Job Opening
POSITION TITLE: EDUCATION RESEARCHER
(Program Specialist or Program Associate - More than one may be hired.)
Closes: Open until filled. Application review begins November 6, 2009
This EXEMPT position is based in SEDL’s Austin office.
SEDL UNIT: RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (R&E)
JOB DESCRIPTION: SEDL, a nationally recognized and respected research and development organization headquartered in a new state-of-the-art green building in Austin, Texas, is seeking education researchers to join our research and evaluation team. We are looking for individuals interested in making substantial contributions to the field of education research by developing and conducting rigorous research studies. The new staff members will primarily be responsible for collaborating with a team of SEDL and other nationally recognized researchers on two projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to conduct large-scale, multi-year randomized controlled trial studies of widely used reading curricula in elementary and middle schools. More generally, the position provides successful candidates an opportunity to work as a core team member to:
- Design and implement large- and small-scale multi-year experimental and non-experimental evaluations of education programs, policies, and practices within teams of multidisciplinary staff.
- Develop interviews, surveys, observational protocols, and other instruments for data collection.
- Work with the research and evaluation team as well as with state, district and school staff to collect and manage data in the field.
- Collaborate on rigorous quantitative and/or qualitative analysis plans using sophisticated statistical techniques and work with team members to implement the plans.
- Develop written and oral reports, publications, briefings, and presentations.
- Contribute to the growth, expertise, and institutional knowledge of other SEDL research and evaluation staff.
- Help develop proposals for new education research and evaluation projects.
QUALIFICATIONS: Earned Ph.D., or equivalent in education, sociology, psychology, or related field with an emphasis in research design, methods, and analyses. Demonstrated skills in designing and conducting research and/or evaluation studies. Strong conceptual and analytic skills, oral and written communication skills. Ability to work as a collegial, contributing member of a project team with other researchers, state, district and school administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders, as well as work independently as needed. Demonstrated experience working with multilingual, multiethnic, and multiracial coworkers and constituencies. Proficient use of computer software for word processing, information searching and retrieval, data analysis, and communication.
EXPERIENCE: One year (Program Specialist) or five years (Program Associate) successful, relevant work experience. Relevant experience includes education research design, implementation, and analysis, conducting implementation studies, and communicating study findings to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Experience conducting randomized controlled trial studies, expertise in the area of early (elementary) or adolescent literacy, and demonstrated use of multilevel modeling techniques is a plus. Evidence of successful development activities with the federal government, state governments, or foundations preferred.
TRAVEL: Individual must be willing and able to perform all travel (including overnight and commercial airline travel) that is necessary to accomplish the principal accountabilities associated with the position. Travel for this position is estimated at 10-20%.
SALARY: Program Specialist is on Pay Grade 11 of SEDL’s Salary Structure. The total salary range is $52,788 - $79,188. The initial salary shall generally fall within the first third of the range, which is $52,788 - $61,596. Program Associate is on Pay Grade 13 of SEDL’s Salary Structure. The total salary range is $65,964 - $99,588. The initial salary shall generally fall within the first third of the range, which is $65,964 - $77,172. Initial salary is dependent upon the successful applicant’s relevant experience and education; plus exceptional benefits package.
TO APPLY: Please e-mail your letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume, and a writing sample to careers@sedl.org. Word documents and PDFs are acceptable. Electronic submissions are preferred, but if you would rather mail your application materials, send them to:
Tracy Hoes, Human Resources Assistant
SEDL
4700 Mueller Blvd.
Austin, TX 78723
DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin November 6, 2009 and continue until position is filled. Please check back here or call Tracy Hoes at 800-476-6861 to determine status of position.
Funding for this position is made available from various local, state, and national projects and is considered “soft money”. Continued employment is dependent upon SEDL's needs, the availability of funds, and the staff member's satisfactory performance. The successful applicant will be employed initially on a probationary basis generally not to exceed six months.
SEDL does not discriminate against staff members or applicants because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, or disability. SEDL also implements Affirmative Action Policies and procedures as required by the Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Program of the U.S. Department of Labor. SEDL does comply with City indoor air ordinances by prohibiting smoking of any kind, at any time, in any portion of SEDL's space in any of it’s offices. SEDL maintains a Drug-Free and Alcohol-Free Workplace as required by state and federal law. NOTE: If offered employment by SEDL, the successful applicant shall be required to allow SEDL to examine her/his valid original U.S.A. Social Security Number Card and other such documents as may be required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as evidence of identity and employment eligibility.
SEDL reserves the right to (a) not fill this position or (b) re-open this position's notice of vacancy. The applicant should be aware that, as a condition of employment, SEDL may require a release of information concerning (a) a background security check or (b) status of driving record (if position requires travel).