SRI International, an over 75-year strong pioneering research institute, has a rich history supporting government and industry. Our innovations have created new industries, billions of dollars in market value and lasting benefits to society. SRI is organized around broad disciplines and capabilities, with research and development divisions and labs to groups who excel at identifying new opportunities, developing products and creating custom solutions. Our organization is driven by impact - delivering unique solutions for the world's important challenges and transforming ideas into reality for clients and partners.

Are you passionate about working with educators to improve support and instruction for all children? Do you want to contribute to the evidence base on approaches for supporting school-based mental health services and supports for positive learning environments in PreK-16? Are you curious about the cultural relevance and academic benefits of social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care?

Our team in SRI Education is committed to conducting rigorous research and culturally responsive technical assistance to improve the learning and well-being of students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. We are seeking to hire a Senior Education Researcher to join our team in the Student Behavior and Well-Being Program to lead projects and proposals focused on examining services and instruction for students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and the educators who support them.

The job responsibilities of a Senior Education Researcher in the Student Behavior and Well-Being Program include:

Conceptualize and manage complex research and evaluation projects from design to end

• Function as Principal Investigator or Project Director, including primary responsibility for budgeting, project management, and client management.
• Develop research designs, data collection instruments, and analysis plans of rigorous research and large-scale mixed-methods evaluations of interventions and practices to support students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders and those who are impacted by traumatic stress.
• Design and implement methods for evaluating equity in educational access and outcomes.

Contribute to or lead development of new research endeavors:

• Lead or contribute to the conceptualization and development of proposals for new projects in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Identify and grow relationships with potential clients and partners.
• Maintain communication with clients and professional colleagues outside SRI.

Serve as a research and content expert on evidence-based practices that support students with emotional and behavioral challenges:

• Take a leadership role in applying evidence and data to support educational and instructional decisionmaking, evidence-based practices that support students with emotional and behavioral challenges, and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support.
• Apply an equity lens to and engage diverse perspectives in our work.
• Grow professionally and develop new skills through ongoing project-embedded mentorship and professional development opportunities.
• Mentor junior researchers and analysts on research and evaluation design, methodological issues, and the integration of an equity lens into our work from development to dissemination.

Report study findings to support a variety of research, communications, and outreach purposes:

• Identify and create innovative visualizations, presentations, and briefs to communicate data to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences.
• Present study findings to clients, research partners, and external audiences.
• Write reports, policy papers, and articles for clients, policymakers, practitioners, and academic journals.

The following requirements must be met for consideration:

• PhD in social sciences or related policy fields and 3 years related experience.
• Prior experience with multiple research methods (e.g., large-scale surveys, experimental research/group design, case study methods, regression discontinuity designs).
• Prior experience generating well-structured, clear, and concise verbal and written communications on research and project activities for a broad range of audiences.
• Capacity to lead and support multiple projects simultaneously and change focus as priorities shift through use of strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and ensure high quality through attention to details and requirements.
• Expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for students with or at-risk for emotional and behavior challenges.
  • School-based research design and implementation (including recruitment, on-site and remote data collection, human subjects/IRB and consent issues).
  • Centering educational research and practice on equity and inclusion.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging both in research and in the workplace.

Candidates with the following qualifications preferred:

• Prior experience working on projects for federal agencies and organizations like the Department of Education or National Science Foundation.
• Research, professional, or volunteer experience in or with the U.S. public PreK–16 education system working with Black or African American, Latinx, or Hispanic students, or students and families with limited financial means.
• Multilingual, multicultural experiences and perspectives that can deepen and broaden our commitment to equity and diversity.

In your cover letter please include information about your training and experience in the relevant content and research method areas described in the research position. Please note that candidates who proceed to the interview process will be asked to provide writing samples and a job talk.

About SRI:

SRI Education (https://www.sri.com/research-development/education-learning), a division of SRI International, is helping federal and state agencies, school districts, major foundations, nonprofit organizations, and international and commercial clients tackle some of the most complex issues in education to help students succeed. Our mission is to reduce barriers, optimize outcomes, and ensure educational equity for all children, youth, and families. We do this by conducting high-quality research, supporting use of data and evidence, helping to strengthen state and local systems, and developing tools that improve teaching and accelerate and deepen learning. Our work covers a range of topics: early learning and development, disability and inclusion, supporting multilingual learners, student behavior and well-being, teaching quality, digital learning, STEM and computer science, and literacy and language arts, and college and career pathways. We believe diversity in our organization and project teams leads to better and more equitable research and technical assistance, resulting in improved outcomes for all.

SRI is committed to creating and celebrating a diverse workplace that recognizes and values differences and reflects the communities where our employees live and where our clients operate. This includes valuing differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, body type/physical appearance, disability/differently abled and work styles, or any other legally protected category. 

For Colorado and New York residents, the salary range is: $83,207 - $137,812. Salary ranges for this role will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. SRI has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to: https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/.