Role Summary

The Director of Research and Development will support the organization’s cutting-edge advanced, inclusive research and development infrastructure and build systems and strategies in service of student success and the breakthrough goals of AERDF programs. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment, bringing experience in Research and Development (R&D) infrastructure, a proven ability to navigate ambiguity, and exceptional skills in project and program management to coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners around a shared strategy.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of R&D, this role directly supports the execution of large-scale, multi-year advanced R&D programs, and works with AERDF staff and contractors to design advanced R&D infrastructure, which requires comfort working in an intentionally evolving and iterative programmatic landscape.  

AERDF is a fully remote organization, and employees may work anywhere in the United States.

We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. People of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those with the lived experience of the students and communities we serve, are encouraged to apply.  Please do not hesitate to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications.

Core Responsibilities

Operational Excellence and Process Management 

• Establish and use project management systems to integrate and track process across multiple teams, projects, and external grantees and contractors.
• Establish and optimize department workflows that align with strategic goals while maximizing organizational impact and efficiency.
• Take initiative to develop and lead sophisticated operational processes across a range of complex R&D programs.
• Support program leaders in crafting RFPs, negotiating terms, and ensuring adherence to timelines and budgets.
• Create and facilitate collaborative design processes.

R&D Infrastructure Building and Maintenance

• Develop strategy and technical implementation to accelerate the R&D processes.
• Automate repetitive tasks, eliminate bottlenecks, and uphold rigorous ethics and privacy standards to drive innovation and efficiency.
• Support existing R&D programs with systems of shared and personalized infrastructure needs.
• Write reports documenting and synthesizing a wide range of perspectives across the education R&D ecosystem.

Data and Information Management

• Develop and maintain tracking, tagging, and reporting systems for data that integrates across diverse sources and platforms such as grants/contracts, finance, research, and adoption of funded developments
• Monitor progress against goals (like OKRs) and provide actionable insights and regular reporting to senior leadership.
• Collect, clean, tag, validate, and merge datasets from multiple sources to use for impact tracking and actionable insights.

Qualifications

Skills and Mindsets

• Mission-Driven: A deep belief in the transformative power of advanced inclusive R&D to address and disrupt educational inequity.
• Adaptable and Solution-Focused: Thrives in the iterative nature of R&D and can find clarity and connection amidst ambiguity, and find ways to understand and solve problems.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Demonstrates a proactive drive to achieve ambitious goals in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional Organizational Skills: Exhibits meticulous attention to detail and effective skills in project management, planning and execution.
• Research and Data Analytic Skills: Has demonstrated experience building and using evidence-based systems with quantitative and actionable metrics for problem solving and decision making. 
• Strong operational skills, including handling contracts, optimizing processes, and executing efficiently.
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking and thought partnership in research operations, focusing on improving processes rather than conducting research.
• Expertise in advanced research methodologies and frameworks 
• Expertise in product development and data visualization.
• Familiarity with data security best practices for high-risk research environments.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, and communicate with a variety of roles with different goals.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives with various timelines and competing prioritizations.