retirement benefits, disability insurance, and other standard ACC benefits 

• E3 Alliance is unable to support candidates who require sponsorship to work in the United States

• This position is grant-funded, but does not have a defined timeframe and is intended to be a full-time, ongoing position?  

To be considered for this position applicants must:

• Upload your resume and cover letter when submitting your ACC application: http://austincc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/details/E3-Alliance-Senior-Director-of-Research_R-5754

• Complete the E3 Alliance Employment Questionnaire: E3 Alliance Employment Questionnaire