Director, Center for Education Research & Innovation - SRI International

SRI is a nonprofit, independent research institute serving government, philanthropy, and industry to create and evaluate high-value and innovative solutions to some of the world’s most important problems in education, technology, the environment, safety, and health.

For more than 40 years, SRI Education, a research division of SRI, has been reducing barriers and optimizing outcomes for students of all ages and backgrounds through technical assistance, research, and evaluation of education policies, programs, and interventions. Our 160 researchers are leaders in research on STEM and computer science, digital learning and technology policy, literacy and language arts education, teaching quality, school reform, behavior, supporting students with disabilities, and early learning. We also have a growing portfolio of work on the use of AI in education. Our researchers also apply diverse research methods in areas such as impact evaluations, implementation and cost studies, large-scale survey administration, learning analytics, and assessment design and validation. We embed our deep content knowledge and methods expertise in our rigorous research, equity-focused practices, product development, mixed-methods evaluations, and technical assistance projects to benefit teaching and learning, often for learners who are traditionally underserved. Our work environment is fast-paced, intellectually stimulating, driven by the desire to produce high-quality and high-impact work, and very collaborative.

SRI’s Center for Education Research & Innovation (CERI), a research lab within SRI Education, is seeking a dynamic leader for a group of 55 staff with approximately $25M in gross annual revenue from our research and technical assistance programs. CERI is organized around five program area teams: STEM & Computer Science, Digital Learning & Technology Policy, Teaching Quality & Systems Reform, College & Career Pathways, and Multilingual Learners.  The new director will have responsibilities in four key areas:

• Business development and strategic planning
• Project leadership
• Talent development
• Business operations

This position can be 100% remote from our offices, but we do have offices in Menlo Park, CA and Arlington, VA if there is a preference for in-office work as well.

Reporting to the president of SRI’s Education Division, the director of CERI will be responsible for managing and growing a diverse portfolio of education research, development, evaluation, and technical assistance projects with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion. In addition to leadership in research, this role is responsible for creating a strong sense of community and trust among all colleagues that promotes belonging and inclusion. The director will work with an established research group and group leads, each bringing targeted leadership and support to certain program area teams within CERI, depending on their areas of expertise.

Key Responsibilities:

Business development and strategic planning

• Drive ongoing business development that leads to impactful new projects.
• Network to strengthen external relationships to identify and support innovative partnerships and business development opportunities.
• Work with SRI business development staff to enhance alignment of CERI’s research focus and capabilities with current and future market trends for clients such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education (including the Institute of Education Sciences), and foundation and commercial clients.
• Lead or co-lead the development of proposals and support proposal efforts across CERI that build our business and demonstrate our capabilities.
• Support and supervise CERI program area team leaders to make strategic decisions about proposal and marketing investments and submit high-quality proposals.

Project leadership

• Lead large federal projects or R&D centers.
• Provide intellectual leadership on large projects, including applying content and methods expertise to project design, methods, and reporting.
• Leverage relevant content and technical expertise to provide leadership on complex and high-visibility projects.
• Apply an equity lens to project work and disseminate knowledge/experiences gained.
• Manage and deliver high-quality, on-time, and on-budget grant/contract deliverables that meet the intended purpose of the client.
• Support dissemination and visibility of SRI Education’s work through journal publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination efforts.

Talent development

• Attract new talent to enhance CERI’s research, development, evaluation, and technical assistance capabilities.
• Foster and develop researchers who will be the next generation of leaders, with an emphasis on growing staff from within.
• Support and inspire teams to succeed by helping them overcome technical, business-process, and client-related challenges.

Business operations

• Provide effective, equity-focused leadership and facilitation to CERI and the division to support and inspire advanced capabilities, collaboration within and across centers, and the morale of our staff.
• Develop and manage annual budgets to achieve bookings and revenue targets.
• Provide leadership for CERI’s quality assurance and control processes to ensure we are providing high-quality products and services on budget and on time.
• Lead and contribute to updating CERI’s and SRI Education’s processes using a systems-change approach, to raise the voices of employees, make decisions more transparent, and further strengthen employees’ sense of belonging.

• PhD  and demonstrable track record (15+ years) of success in the field of education research, including a history of business development and leadership of large, federally funded contracts and grants (e.g., R&D Center, AI Learning Center, Comprehensive Center, Regional Educational Laboratory).
• Passion for and commitment to organizational diversity and equity and for making a difference in the world.
• National reputation and connections in the field with potential clients and partners.
• Track record as a principal investigator for diverse funders such as the National Science Foundation, Institute of Education Sciences, foundations, and commercial clients.
• Track record leading successful proposals and helping others to strengthen their proposals.
• Track record of accomplishment, and demonstrable success in facilitating strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated commitment to expanding in new directions and promoting innovative ideas.
• Experience providing inclusive leadership to large (20+ people) and diverse teams.
• Track record supporting researchers’ career growth through mentoring.
• Excellent project management skills, including developing and managing budgets and workplans.
• Analytic decision-maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals.
• Open to feedback and continuous improvement, embracing a growth mindset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines.
• U.S. Citizenship & the ability to acquire security clearance.

Preferred qualifications. Please let us know in your cover letter if you have expertise in any of the following content areas or methods:

• A strong disciplinary background in STEM & computer science education research, digital learning, and/or the use of AI in education.
• Research focused on broadening participation and success in STEM disciplines for students from diverse economic, racial/ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Research focused on the use of AI in education and digital learning, including the use of machine learning, learning analytics, and computational psychometrics.
• Content expertise focused on effective teaching and learning (learning sciences) in classrooms and/or informal learning settings that can inform research and development of curriculum, professional development, and assessments, as well as evaluation studies.
• Research focused on assessment development and validation and evidence-centered design.

As an equal opportunity employer, SRI is committed to a diverse workforce. We are a welcoming place for everyone, and we do our best to make sure all people feel supported and connected at work.

The salary range is: $189,350.00 - $235,710.00. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/.

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.