Senior Research Manager, Assessment Research & Innovation (20% Travel Required)

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact by asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about WestEd's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION-Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

Content Area Overview
WestEd's Assessment Research & Innovation (AR&I) team engages in rigorous research and development to advance equitable educational assessments to enhance learning opportunities for all students. The team focuses on designing, evaluating, and implementing assessment tools and systems that deliver accurate, timely, and actionable feedback for educators and learners. Operating at local, state, and national levels, AR&I integrates advanced statistical and psychometric methods with innovative research to address complex challenges in assessment and accountability. With a focus on diverse student populations, AR&I explores both technical aspects of testing and broader issues, including culturally responsive assessments, sophisticated alignment studies, early childhood assessment, and applications of artificial intelligence in assessment. By translating assessment data into actionable insights, the team develops systems responsive to the needs of students and educators. Through methodological rigor, AR&I brings evidence-based solutions that prioritize measuring what matters in education.

Position Overview
The Senior Research Manager plays a critical leadership role within WestEd's Assessment Research & Innovation (AR&I) team, managing a portfolio of research and technical assistance projects while building eminence for our work and contributing to our strategic growth and thought leadership. This position emphasizes advancing equitable and innovative assessment practices, building partnerships, and enhancing AR&I's visibility and impact in the field.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Management

• Lead multiple mid-sized projects or components of larger, complex initiatives, ensuring high-quality deliverables that meet client needs and organizational standards.
• Manage budgets, timelines, and resources effectively across projects.
• Provide oversight on project design, execution, and dissemination, emphasizing equity and innovation in all deliverables.

Research and Expertise

• Apply deep expertise in educational measurement, psychometrics, and statistical methodologies to address pressing challenges in the assessment field.
• Oversee the development and implementation of cutting-edge research and assessment designs, ensuring technical rigor and relevance to client goals.
• Contribute to AR&I's thought leadership through publications, presentations, and engagement with national forums.

Client Engagement and Partnership Development

• Engage regularly with clients and partners, serving as a trusted advisor to identify tailored solutions and foster collaborative opportunities.
• Represent AR&I at industry events, fostering new opportunities for collaboration and business growth.
• Contribute to the development of strategic partnerships that advance AR&I's mission and expand its influence.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Serve as a sounding board and thought partner for the AR&I director, and help the director set and implement AR&I's strategic plan.
• Supervise and mentor mid-level and junior staff, fostering professional growth and a collaborative team environment.
• Provide guidance and feedback on research tasks, client interactions, and deliverables, ensuring team alignment with AR&I's goals.
• Model a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in team dynamics and project work.

Strategic and Business Development

• Contribute to the development of proposals for small- to mid-size projects and support larger, complex proposal efforts as needed.
• Identify opportunities for new work, leveraging relationships and AR&I's strengths to secure funding.
• Shape AR&I's strategic direction through insights and recommendations.

Qualifications

Required:

• Doctorate in educational measurement, statistics, or quantitative psychology.
• At least five years of experience in educational research and assessment in an applied setting, with a proven track record of both conducting and leading psychometric work.
• Expertise in psychometrics, quantitative methods, and assessment.
• Strong project management skills, including experience with budgeting and forecasting.
• Demonstrated success in writing competitive proposals.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Working knowledge of SAS or R programming.

Preferred:

• Experience in developing assessment solutions for diverse student populations.
• Research expertise in one or more emerging assessment methodologies, such as artificial intelligence or computational psychometrics.
• Experience in leading collaborative initiatives across organizations.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 13, is $139,200 to $217,500 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $139,200 to $174,000. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts
• All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date
• PTO: 3 weeks' vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year
• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives
• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you'll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #CIRCA-ALLSTATES