RESEARCH DIRECTOR
JOB DESCRIPTION
ABOUT THE RENNIE CENTER:
The Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy is an independent, non-partisan organization committed to the development of effective education policy through examination of evidence, thoughtful discourse and informed action. Our mission is to develop a public agenda that promotes significant improvement of public education in Massachusetts. The Center is committed to a set of strategies that involve collaborating with diverse organizations in the education reform field to pursue the following activities:
• Independent Research: The Rennie Center produces independent research to promote public discourse on educational improvement and to inform policy discussions of key decision makers and opinion leaders. Our research reports and policy briefs are broadly disseminated to policy stakeholders in the public, private, nonprofit, and media sectors.
• Civic Engagement: The Rennie Center is committed to engaging diverse perspectives and voices in a constructive policy discussion. By convening conferences, forums, meetings, policy briefings, panel discussions, town meetings and other events, we promote constructive dialogue on school improvement and student achievement.
• Shaping an Effective Public Agenda: The Rennie Center is dedicated to enriching the policy conversation with research and evidence from our fieldwork with district leaders. We frequently interact with the media, contributing editorial pieces and providing information for journalists.
• Constructive Activism: The Rennie Center is proactive in identifying timely opportunities for change in which it can lead policy discussion and development process to a new level. Activity in this domain includes convening working groups and drafting policy proposals to meet major educational challenges.
RESEARCH DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Research Director is responsible for shaping and leading all aspects of the Rennie Center’s research agenda. This includes:
• Working closely and collaboratively with the Rennie Center staff;
• Designing large-and-small scale research projects on a variety of policy-relevant topics in education such as school choice, accountability, and reform of low-performing schools;
• Obtaining grant funding for research projects;
• Conducting research (both quantitative and qualitative) and policy analysis;
• Supervising and editing the research of scholars under contract with the Rennie Center;
• Leading the writing of several reports and policy briefs each year;
• Cultivating a network of contract researchers for projects in a variety of topic areas;
• Working with diverse stakeholders to advance education reform progress in Massachusetts and, specifically, the recommendations from our research;
• Making frequent public presentations of Rennie Center research.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Completion or progress in a Ph.D. program in education, public policy or social sciences (e.g. economics, sociology);
• 2 years experience as a leader/ principal investigator on education research projects;
• Demonstrated ability to use both quantitative and qualitative methodologies;
• Track record of earning grant funding for project proposals;
• Knowledge of key education reform issues both in Massachusetts and nationally;
• Superior written and verbal skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Policy experience at the national, state or large urban district level;
• Teaching or administrative experience in K-12 schools.
TO APPLY
Please send the following materials to jnorton@renniecenter.org:
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Recent writing sample;
• Cover letter that describes the fit between your experience and our mission and recent work. (Please consult our web site at www.renniecenter.org).
