Director of Computational Policy Research & Partnerships

Harvard Kennedy School; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The Computational Policy Lab at the Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School, seeks an Associate Director of Research to shape a portfolio of computational and policy-focused research addressing education, public benefits, AI governance, and other public policy areas.

Working closely with Professor Goel, you will lead research strategy, funding, and operations, mentor lab staff, manage external partnerships, and translate complex findings into policy-relevant outputs for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in research and program management.
• Master’s degree preferred in public policy, computer science, statistics, economics, or related field.
• Experience advising on research design, mixed methods, and contributing to academic or policy outputs.
• Experience with grant proposal development and funder relationship management.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and critical thinking skills; ability to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex, technical research into clear, engaging materials for varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the lab’s research portfolio and ensure coherence across projects.
• Advise researchers on experimental design, mixed‑methods approaches, data collection, and analysis; safeguard rigor and feasibility.
• Co‑author academic manuscripts, policy briefs, and other outputs.
• Build and steward partnerships with government agencies, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Lead development of cases for support, translating priorities into fundable initiatives; manage portfolio finances and budgeting.
• Design and implement systems for research management, including data governance, IRB protocols, and responsible AI use.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical thinking

Team management

Research experience

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

R

Python

Stata

Job description

The Computational Policy Lab at the Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School, seeks an Associate Director of Research to shape a portfolio of computational and policy-focused research addressing education, public benefits, AI governance, and other public policy areas.

Working closely with Professor Goel, you will lead research strategy, funding, and operations, mentor lab staff, manage external partnerships, and translate complex findings into policy-relevant outputs for diverse audiences.