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Director Educational Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Digital Promise

Director, Edtech R&D

We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate ... The Director of Edtech R&D leads strategic initiatives that bridge the gap between developers ...

Uw

Director of Education

Seattle, WA

The Director of Education in the Department of Medicine ("the Department" or "DOM") reports ... Research, evaluate, advance and implement new educational training opportunities locally and ...

Temple University

Research Analyst II

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$49K - $56K/yr

... education and experience, all relevant internal equity considerations, department budget, and ... Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Data Analysis and Reporting, this role ...

Temple University

Research Analyst II

Philadelphia, PA · Hybrid

$49K - $56K/yr

... education and experience, all relevant internal equity considerations, department budget, and ... Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Data Analysis and Reporting, this role ...

Temple University

Research Analyst II

Philadelphia, PA · Hybrid

$49K - $56K/yr

... education and experience, all relevant internal equity considerations, department budget, and ... Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Data Analysis and Reporting, this role ...

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Director Educational Research information

See salary details

$57.5K

$191.3K

$230.5K

How much do director educational research jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for director educational research in the United States is $191,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,500.00 and $229,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of educational research do?

A Director of Educational Research oversees and manages research projects related to education, often within academic institutions, government agencies, or educational organizations. They design research studies, analyze data, and report findings to inform educational policy and practice. Their responsibilities also include securing funding, leading research teams, and ensuring that studies adhere to ethical and methodological standards. By guiding research efforts, they help improve educational outcomes and contribute to the field's knowledge base.

What are some of the primary challenges faced by a director of educational research when leading large-scale research projects?

One of the main challenges for a Director of Educational Research is coordinating multidisciplinary teams while ensuring research aligns with institutional goals and complies with ethical standards. Balancing administrative duties with hands-on research oversight can be demanding, especially when managing multiple projects with tight deadlines. Additionally, securing funding and maintaining stakeholder engagement require strong communication and leadership skills. Directors must also stay current with advancements in educational research methodologies to guide their teams effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of educational research, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Educational Research, you need advanced expertise in educational theory, research methodologies, data analysis, and usually a doctorate in education or a related field. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS or R), research management platforms, and institutional review board (IRB) protocols is typically required. Outstanding leadership, project management, and collaboration skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are vital for designing rigorous studies, leading research teams, and translating findings into impactful educational practices.

What is the difference between Director Educational Research vs Educational Program Manager?

AspectDirector Educational ResearchEducational Program Manager
Required CredentialsMaster's or PhD in Education, Research, or related field; extensive research experienceBachelor's or Master's in Education or related field; program management experience
Work EnvironmentResearch institutions, universities, educational agenciesSchools, districts, educational nonprofits
Employer & Industry UsageEducational research organizations, government agenciesEducational institutions, school districts, nonprofits
Common Search & ComparisonHigh overlap in research skills and credentialsFocuses more on program implementation and management

The main difference is that a Director Educational Research primarily leads research initiatives and analyzes educational data, while an Educational Program Manager focuses on overseeing and implementing educational programs. Both roles require strong educational backgrounds, but their core responsibilities and work environments differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Educational Research jobs?

The most popular types of Educational Research jobs are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Educational Research jobs?

For Director Educational Research jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Director Educational Research job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 81% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,320 per year, or $92 per hour.

Senior Director - Research and Data Science

Detroit, MI • On-site

Detroit Public Schools Community District
Education • 5 - 10K employees
Learn more about Detroit Public Schools Community Districtexternal

$102K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Detroit Public Schools rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Description
Job Title
Position Title: Senior Director, Research & Data Science
Location: Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202
Salary: $102,471 - $138,637
Reports to: Assistant Superintendent, Strategy, Data, and Accountability
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Telecommuting Eligibility: Eligible for telecommuting up to 20% (one day per week)
Position Summary:
The Senior Director leads the Research and Data Science department in executing rigorous, actionable research that directly improves outcomes for Detroit students. This leader ensures all research activities maintain a clear "students first" orientation, connecting analytical work to tangible improvements in teaching, learning, and student success across the district.
As a key member of the Office of Strategy, Data, and Accountability, the Senior Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight to:
  • Develop proactive, transparent annual research agendas aligned to strategic priorities and school needs
  • Lead strategic research that drives district thinking on critical issues including student outcomes, program effectiveness, and return on major investments
  • Build sustainable systems, standardized workflows, and technical best practices that enable high-quality, reproducible work
  • Cultivate an empowered team culture where staff understand how their work impacts students and contribute their expertise to research design
  • Partner with school and district leaders to translate findings into actionable insights for decision-making
  • Establish research infrastructure and documented processes that create consistency and enable knowledge transfer

Miniumum Qualifications:
  • Minimum of three (3) years of experience designing and conducting educational research with direct connection to practice and student outcomes
  • Minimum of three (2) years of experience leading effective teams and building positive team culture; experience managing research or technical analysts strongly preferred
  • Deep commitment to equity and improving outcomes for students, with ability to articulate clear connections between research activities and student impact
  • Strong interpersonal and coaching skills with ability to create empowering team environments; growth mindset approach with openness to feedback
  • Experience developing annual research plans with clear priorities and timelines that balance proactive strategic work with responsive analyses; demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder expectations and protect team capacity
  • Track record of building sustainable systems and implementing research best practices including version control, code documentation, and reproducible analysis pipelines
  • Strong analytical background with understanding of applied statistics, program evaluation, and experimental design in education settings
  • Proficiency in statistical software (R preferred) with focus on leading others' technical work
  • Strong written and oral communication skills that enable effective collaboration with school leaders, practitioners, and both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience managing research projects of varying scope and duration, from rapid-turnaround analyses to multi-year comprehensive evaluations (preferred)
  • Knowledge of research ethics and legal requirements in educational research, including student data privacy and security (preferred)
  • Experience working in urban school district settings (preferred)

Essential Functions:
  • Provide strategic leadership focused on student impact. Articulate a compelling vision for how research drives student outcomes and ensure research priorities align with school needs and strategic objectives.
  • Collaborate with senior leaders to develop coherent research agendas. Work with practitioners and district leadership to develop research priorities aligned to the strategic plan.
  • Develop and manage transparent annual research plans. Create clear year-long calendars with defined timelines and deliverables that balance responsive requests with comprehensive evaluations.
  • Build and maintain sustainable research systems. Establish and document standard operating procedures, technical standards, and quality assurance protocols including version control, code documentation, and peer review.
  • Lead research design and set quality standards. Maintain high standards for analysis planning, replicability, data visualization, and presentation.
  • Provide strategic leadership focused on student impact. Articulate a compelling vision for how research drives student outcomes and ensure research priorities align with school needs and strategic objectives.
  • Collaborate with senior leaders to develop coherent research agendas. Work with practitioners and district leadership to develop research priorities aligned to the strategic plan.
  • Develop and manage transparent annual research plans. Create clear year-long calendars with defined timelines and deliverables that balance responsive requests with comprehensive evaluations.
  • Build and maintain sustainable research systems. Establish and document standard operating procedures, technical standards, and quality assurance protocols including version control, code documentation, and peer review.
  • Lead research design and set quality standards. Maintain high standards for analysis planning, replicability, data visualization, and presentation.
  • Peform other duties as assigned.

    • Security Clearance:
    Internal Applicants
    If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.
    External Applicants
    In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.
    Method of Application:
    Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.
    Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching service outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.
    Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at [email protected] or phone at (313) 873-6897.
    DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at (313) 240-4377 or detroitk12.org/compliance.

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