Research Operations & Strategic Delivery Lead

National Student Clearinghouse; Herndon (VA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

National Student Clearinghouse is seeking a Manager, Research Operations & Strategic Delivery to oversee Custom Research and Strategic Partnerships programs. You will lead day-to-day operations, ensuring projects stay on scope, on time, and within budget, with emphasis on data quality and stakeholder satisfaction.

The role requires collaboration with Research, Data, Technology, and Quality Assurance teams to implement scalable processes, governance, and dashboards, while managing a remote-first

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, data analytics, project management, research administration, public administration, or a related field.
• 6 years of progressively responsible experience in research operations, program management, portfolio management, PMO operations, strategic initiatives, or related operational functions.
• 3 years of leadership experience that includes supervising staff, leading teams, or managing complex cross-functional projects, programs, or operational initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of portfolio management, research operations, program delivery, and project management principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Knowledge of operational governance, performance measurement, resource management, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to develop, implement, and enhance operational processes, workflows, delivery practices, and performance standards.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate information, identify risks, and recommend practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day delivery of Custom Research projects and Strategic Partnerships.
• Coordinate project milestones, dependencies, risks, and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain project management frameworks, delivery processes, templates, and documentation standards.
• Collaborate with Research, Data, Technology, and QA teams to meet quality, methodological, and compliance standards.
• Evaluate portfolio performance and drive process improvements to enhance delivery effectiveness.
• Monitor portfolio performance with milestone tracking, utilization reporting, and risk assessments.
• Support budget forecasting, resource planning, and decision-making through portfolio analysis.
• Develop and maintain portfolio dashboards and operational reports showing status and outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Portfolio management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Operations leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

National Student Clearinghouse is seeking a Manager, Research Operations & Strategic Delivery to oversee Custom Research and Strategic Partnerships programs. You will lead day-to-day operations, ensuring projects stay on scope, on time, and within budget, with emphasis on data quality and stakeholder satisfaction.

The role requires collaboration with Research, Data, Technology, and Quality Assurance teams to implement scalable processes, governance, and dashboards, while managing a remote-first