Policy Research Scientist: Education, Skills & Mobility

Educational Testing Service (ETS); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 155,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Washington, DC seeks a Senior Research Scientist to lead policy research on schooling, human capital, and workforce readiness in an AI-enabled world. The role sits in the Center for Policy Research and interfaces with federal, state, and local policymakers.

Collaboration with external partners and mentoring of junior staff are central to the position. The candidate will conduct rigorous policy analysis using advanced methods, contribute to evidence-based

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Labor Economics, Economics, Public Policy, or a related quantitative field.
• At least eight years of applied policy research experience.
• Experience communicating with policymakers and translating research for policy audiences.
• Strong record of scholarly and applied research productivity in education or labor markets.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and publish rigorous policy research on education and workforce systems using causal inference and quantitative designs.
• Investigate how skills, credentials, and experiences predict attainment, earnings, and mobility.
• Lead the development, evaluation, and translation of research frameworks for state and federal education policy.
• Lead internal research teams and collaborations with partners including state agencies and districts.
• Provide policy consultation and technical assistance to policymakers and practitioners.
• Mentor junior staff and foster boundary-spanning professionals bridging research and policy.

Skills

Causal inference

Policy research

Statistical programming

Education

Ph.D. in Labor Economics / Economics / Public Policy

Tools

R

Stata

Python

Job description

Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Washington, DC seeks a Senior Research Scientist to lead policy research on schooling, human capital, and workforce readiness in an AI-enabled world. The role sits in the Center for Policy Research and interfaces with federal, state, and local policymakers.

Collaboration with external partners and mentoring of junior staff are central to the position. The candidate will conduct rigorous policy analysis using advanced methods, contribute to evidence-based