Director Research & Data Analytics

Coleridge Initiative; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employer retirement contributions

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Professional development support

Job summary

Coleridge Initiative, Inc. seeks a Director of Research & Data Analytics to lead applied research, analytics, and evaluation using administrative and linked data.

You will ensure methodological rigor, oversee projects, and coordinate internal and external contributors to deliver impactful insights for policy and program decisions. The role drives research quality standards, grows funded research opportunities, and represents Coleridge as a thought leader in data-driven public policy, across

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in public policy, economics, statistics, data science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience conducting applied research or evaluation using administrative or linked data.
• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal government, nonprofit, or academic partners.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research design.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary research projects and collaborators.
• Strong track record of publications, presentations, or other forms of thought leadership.
• Experience contributing to successful proposal development and client engagement.
• Familiarity with secure data environments and privacy-preserving research practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate analytic insights for policy and operational audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of research, analytics, and evaluation activities across Coleridge projects, with a focus on administrative and linked data.
• Establish methodological standards and analytic protocols that ensure rigor, reproducibility, and policy relevance.
• Identify emerging opportunities for research innovation aligned with Coleridge's mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure integration of research approaches across sectors such as education, workforce, human services, and justice.
• Serve as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and coordination of internal and external contributors to ensure successful execution.
• Develop and implement organization-wide processes for quality assurance and quality control of analytic outputs, including review protocols for code, methods, and findings.
• Ensure analytic deliverables meet high standards for validity, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.
• Promote best practices in data documentation, version control, and reproducible research workflows.
• Cultivate relationships with government agencies, foundations, and research partners to identify, develop, and secure funded research opportunities aligned with Coleridge's strategic priorities.
• Contribute technical leadership to proposals, concept papers, and partnership development.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape offerings that expand Coleridge's research and evaluation footprint.
• Represent Coleridge through publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder convenings.
• Monitor methodological and technological developments in applied research and administrative data analysis.
• Partner with training, product, and data enclave teams to translate research innovations into scalable offerings, such as courses, tools, and visualization products.
• Advise leadership on research-related risks, opportunities, and strategic investments.

Skills

Public policy

Quantitative methods

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Research governance

Education

PhD in public policy / related field

Job description

About Us

Coleridge is building the nation's data infrastructure, analytical tools, and public-sector capacity so governments can harness administrative data to make more informed decisions and accelerate impact.

Position Summary

The Director of Research & Data Analytics provides technical and project leadership for Coleridge's portfolio of applied research, analytics, and evaluation projects leveraging administrative and linked data. The role ensures methodological rigor, analytic quality, and policy relevance while collaborating across teams to advance Coleridge's research initiatives. The Director serves as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project execution, deliverables, and coordination of internal and external contributors. The role also strengthens research quality standards, contributes to revenue growth by developing funded research opportunities, and serves as a thought leader on the use of administrative data to inform policy and program decisions.

Essential Job Functions

Research Strategy and Portfolio Leadership

• Lead the design and execution of research, analytics, and evaluation activities across Coleridge projects, with a focus on administrative and linked data.


• Establish methodological standards and analytic protocols that ensure rigor, reproducibility, and policy relevance.


• Identify emerging opportunities for research innovation aligned with Coleridge's mission and strategic priorities.


• Ensure integration of research approaches across sectors such as education, workforce, human services, and justice.


• Serve as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and coordination of internal and external contributors to ensure successful execution.

Analytic Quality and Governance

• Develop and implement organization-wide processes for quality assurance and quality control of analytic outputs, including review protocols for code, methods, and findings.


• Ensure analytic deliverables meet high standards for validity, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.


• Promote best practices in data documentation, version control, and reproducible research workflows.

Business Development and Growth

• Cultivate relationships with government agencies, foundations, and research partners to identify, develop, and secure funded research opportunities aligned with Coleridge's strategic priorities.


• Contribute technical leadership to proposals, concept papers, and partnership development.


• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape offerings that expand Coleridge's research and evaluation footprint.

Thought Leadership and Field Engagement

• Serve as a leading voice internally and externally on the use of administrative data for policy research and evidence building.


• Represent Coleridge through publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder convenings.


• Monitor methodological and technological developments in applied research and administrative data analysis.

Cross-Organizational Innovation

• Partner with training, product, and data enclave teams to translate research innovations into scalable offerings, such as courses, tools, and visualization products.


• Support the development of analytic frameworks and demonstration projects that strengthen Coleridge's market position.


• Advise leadership on research-related risks, opportunities, and strategic investments.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in public policy, economics, statistics, data science, or a related field.


• 10+ years of experience conducting applied research or evaluation using administrative or linked data.


• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal government, nonprofit, or academic partners.


• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research design.


• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary research projects and collaborators.


• Strong track record of publications, presentations, or other forms of thought leadership.


• Experience contributing to successful proposal development and client engagement.


• Familiarity with secure data environments and privacy-preserving research practices.


• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate analytic insights for policy and operational audiences.

Coleridge is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory, welcoming work environment.

The Coleridge team operates under the core values of Trust, Connectedness, Quality , and Adaptability via our work, collaboration, and decision-making. These values guide how we engage with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders and are an important component of performance and professional growth.

Salary Range: $160,000 to $170,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity. Benefits include health insurance, employer retirement contributions, paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development support.