Senior Research Associate/Center Co-Director

This is a remote position.

MDRC is seeking a Senior Research Associate/Center Co-Director with expertise in workforce development, community college workforce training, and career and technical education (CTE). This is an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic, strategic thinker to develop new ideas and a body of work that will address pressing policy questions in the areas of short-term and certificate training, adult education, career pathways, economic mobility models, apprenticeship, employer relationships, and transitions to the labor market. The ideal candidate would be able to Co-Direct and help growMDRC’s Center for Effective Career and Technical Education, as well as develop and lead multiple interdisciplinary teams within MDRC’s Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities policy area. Open to qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods researchers, this role includes project development, research, technical assistance, dissemination, and development of external policy relationships. Examples of current projects in these areas include WorkAdvance,Cascade College and Career Academy, TechHire, andP-TECH.

​The Senior Research Associate/Center Co-Director will bring dynamic leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit and will understand the urgency of this moment for building research evidence and supporting practitioners in the field of workforce training and community college CTE. The candidate will also bring strong analytical, communication, management, and organizational skills.

Areas of Leadership

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Project development and thought leadership:The Senior Associate will be responsible for developing creative proposal ideas and building a portfolio of new projects, as well as expanding the work of existing projects, which are funded through public and private grants and contracts. The ideal candidate will help expand and develop the research agenda and strategic vision for MDRC’s growing body of work.

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Team leadership and management:We are looking for a leader who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization to develop organizational capacity, lead project work, build cross-organizational collaborations, engage in knowledge sharing, and supervise and mentor staff. This leader will also serve to develop and maintain client relationships.

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Communication and relationship-building with various constituencies:The person selected for this position will develop and manage relationships with funders, government agencies, education institutions, intermediaries, and nonprofit and policy organizations to participate in research, program evaluation, and technical assistance projects and to help grow visibility of the work. In addition, the role will include developing creative and compelling dissemination products for multiple audiences, including funders, policymakers, practitioners, other researchers, and potential new audiences.

Key Qualifications

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Mission and values alignment:Demonstrated commitment to education and social policy issues affecting people with low incomes and people of color, and attention to issues of equity in education and workforce development.

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Applied research expertise:A proven track-record of research related to community college CTE and workforce development, as well as 7-10 years of relevant leadership and development experience in applied research and/or technical assistance. Ph.D. in education, economics, psychology, sociology, policy analysis, or another social science strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to conduct research in educational and workforce development settings serving students and clients with low incomes, non-traditional and adult students, and adults seeking reskilling and upskilling. Demonstrated knowledge of current policy environment for community college workforce training, CTE, and workforce development is required. Knowledge of and experience with research design and analytic methods for causal inference, quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and implementation or process research are also required. Knowledge of changing labor market trends, like the future of work and the growing green economy, is also preferred, as is a commitment to centering equity in research.

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Thought leadership and partnership:A proven track record of developing and winning competitive contracts/grants from various funding organizations (e.g., federal, state, and local government agencies and foundations) for research and technical assistance and a well-documented set of relevant publications/presentations.

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Inclusive team management:A recognized relationship-driven leader with strong interpersonal skills, a desire to work in a team-oriented environment, and an ability to collaborate with many levels of staff and external partners. Experience with developing organizational capacity, project management, client relationships, and research publication and practice and policy dissemination.

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External partnership development:Outstanding communicator with the ability to translate research to a wide array of audiences and to build relationships with various external constituents, including funders, the research community, policymakers, practitioners, and participants.

This search is being managed by our Executive Search Partner, Insight Executive Search.For more information or to apply for the position, please contact:

Aaron Schmidt, President

The position is currently remote through April 2022. The position requires travel and is ideally based in one of MDRC’s offices (New York City, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.), but location is flexible. Salary and level will be commensurate with education and experience. Comprehensive benefits offered.

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.Please note that the health and safety of our employees and candidates is very important to us and that interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing. As a Federally Contracted employer, MDRC is in full compliance with all applicable regulations including, but not limited to, recent changes that require vaccination of employees of federal contractors. All employees are required to be fully vaccinated with one of the available COVID-19 vaccinations, unless they have sought and received an exemption from this policy due to a disability or other medical condition, or because of a sincerely held religious belief. Accommodations are granted in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Applicants must submit proof of vaccination or request and submit an applicable request for accommodation during the offer stage.

MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of his, her, or their race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin (including physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics), marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group, tribal affiliation, membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group, name that is associated with a national origin group, accent, language use, immigration status, citizenship, possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States, and other definitions under California or other states’ laws, ancestry, creed, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, citizenship, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, gender transitioning or perceived gender transitioning, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected medical leaves (requesting or being approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act) or similar state family medical leave laws, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC&’s employment process due to a disability, please .

MDRC’sdedicationto Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work.