Director, Research

Position Summary

The Director, Research is a key leadership role reporting directly to the Associate Vice President (AVP), Center for Whole Human Education and Research, Harmony Academy. Leads, in collaboration with the AVP, research efforts with functional area oversight across research, grants/RFPs, & policy, and support with product development, innovation, and content. This role is responsible to deepen and execute a research agenda across Harmony Academy in close collaboration with senior leadership at Harmony Academy and with the Cause Research Institute at National University.

The Research Director serves on the business senior leadership team and is responsible for leading research team efforts including, national level initiatives and partnerships related to research, including impact evaluations, mixed methods studies, pilot/case studies, and research-practice partnerships. This position also serves as a key leader to help translate research to practice and ensure content and products align with evidence-based practices. This position assists executives and/or senior directors in defining organizational goals and strategic plans that have a critical impact on the success of functional areas and organizations. This role will also help secure additional grant funds for research, as well as oversight over graduate and undergraduate students and other research assistants.

Essential Functions

The Research Director’s primary responsibilities are to: 1) develop and execute a research agenda for Harmony Academy centered on implementation fidelity, outcomes, and student and adult social and emotional growth; 2) partner with Harmony Academy and National University staff to create structures for staff and graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research activities;  3) leverage various resources, both internal and external, to the Harmony Academy, including the development, coordination, and execution of research grant proposals; 4) research and evaluate the development and delivery of programs utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methodologies; 5) produce research briefs, white papers, and tools to enhance user experience; and 6) engage with other units within National University (e.g., Cause Research Institute and Sanford School of Education) to enhance research efforts.

• Collaborate with researchers, graduate students, and post-docs at NU Cause Research Institute, Sanford College of Education and Psychology Department to co-develop a robust research agenda for Harmony Academy, relationship-building strategies, and social, emotional, and academic development.
• Conduct implementation and impact evaluations that fully implement Harmony, including the systemic approach both for NU and external with 3rd party evaluators.
• Engage in research-practice partnerships with partner districts and strategic partners to better understand ways in which innovative solutions from Harmony Academy are implemented.
• Manage research projects with a research team (graduate students and RAs), as well as weigh variety of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring research projects stay on track and within budget.
• Participate in training, coaching, and supporting graduate and undergraduate students in engaging in research projects with Harmony Academy.
• Collect, assemble, and maintain datasets related to social, emotional and academic development (SEAD), professional learning, and teacher preparation.
• Analyze data to generate evidence that can influence policy and practice
• Write research reports, briefing memos, summaries of journal articles, books, blogs and news articles individually and in collaboration with other researchers and scholars (internal and external).
• Present results of empirical analysis in interesting and easy to understand table and graphical formats.
• Identify new grant opportunities, contribute to grant writing, and manage relationships with grant officers, including leading content- and research- driven grants, as well as tracking and communicating our impact in grant reports.
• Support the content development of RFPs
• Partner with external clients and consultants to support research and evaluation.
• Review content, products, and materials to ensure they align with evidence-based practices
• Attend conferences and seminars as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

• Direct supervisory of grant specialists, graduate students, data analysts, and research assistants (3-5 reports)

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Doctoral degree in education, psychology, research methodology or related field with a minimum of three years of related experience required.
• Five (5) years’ experience leading research projects (project director, task leads) required.
• Project management and continuous improvement experience highly preferred.
• Experience with mixed-methods research preferred.
• Experience building and maintaining partner relationships preferred.
• Experience with grant writing preferred.
• Experience with data collection or evaluation in community-based settings preferred.
• Experience designing analyses with practice implications preferred.
• Experience in educational publishing highly desirable.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Ability to take big ideas and concepts to develop research projects and communicate effectively to others
• Strong attention to detail in writing and speaking.
• Ability to develop and execute projects through effective project management strategies.
• Can motivate and effectively manage a team, building upon strengths.
• Ability to provide training and support to graduate and undergraduate students and staff. 
• Dynamic speaking and strong writing skills to communicate precisely and effectively with multiple audiences.
• Interpersonal qualities: a sense of urgency and engagement; strong leadership capabilities; demonstrated work-ethic and commitment to high-quality service; confidence and excitement about change; a personal presence that is active and inclusive; demonstrated skill to promote and enhance diversity.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Proven ability to work with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity and inclusion.

Location: Remote

Travel:  Travel is approximately 20%, or 4-5 days per month.

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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

Compensation Range:

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality, diverse workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 5,000 faculty and staff and serves over 41,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community and a commitment to diversity. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our diverse student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University offers an opportunity to work in an innovative environment that supports diversity.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a diverse mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. We are focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, color, ancestry, age, family care status, veteran status, marital status, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and other legally protected group status.