[Hiring] Director of Research & Data Analytics @Coleridge Initiative

Role Description

The Director of Research & Data Analytics provides technical and project leadership for Coleridge’s portfolio of applied research, analytics, and evaluation projects leveraging administrative and linked data. The role ensures methodological rigor, analytic quality, and policy relevance while collaborating across teams to advance Coleridge’s research initiatives. The Director serves as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project execution, deliverables, and coordination of internal and external contributors. The role also strengthens research quality standards, contributes to revenue growth by developing funded research opportunities, and serves as a thought leader on the use of administrative data to inform policy and program decisions.

Essential Job Functions

• Research Strategy and Portfolio Leadership:
  • Lead the design and execution of research, analytics, and evaluation activities across Coleridge projects, focusing on administrative and linked data.
  • Establish methodological standards and analytic protocols that ensure rigor, reproducibility, and policy relevance.
  • Identify emerging opportunities for research innovation aligned with Coleridge’s mission and strategic priorities.
  • Ensure integration of research approaches across sectors such as education, workforce, human services, and justice.
  • Serve as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and coordination of internal and external contributors to ensure successful execution.
• Analytic Quality and Governance:
  • Develop and implement organization-wide processes for quality assurance and quality control of analytic outputs, including review protocols for code, methods, and findings.
  • Ensure analytic deliverables meet high standards for validity, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.
  • Promote best practices in data documentation, version control, and reproducible research workflows.
• Business Development and Growth:
  • Cultivate relationships with government agencies, foundations, and research partners to identify, develop, and secure funded research opportunities aligned with Coleridge’s strategic priorities.
  • Contribute technical leadership to proposals, concept papers, and partnership development.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to shape offerings that expand Coleridge’s research and evaluation footprint.
• Thought Leadership and Field Engagement:
  • Serve as a leading voice internally and externally on the use of administrative data for policy research and evidence building.
  • Represent Coleridge through publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder convenings.
  • Monitor methodological and technological developments in applied research and administrative data analysis.
• Cross-Organizational Innovation:
  • Partner with training, product, and data enclave teams to translate research innovations into scalable offerings, such as courses, tools, and visualization products.
  • Support the development of analytic frameworks and demonstration projects that strengthen Coleridge’s market position.
  • Advise leadership on research-related risks, opportunities, and strategic investments.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in public policy, economics, statistics, data science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience conducting applied research or evaluation using administrative or linked data.
• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal government, nonprofit, or academic partners.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research design.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary research projects and collaborators.
• Strong track record of publications, presentations, or other forms of thought leadership.
• Experience contributing to successful proposal development and client engagement.
• Familiarity with secure data environments and privacy-preserving research practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate analytic insights for policy and operational audiences.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Employer retirement contributions
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Professional development support

Salary Range

$160,000 to $170,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This is a remote-based position, primarily sedentary (sitting or standing at a desk in a home office) with east coast location strongly preferred. Work may be programmed for weekdays, weekends, and evenings. The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit or stand for extended periods of time at a desk or computer workstation. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.