Senior Director, Research & Data Analytics

Coleridge Initiative, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employer retirement contributions

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Professional development support

Job summary

Coleridge Initiative, Inc. seeks a Director of Research & Data Analytics to lead applied research, analytics, and evaluation using administrative and linked data.

You will ensure methodological rigor, oversee projects, and coordinate internal and external contributors to deliver impactful insights for policy and program decisions. The role drives research quality standards, grows funded research opportunities, and represents Coleridge as a thought leader in data-driven public policy, across

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in public policy, economics, statistics, data science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience conducting applied research or evaluation using administrative or linked data.
• Demonstrated experience working with state and federal government, nonprofit, or academic partners.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and mixed-methods research design.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary research projects and collaborators.
• Strong track record of publications, presentations, or other forms of thought leadership.
• Experience contributing to successful proposal development and client engagement.
• Familiarity with secure data environments and privacy-preserving research practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate analytic insights for policy and operational audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of research, analytics, and evaluation activities across Coleridge projects, with a focus on administrative and linked data.
• Establish methodological standards and analytic protocols that ensure rigor, reproducibility, and policy relevance.
• Identify emerging opportunities for research innovation aligned with Coleridge's mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure integration of research approaches across sectors such as education, workforce, human services, and justice.
• Serve as Project Lead for assigned research engagements, overseeing project scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and coordination of internal and external contributors to ensure successful execution.
• Develop and implement organization-wide processes for quality assurance and quality control of analytic outputs, including review protocols for code, methods, and findings.
• Ensure analytic deliverables meet high standards for validity, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.
• Promote best practices in data documentation, version control, and reproducible research workflows.
• Cultivate relationships with government agencies, foundations, and research partners to identify, develop, and secure funded research opportunities aligned with Coleridge's strategic priorities.
• Contribute technical leadership to proposals, concept papers, and partnership development.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape offerings that expand Coleridge's research and evaluation footprint.
• Represent Coleridge through publications, conference presentations, and stakeholder convenings.
• Monitor methodological and technological developments in applied research and administrative data analysis.
• Partner with training, product, and data enclave teams to translate research innovations into scalable offerings, such as courses, tools, and visualization products.
• Advise leadership on research-related risks, opportunities, and strategic investments.

Skills

Public policy

Quantitative methods

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Research governance

Education

PhD in public policy / related field

Job description

Coleridge Initiative, Inc. seeks a Director of Research & Data Analytics to lead applied research, analytics, and evaluation using administrative and linked data.

You will ensure methodological rigor, oversee projects, and coordinate internal and external contributors to deliver impactful insights for policy and program decisions. The role drives research quality standards, grows funded research opportunities, and represents Coleridge as a thought leader in data-driven public policy, across