Principal Researcher

Leanlab Education; Kansas City (MO); Remote; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Retirement plan with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Leanlab Education is seeking a Principal Researcher for a remote, full-time role across the United States. The position supports funded projects with a 1-year term (11/1/26-10/31/27) and potential extension based on performance and funding.

The ideal candidate will lead mixed-methods research, design studies, analyze data, and deliver actionable insights to clients. Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, and a track record in education research.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of research experience in education or edtech.
• PhD or equivalent experience required.
• Strong data analysis knowledge and ethics practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute mixed-methods research studies.
• Lead data collection, analysis, and synthesis.
• Produce reports and present findings to non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with client teams and internal staff.
• Manage multiple projects and timelines.
• Represent Leanlab at conferences and travel when needed.

Skills

5+ years research

Qualitative & quantitative analysis

Data analysis tools

Excellent communication

Project management

Independent/autonomous

Education

PhD in Data Science / Education / Evaluation / Neuroscience / Learning Science

Tools

SPSS

R

Stata

Excel

Nvivo

Dedoose

MaxQDA

Job description

Position Description: Principal Researcher (Temporary Full-Time)

Location: Remote (U.S.). Preferred states: NY, CA, ME, IL, DE, CO, TX, KS, MO, NC, PA, MA.

LEANLAB EDUCATION OVERVIEW

Leanlab Education is a nonprofit education R&D lab validating tomorrow's education innovations through codesign research. We bridge the gap between researchers, product developers, and educators - ensuring evidence flows where it's needed, when it's needed.

We believe that by strengthening edtech's evidence base, supporting the scale of evidence-based edtech, and increasing demand for evidence-based edtech, we can accelerate educational outcomes and ensure all learners have access to effective, excellent solutions.

Our collaborative team is guided by three core values:

Adaptability: we operate with curiosity and respond to an evolving landscape

Boldness: we take initiative and push boundaries to deliver outcomes for learners

Codesign: we design with, not for, the humans at the center of education

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Researcher to join Leanlab Education in a full-time role. This role is based on funded projects and is currently planned as a 1-year role (11/1/26-10/31/27) with opportunities to extend based on performance and funding. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in research methodology and data analysis to support clients across various industries on assigned research projects. As a Principal Researcher, you will design and execute research studies, analyze data, and provide actionable insights to inform strategic decisions in alignment with Leanlab standards of work. You will work closely with internal teams and clients to deliver high-quality, customized research solutions. A strong background of mixed-methods research, knowledge of the edtech landscape, and commitment to codesign principles is critical for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Design & Execution:

• Design research projects, including qualitative and quantitative studies, based on client needs, project goals, and Leanlab standards of work.
• Choose appropriate methodologies and tools for data collection (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, observational studies).
• Lead the implementation of research projects from start to finish, ensuring all deliverables are met on time and in alignment with Leanlab standards of work.
• Collaborate with other research team members to continuously refine and improve research systems and processes.

Data Collection & Analysis:

• Collect and analyze qualitative (e.g., focus groups, interviews) and/or quantitative (e.g., pre/post assessments) data
• Ensure data integrity and accuracy, employing best practices in research ethics, data security, and privacy.
• Conduct thorough analysis to identify patterns, trends, and key insights that address client challenges.

Insight Generation & Reporting:

• Synthesize research findings into actionable insights, preparing reports, presentations, and other materials to communicate results clearly to a non-technical audience in alignment with Leanlab standards of work
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to clients, supporting their strategic decision-making.
• Present findings to both internal teams and clients, tailoring the communication style to the audience's needs and knowledge level.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Work closely with Leanlab’s Customer Experience team to understand clients’ needs, refine research goals, and ensure alignment throughout the research process.
• Maintain professionalism in interactions with clients, research participants, and Leanlab staff, and ensure the successful delivery of research projects.

Project Management:

• Manage multiple research projects simultaneously, coordinating resources, timelines, and client communication in alignment with Leanlab standards of work.
• Ensure the successful execution of research initiatives by maintaining rigorous attention to detail and organization.
• Update research project and OKR goal statuses in Asana weekly and proactively flag any potential project roadblocks or necessary contingency plans for projects at risk.
• Collaborate closely with Leanlab’s Customer Experience and Schools teams to provide clients with regular project updates and adjust plans as needed based on evolving requirements, at times presenting those updates, findings, or rationale personally or equipping others to speak to your work.
• Communicate and collaborate with internal teams at Leanlab to ensure all stakeholders receive critical updates.

Research Dissemination

• Travel and represent Leanlab at 1-2 conferences per year, creating and submitting conference proposals with support from the Communications team, acting as an ambassador for Leanlab’s codesign research framework and principles.

Key Qualifications:

• 5+ years of proven experience as a researcher, research analyst, or in a similar role, ideally in education and edtech
• PhD degree in Data Science, Education, Evaluation, Neuroscience, Learning Science or a related social-science field, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques and experience conducting data analysis with various tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Stata, Excel, Nvivo, Dedoose, MaxQDA, etc.)
• Experience working with K12 schools and educators in an applied research role
• Experience working with and evaluating edtech/education products
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex research findings to diverse audiences in an accessible and engaging manner
• Strong project management skills, with experience overseeing multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, with a focus on delivering high-quality research and exceeding client expectations
• Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to accuracy and integrity in all aspects of research
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to finding innovative solutions
• Independent and autonomous, with the ability to take initiative, quickly learn and follow systems and procedures, and can lead a research project from beginning to end successfully

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with iterative technology product development cycles and frameworks, like rapid cycle evaluations, and/or experience working at a startup
• Expertise in evaluation of AI solutions and research
• Expertise in learning science/learning engineering approaches
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced mission-driven environment, keen on driving real impact for students.

Benefits & Salary:

This is a temporary, full-time position with full benefits, a retirement plan with company match, and PTO. The role requires availability during standard business hours, Monday through Friday. The position is remote, with occasional travel for client meetings or project-related activities. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and be based in the United States. The salary range for this role is $105,000–$125,000 annually.