Impact Research and External Relations Specialist with PhET Interactive Simulations

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); A distancia; USD 55.000 - 70.000; A tiempo parcial

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Medical, dental, and retirement plans

Generous paid time off

Tuition assistance for you and depend‑

Eco Pass for local transit

Descripción de la vacante

PhET Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks an Impact Research and External Relations Specialist to gather and synthesize evidence of how PhET is used and the impact it makes for educators and learners, and to share findings with funders and collaborators.

The role includes researching funders, supporting grant proposals, maintaining donor relations, and contributing to reports, communications, and outreach while working in a flexible 24 hours per week arrangement

Formación

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 2 years in education, education research, grant development, funder research, or fundraising.
• Experience using data to understand impact, via surveys, evaluation, or landscape research.
• Experience managing and analyzing data in a database, CRM, or spreadsheet.
• Clear, accurate writing that tells stories of impact.
• Strong research and analytical skills across multiple sources.
• Attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Able to manage many tasks and deadlines; independent and remote capable.

Responsabilidades

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize evidence of PhET’s reach and impact.
• Collaborate on reports, presentations, and materials for funders and supporters.
• Research funders and trends, prepare funder profiles and briefings.
• Contribute to surveys and research on users and supporters.
• Document lessons from peer open education funders and best practices.
• Maintain funder data in Salesforce and prepare regular reports.
• Contribute to grant outcomes notes, proposals, and reports.
• Draft communications to supporters and test new engagement approaches.

Conocimientos

Writing for impact

Research & analysis

Attention to detail

Project coordination

Remote collaboration

Educación

Bachelor’s degree

Herramientas

CRM systems

Databases

Spreadsheets

Descripción del empleo

Job Summary

PhET Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado Boulderseeks an Impact Research and External Relations Specialist to joinPhET’s team. Working with the PhET team and collaborators, the successful candidate will gather and synthesize evidence of howPhET is used and the difference it makes for educators andlearners, collaborate on reports and communications that sharethese findings, and research funders and the funding landscape foreducation and STEM, comparing that landscape with PhET’s ownfunders and supporters. They will use these findings to support newproposals, reports on grant outcomes, and PhET’s case for support,helping build lasting relationships with the funders and supporterswho sustain PhET’s work.

This new position is a 60% appointment (24 hours per week) withfull benefits; we will also consider appointments up to full timefor the right candidate. There is real room to grow: depending ontheir strengths, the successful candidate may take the lead onparts of this work.

You will work closely with PhET’s new Director or Senior Directorof Impact Research and External Relations, a position being hiredat the same time, and with PhET’s Executive Director, SeniorDirector of Global Initiatives, Business Manager, and educationresearchers.

We build diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and we aimto cultivate a sense of belonging in our team.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET InteractiveSimulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder is aworld leader in the design and use of interactive math and sciencesimulations for advancing STEM education. The PhET team isdedicated to high-quality STEM education for all students,disseminating PhET simulations as open (free) educational resourcesglobally and pioneering approaches for making interactive contentaccessible to all learners. Today, PhET simulations are used morethan 250 million times per year globally and are available in morethan 130 languages.

The PhET team is a passionate, creative, and productive group,including STEM education, simulation, and inclusive design experts,education researchers, software engineers, quality assurance specialists, business strategy and operations specialists, andmore. Our project is a blend of an academic research project, an outreach project, and an innovative education technology company, housed within the Department of Physics and working with diverse partners at CU Boulder and around the world. PhET’s work hasreceived numerous international awards, including the 2019 OpenEducation Global Award, the 2018 American Physical Society Excellence in Physics Education Award, and a 2017 WISE Award.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Gather, analyze, and synthesize evidence of PhET’s reach, use,and impact, drawing on usage data, surveys, and stories fromeducators and learners, working with the PhET team and researchcollaborators.
• Collaborate on reports, presentations, and other materials thatshare these findings with funders and supporters, such as one-pagesummaries, impact stories, and charts of PhET’s reach.
• Research funders whose priorities align with PhET’s work andtrends in funding for education and STEM, synthesize findings intofunder profiles and briefings, and track funder priorities anddeadlines.
• Contribute to the design, administration, and analysis ofsurveys and other research on PhET’s users and supporters,including what motivates people and organizations to use or supportPhET, and compare findings with the wider education and fundinglandscape.
• Help research how peer open education and mission-drivenorganizations fund their work, and document lessons for PhET.
• Maintain and analyze PhET’s funder and supporter data inSalesforce, and prepare regular reports for PhET leadership.
• Contribute to concept notes, proposals, and reports on grantoutcomes.
• Draft communications to supporters, help keep supporter contenton PhET’s website, newsletter, and social media current, and createand test new approaches to engaging supporters.

What You Should Know

• This is a 60% appointment, 24 hours per week, with fullbenefits. We will also consider candidates interested in a largerappointment, up to full time; please note your preferredappointment in your cover letter.
• Hours can be arranged flexibly, with some overlap with PhET’score working hours in Mountain Time.
• We hope to fill this position as soon as possible, with a startin early 2027. If you need a later start, please note youravailability in your cover letter.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
• This position may be based in Boulder or performed remotelywithin the United States.

What We Can Offer

• The full-time salary range for this position is $55,000 to$70,000, depending on experience. Salary is prorated byappointment; for the 60% appointment, annual pay is $33,000 to$42,000.
• Opportunities for professional development in research, grantdevelopment, and external relations, and room to take on greaterresponsibility over time.

Benefits

• medical,dental, and retirement plans
• generous paid time off
• tuitionassistance for you and your dependents
• an ECO Pass for localtransit

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's BestLarge Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in education,education research, grant development, funder research, orfundraising.
• Experience using research or data to understand impact orinform decisions, such as surveys, evaluation, impact reporting,research publications, or landscape research.
• Experience managing and analyzing data in a database, CRM, orspreadsheet.

What You Will Need

• Clear, accurate, and engaging writing, including the ability totell stories of impact.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including finding,evaluating, and analyzing information and data from many sources,and drawing sound conclusions.
• Close attention to detail and accuracy with data.
• Strong organization, with the ability to manage many tasks anddeadlines at once.
• Discretion with confidential funder and supporterinformation.
• Comfort learning new software and tools.
• The ability to work independently and remotely as part of asmall team.
• Commitment to PhET’s mission of free, research-based scienceand math education for all learners.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Education research, evaluation, or teaching experience, orfamiliarity with research on teaching and learning.
• Experience writing grant proposals, reports on grant outcomes,or impact stories.
• Experience designing, administering, or analyzing surveys.
• Experience with funder research databases and tools.
• Experience growing funding and supporters, and telling anorganization’s story through email, social media, or other digitalcommunications.
• Experience at an education or science organization, a museum orscience center, public media, or a university researchprogram.
• A background in science, mathematics, education, or educationaltechnology.
• Familiarity with one or more languages other than English.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: [e-mail]