Public Policy Research Manager

K.L. Scott & Associates, LLC.

United States

On-site

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

10 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K

Discretionary PTO

Professional development

Job summary

K.L. Scott & Associates, LLC. is seeking a Public Policy Research Manager to lead the firm's research function, set the research agenda, and supervise teams to deliver methodologically sound studies for policymakers and government leaders.

You will translate findings into actionable recommendations and guide multiple engagements with high standards of quality and integrity. The role combines hands-on leadership with strategic oversight, requiring expertise in mixed methods, 연구 design, and

Qualifications

PhD in a social science discipline or equivalent combination of education and leadership.
7–10 years of progressive experience directing applied policy research or evaluations.
Experience leading research teams and managing multiple studies to deadlines and budgets.
Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, including causal inference and survey design.
Proficiency with at least one major statistical package (R, Stata, SAS, SPSS, or Python).
Track record of producing publication-quality technical reports for senior decision-makers.

Responsibilities

Set the firm-wide research agenda and strategy for policy studies.
Design and direct policy research studies, program evaluations, and impact assessments.
Supervise analysts and manage delivery schedules and budgets.
Brief clients and stakeholders; present findings and implications to senior officials.
Maintain data integrity, IRB compliance, and quality controls across research products.
Contribute to thought leadership through publications and conferences.

Skills

Quantitative & qualitative methods

Statistical software proficiency

Excellent written & oral communication

U.S. work authorization

Education

PhD in social science or related field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Position Summary

The Public Policy Research Manager oversees the firm's research function. You will set the research agenda, lead the teams that execute it, and make sure every study KLSA puts its name on is methodologically sound, defensible, and useful to the people who have to act on it.

Position Summary

The objective of KLSA public policy research is to assess the impacts of public policy on community outcomes and deliver clear recommendations to policymakers and government leaders. You are accountable for that objective across the firm.

This is a hands-on leadership and tactical role. You will design studies, supervise analysts, review deliverables, brief clients, and represent KLSA's research capability in front of federal program offices, evaluation stakeholders, and proposal teams.

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership and Strategy

Set the firm-wide research agenda in alignment with KLSA's advisory practice and client portfolio
Design and direct policy research studies, program evaluations, and impact assessments across multiple concurrent engagements
Select and defend appropriate methodologies, including experimental, quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, and qualitative designs
Translate findings into recommendations that policymakers and agency leaders can act on, not just read
Establish and maintain firm research standards, protocols, and quality controls

Team and Practice Management

Supervise, mentor, and develop research staff, analysts, and subject matter consultants
Assign and balance workloads across teams and engagements; own delivery schedules and research budgets
Build the firm's research bench through hiring, subcontractor relationships, and academic partnerships
Serve as the firm's technical authority on research design and analytic rigor

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as principal research point of contact for client agencies and program offices
Brief senior government officials, advisory boards, and community stakeholders on findings and implications
Author and present technical reports, evaluation plans, policy briefs, white papers, and executive summaries
Facilitate stakeholder sessions, working groups, and data collection activities with community partners

Growth and Capture Support

Support proposal development by writing technical approaches, evaluation plans, and past performance narratives
Contribute to KLSA thought leadership through publications, conference presentations, and public commentary

Quality and Compliance

Ensure research activities comply with federal requirements, including IRB protocols, human subjects protections, data privacy standards, and applicable OMB evidence-building guidance
Maintain research documentation consistent with KLSA's ISO 9001:2015 quality management system
Own data integrity, reproducibility, and audit readiness across all research products

Required Qualifications

PhD in a social science discipline (public policy, public administration, economics, sociology, political science, education, psychology, or a closely related field) or an equivalent combination of advanced education and demonstrated research leadership
7-10 years of progressive experience conducting and directing applied policy research or program evaluation
Demonstrated experience leading research teams and managing multiple concurrent studies to deadline and budget
Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, including causal inference, survey design, sampling, and analysis of administrative and secondary data
Proficiency with at least one major statistical package (R, Stata, SAS, SPSS, or Python)
Track record of producing publication-quality technical reports and briefing senior decision-makers
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to move between technical and executive audiences
U.S. work authorization; ability to pass a federal background investigation

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting federal, state, or local government clients under contract
Familiarity with federal evaluation policy, the Evidence Act, and OMB evaluation and evidence guidance
Experience with proposal development and technical volume writing in a government contracting environment
Peer-reviewed publications or recognized policy briefs in a relevant domain
Experience with community-based or participatory research and stakeholder engagement
Working knowledge of data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and geospatial analysis
Active or prior federal security clearance

Benefits