Research Manager - Assessment Research & Innovation

WestEd • Full-time • Remote (Hybrid in San Francisco, California, United States) • $104,600 - $163,500 / year • 1m ago

Fast Facts

WestEd is seeking a Research Manager to lead small to mid-size assessment research projects, manage budgets, and ensure high-quality results. This role requires advanced expertise in psychometrics and strong leadership and client management skills.

Responsibilities: Manage project budgets and timelines, oversee research teams, apply advanced psychometric methods, engage with clients, and contribute to proposal development.

Skills: Expertise in educational measurement and psychometrics, advanced statistical analysis, proficiency in SAS or R, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications: Master's or doctoral degree in educational measurement, with a minimum of three years in applied assessment research and project management experience.

Location: Remote option available but primary location is San Francisco, California, United States.

Compensation: $104600 - $163500 / Annually

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 — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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.

Position Overview:

The Research Manager leads small- to mid-size projects within WestEd's Assessment Research & Innovation (AR&I) team, managing project portfolios typically valued at $100-$500K annualized revenue. This role involves independently managing budgets, leading research teams, and delivering high-quality assessment solutions while building WestEd's reputation in educational measurement. The ideal candidate combines advanced technical expertise in psychometrics with strong leadership, client management, and business development skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Management

Serve as project director for small- to mid-size projects within established service offerings or as leader of components within larger initiatives.
Independently manage project budgets, timelines, and financial expectations with teams responsible for design, planning, delivery, and quality assurance.
Oversee project teams doing design, planning, delivery, and quality assurance to ensure projects meet client needs and organizational standards.
Produce and deliver consistently high quality, error-free work.

Research and Technical Expertise

Apply advanced expertise in Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) methods to complex assessment challenges.
Lead sophisticated statistical analyses including advanced regression techniques, validity and reliability studies, and psychometric modeling.
Use Content Area/technical expertise to develop innovative solutions and advise clients on complex measurement issues.
Serve as an expert in specific assessment areas or research methodologies (e.g., regression discontinuity, complex group facilitation).

Client Engagement and Business Development

Maintain regular and independent interactions with clients as the primary project director or task lead.
Present research findings at major conferences and meetings (e.g., NCME, NCSA).
Assess client needs and craft effective responses and solutions to complex assessment challenges.
Build and maintain strong client relationships to support project success and future business opportunities.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

Foster team collaboration and individual success within project workflows, including quality review and feedback.
Actively supervise research assistants and associates as their People Manager.
Provide advanced analytical guidance to team members working on complex analyses with large datasets and multiple variables.
Mentor junior staff in assessment methodologies and statistical techniques.

Strategic Contributions and Business Development

Contribute to proposal development independently for small- to mid-size projects and as a team member for large-scale projects.
Provide strategic recommendations to Content Area directors and senior leaders under limited supervision.
Understand the relationship between own work and other Content Areas/teams for continuous improvement.
Support AR&I's visibility and thought leadership through conference presentations and publications.

Innovation Focus

Identify opportunities to address inequities in assessment practices.
Elevate underrepresented perspectives in research design and implementation.
Apply emerging trends in educational assessment, including artificial intelligence and computational psychometrics, to project work.

Required:

Master's or doctoral degree in educational measurement, statistics, or quantitative psychology.
At least three years of experience in applied assessment research, with demonstrated expertise in Item Response Theory (IRT) methods and advanced statistical analyses.
Proven ability to independently manage projects, including budget oversight and team leadership.
Advanced proficiency in SAS or R programming for complex data analysis.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present to diverse audiences and produce comprehensive technical reports.
Demonstrated success in client relationship management and proposal development.
Experience supervising or mentoring research staff.

Preferred:

Experience leading projects involving diverse student populations and addressing equity issues in assessment.
Familiarity with cutting-edge trends in educational assessment, such as artificial intelligence or computational psychometrics.
Track record of conference presentations and/or publications in educational measurement.
Experience with mid-profile policy projects with state and local education leaders.
Strong project management skills including budget forecasting and resource allocation.
Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with clients and stakeholders.

*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level 11, is $104,600 to $163,500, but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $104,600 to $130,800. The actual offer considers 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 the first of the month following the 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

WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote #Circa-ALLSTATES

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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