[Remote] Research Director/Principal Researcher

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. PowerSchool is a global leader in cloud-based software for K-12 education, dedicated to powering personalized education for students. They are seeking a Research Director or Principal Researcher to lead complex research projects focused on K-12 education, ensuring rigorous study design and stakeholder engagement while mentoring a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of complex research projects on K-12 education topics, from initial concept and research questions through final deliverables.
• In partnership with the team, develop detailed project work plans, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches that align with organizational goals.
• Ensure rigorous study design, including appropriate sampling, checks for data quality, bias, and limitations.
• Make high-stakes decisions on project direction and adjust strategies as needed to achieve research objectives.
• Work with Project Manager to identify project staffing, task delegation, timeline management, and multi-project coordination.
• Manage project budgets, vendor relationships, and purchasing functions and related contractual agreements.
• Work with Project Manager to monitor and regularly report on project resources and operations, including hours, revenue, deliverables, and contracts.
• Ensure compliance with PowerSchool’s financial and operations policies, funding agencies, sponsors, ethical and legal standards, and data privacy.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with clients, partners, and K-12 education stakeholders to understand client needs, ensure client satisfaction, and develop business pipeline.
• Lead and oversee the team’s communication of complex analyses into clear findings and recommendations through meetings, presentations, high-quality research reports, white papers, and executive summaries that inform decision-makers.
• Ensure that all effectively communicate the methodology, results, and implications of the research.
• Champion the publication of findings where appropriate and the sharing of insights internally and with the wider education and research community.
• Play a key role in shaping the long-term research strategy and identifying new opportunities.
• Evaluate emerging K-12 education trends and policy issues to propose research initiatives that will position the organization as a thought leader.
• Contribute to business development by supporting grant proposals, RFP responses, and other funding opportunities.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align research projects with product development and organizational goals.
• Act as an internal advocate for research, building data-driven communities and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor multidisciplinary team of researchers/data scientists and other staff by providing feedback on project content, methodological decisions, analysis techniques, and code.
• Work cross-functionally with project contributors from different PowerSchool teams—including developers, data engineers, designers, copyeditors, etc.—to execute projects.

Skills

• Extensive experience in designing and conducting research studies and/or consultancy projects from start to finish using rigorous quantitative research methods.
• 5 years of progressive experience executing and leading research or consultancy projects in the K-12 education domain.
• Deep knowledge of and demonstrated experience with K-12 education topics and data. Specialization in K-12 school finance and/or administrative- or systems-level areas (e.g., school-, district-, state-, or federal-level level policies or student performance) preferred.
• A passion for using data and data analysis/science methods to address social science questions, especially with an eye towards improve the K-12 education landscape for students and educators.
• Experience in grant and RFP writing a plus.
• Experience building or implementing educational products a plus.
• Experience working in a school or education agency, especially in a leadership position, a plus.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical methodologies (e.g., linear and logistic regression, hierarchical linear modeling, time-series analysis, etc.), experimental or quasi-experimental designs (e.g., regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences, etc.) and when to apply them.
• Familiarity with data science concepts and machine learning techniques (supervised learning, unsupervised learning, optimization, natural language processing) strongly preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to independently problem-solve, a self-starter attitude, a high-quality results-oriented mindset, and a desire to continue to learn and develop quantitative/technical skills.
• Fluency in statistical software and/or programming languages, such as R (preferred), Python (preferred), SQL, or Stata. If not already familiar, a desire and ability to learn R or Python is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with version control software (GitHub preferred) and best practices.
• Proficiency with project/task management software (Jira a plus).
• Translate technical and academic information quickly and accurately to diverse audiences.
• Keep current with education research outputs and methodological techniques in academia and industry.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or a post graduate degree or years of relevant experience.
• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Education, Education Policy, Education Leadership, Sociology, Computational Social Science, Statistics, Data Science) (or equivalent combination of advanced degree and experience) strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Insurance Coverage (including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pharmacy benefits, Life Insurance and AD&D)
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
• Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• Comprehensive 401(k) plan
• Generous Parental Leave
• Unrestricted paid time off (known as Discretionary Time Off - DTO)
• Wellness Program, including ClassPass & Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Optional Benefits: Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Student Debt Repayment Program and Prepaid Legal coverage

Company Overview

• PowerSchool is a leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. It was founded in 1997, and is headquartered in Folsom, CA, US, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is https://www.powerschool.com/.

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