Research and Strategic Learning Manager

Furman University; Greenville (SC); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Furman University seeks a Research and Strategic Learning Manager to oversee applied research, program evaluation, and strategic learning initiatives. The role collaborates with Institute staff, faculty, clients, and community partners to deliver projects on time, within budget, and aligned with funder expectations.

Responsibilities span project management, research design, IRB where appropriate, and strategic learning to advance evidence-based community solutions.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required; Ph.D. preferred in related social science fields.
• Experience managing complex research, evaluation, and strategic learning projects is required.
• Strong project management and organizational skills for handling multiple projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project manager for multiple applied research, evaluation, and strategic learning initiatives.
• Design and manage process, implementation, and impact evaluations; develop evaluation plans.
• Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for clients and stakeholders.
• Develop scopes of work and contracts in collaboration with Institute leadership.
• Build and maintain client relationships throughout project implementation.
• Prepare client reports and presentations to support continuous improvement.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Applied research methods

Program evaluation

Written communication

Verbal communication

Facilitation and client management

Education

Master's degree

Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Survey tools

Statistical software

Qualitative analysis tools

Job description

Research and Strategic Learning Manager

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Office of Human Resources via email at [e-mail] or by calling 864-294-3103.

Job Title: Research and Strategic Learning Manager

Job Family: Professionals

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full time

Pay Type: Salary

Department: Research Director

Job Summary: The Research and Strategic Learning Project Manager is responsiblefor managing applied research, program evaluation, and strategiclearning projects. Working collaboratively with other Institutestaff, faculty, clients, school districts, nonprofit organizations,government agencies, and community partners, the Project Managerensures projects are completed on time, within budget, and inaccordance with Institute, University, and funder expectations. Theposition combines project management, applied research,organizational consulting, and strategic learning to support theRiley Institute's mission of advancing evidence-based solutions toimprove communities.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Project Management (30%)

• Serve as project manager for multiple applied research,evaluation, and strategic learning initiatives.
• Develop project scopes, work plans, implementation schedules,timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Coordinate project teams that may include other Riley Institutestaff, faculty, consultants, student interns, and communitypartners.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and proactivelyresolve implementation challenges.
• Organize project meetings, document decisions, and monitorcompletion of action items.
• Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within scope, andconsistent with quality standards.
• Maintain project documentation and ensure compliance withuniversity and sponsor requirements.
• Prepare funder reports and project updates.

Research and Evaluation (25%)

• Design and manage process, implementation, and impactevaluations.
• Develop evaluation plans and research protocols.
• Secure and maintain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvalwhen appropriate.
• Design surveys, interview protocols, focus groups, observationtools, and other data collection instruments.
• Coordinate participant recruitment and data collectionactivities.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, presentations,manuscripts, and other dissemination products.
• Translate research findings into actionable recommendations forclients and stakeholders.

Strategic Learning and Organizational Consulting (25%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for nonprofit,educational, governmental, and community partners.
• Develop scopes of work and contracts in collaboration withInstitute leadership.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships throughoutproject implementation.
• Design and facilitate strategic learning processes thatstrengthen organizational capacity.
• Help develop customized learning materials, curricula, casestudies, workbooks, self-assessments, and facilitationresources.
• Facilitate logic model development, theory of changedevelopment, strategic planning, and outcome measurementplanning.
• Prepare client reports and presentations that supportcontinuous improvement and organizational decision-making.

Institute Tasks and Development (20%)

• Assist with grant writing, proposal development, budgeting, andproject acquisition efforts.
• Represent the Institute at community meetings with schools,nonprofit organizations, foundations, government agencies, andcommunity partners.
• Co-supervise student research interns and projectassistants.
• Attend all Institute staff meetings and flagship Instituteevents.

• Pursue professional development to keep pace with demands forservices and information, including maintaining up to dateinformation about the department and university.
• Complete performance review process with supervisor tounderstand job performance expectations and how they fit into thedepartment and university goals.
• Maintain confidentiality and security of research andorganizational data.
• Follow safety procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Reports to Riley Institute's Director of Research and StrategicLearning: Works independently while collaborating closely withthe Director and Assistant Directors of Research and StrategicLeaning. Exercises independent judgment in managing day-to-dayproject activities while consulting with the Director on majorstrategic, financial, and personnel decisions.

Education, Skills, and Abilities

• Master's degree required. Ph.D. preferred in one of a variety ofdisciplines, including evaluation, education, sociology, publichealth, psychology, political science, and other social sciencefields with completion of graduate course hours in research design,measurement, evaluation, and statistics.
• Experience managing complex research, evaluation, and strategiclearning projects.

• Excellent project management and organizational skills with theability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong knowledge of applied research and program evaluationmethods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for bothtechnical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong facilitation, relationship-building, and clientmanagement skills.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to cultivate productivepartnerships.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectivelyacross multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity withresearch, survey, statistical, qualitative analysis, and projectmanagement software.

Work Conditions: Position requires simultaneous managementof multiple complex projects involving diverse organizations,stakeholders, and data. Most work may be completed in a hybrid workenvironment; however, periodic travel throughout South Carolina forclient meetings, workshops, research activities, and communityengagement is expected. Occasional evening meetings may berequired.

Education Requirements

Masters

Furman is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasingthe diversity of its faculty and staff. The University aspires tocreate a community of people representing a multiplicity ofidentities including gender, race, religion, spiritual belief,sexual orientation, geographic origin, socioeconomic background,ideology, world view, and varied abilities. Domestic partners ofemployees are eligible for comprehensive benefits.