Research and Policy Researcher – Early Literacy
Job Description
Join McREL International and become part of our rich legacy of making a difference in the quality of education for all, through excellence in applied research, product development, and services. Since 1966, we have a track record of success in the U.S., Canada, the Pacific Region, Australia, and other parts of the world. McREL is committed to being the organization that changes the odds for students and those that work with them. We turn knowledge about what works in education into practical, effective guidance and training for educators and education leaders, sharing the mission of the schools and systems we work with: to help students and staff be successful in identifying and achieving goals.
Our Honolulu office focuses on supporting courageous leaders across the Pacific region who are committed to improving student achievement. To accomplish this, the staff works with practitioners within the region to research, develop, implement, and evaluate strategies for improving systems and creating environments in which students achieve great results consistently.
POSITION SUMMARY:
McREL is currently seeking a researcher with expertise in earely childhood education including early literacy development, early reading assessment and interventions, and early literacy instruction to be based in our Honolulu, Hawaii office and work on the Regional Education Laboratory for the Pacific Region (REL Pacific) which includes the state of Hawaii, American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
This candidate for this position will perform a variety of tasks under the direction of a project lead and will focus primarily on using an improvement science approach to design and deliver training, coaching, technical support (TCTS), and research studies for REL Pacific researcher–practitioner partnerships focused on teacher development and teacher learning. This will include collaborating with REL Pacific partnership members throughout the research and development process. Additionally, this candidate will be expected to develop and maintain client partnerships that facilitate the REL Pacific work and build relationships for other McREL opportunities.
This position requires frequent international travel as well as occasional national travel to locations within the Hawaiian islands and the continental United States.
- Assists education researcher–practitioner partnerships in analyzing data to identify problems of practice and develop and test potential interventions through small-scale research/evaluation studies.
- Develops and delivers training and coaching materials using research-based evidence and applying an improvement science approach to the work.
- Designs and conducts research studies in collaboration with education researcher–practitioner partnerships.
- Collects and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data and produces research reports and presentations.
- Reviews and contributes to educational materials, including infographics, blogs, articles, presentations and tools.
- Ensures that all written materials meet Institute of Education Sciences’ (IES) requirements for work under the REL program.
- Works with a team to implement and oversee project plans, seeking assistance and guidance from more senior team members, REL Pacific task leads, and the Executive Director as needed.
- Performs quality assurance activities such as proofing data analyses, grant applications, research reports, and other REL Pacific contract deliverables.
- Prioritizes multiple responsibilities and takes initiative in work.
- Works as an effective team member to ensure completion of assigned tasks.
- Proactively monitors project hours to ensure that they and other staff working on projects they lead stay within budgeted project hours and that all work is delivered on time and within budget.
- Alerts REL Pacific management when there is the potential for cost or time overruns.
- Responds to internal and external requests in a timely manner, including, at times, during non-traditional business hours.
- Contributes toward generating opportunities for new work through relationship-building with potential clients.
- Assists senior staff to research and identify potential funding sources.
- Makes decisions and performs in a manner which is congruent with organizational goals, strategy, vision, mission, and values.
- Knows and follows corporate policies, procedures, and processes.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SKILLS:
- Strong oral and written communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
- Strong technical writing skills.
- Expertise in facilitating trainings and providing customized coaching to individual educators and teams of educators, including district and state leaders.
- Experience in leading educators in using the improvement science approach, including the use of tools such as driver diagrams and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle.
- Qualitative and/or quantitative analytical skills.
- Organizational and project management skills.
- General knowledge and understanding of significant issues in education with established knowledge and experience working with educators on significant issues, research, and approaches related to early literacy development, early reading assessment and intervention, and early literacy instruction.
- Knowledge of the principles of high-quality professional learning and adult learning theory.
- Intermediate knowledge of the steps in research and evaluation design.
- General knowledge of instrument design. Ability to create instruments based on extant ones.
- Ability to collect data using various approaches (focus groups, interviews, surveys).
- Proficiency using SPSS (preferred), SAS, R, or MAXQDA, and online survey software.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, project management software, and McREL-specific tools and reports.
- Ability to work in teams with a variety of members who are researchers and non researchers.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- This position requires a minimum of master’s degree.
- Master’s degree with at least five years of relevant work experience.
-or-
- Ph.D. with at least three years of relevant work experience.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- A Ph.D. with at least three years of relevant work experience.
- Experience working with researcher-practitioner partnerships using an improvement science approach
- Experience working on a Regional Education Laboratory or other IES-funded project
- Completion of Institute of Education Sciences trainings (e.g., Cluster Randomized Trials, Quasi-Experimental Design and Analysis, Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis) and/or other methodological workshops.
- Experience working in international, Pacific, English learner or underserved contexts.
- Experience with competitive grants and RFP responses.
- Project management experience.
TRAVEL:
Must be willing and able to perform all national and international travel (including overnight and commercial airline travel) that is necessary to accomplish the essential functions of this position. Travel for this position is estimated at up to 50%.
We are proud to offer our employees a substantial benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and accident insurance, flexible spending accounts, and an employee assistance program. In addition, we offer a retirement savings plan with a significant employer contribution. We strive to support a work-life balance for our employees with a generous time off policy including vacation, personal time, sick days, and paid holidays.
Applicants must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States and with McREL International.
McREL International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
