Would you like to work at the intersection of research and education policy? Are you knowledgeable about education reform? Experienced with quantitative and qualitative research methods? Able to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously? Organized, detail oriented, and a stickler for meeting deadlines? If so, you might have a future as the Thomas B. Fordham National Research Manager/ Senior Research Analyst (job title contingent on candidate’s experience).
About us
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is one of the nation’s leading education policy think tanks. As an independent nonprofit, we are dedicated to advancing excellence for all students through rigorous research, incisive commentary, and hands-on work in Ohio as a charter school authorizer. Our work is widely read and cited by policymakers, journalists, and education leaders across the country.
This position is primarily remote (with quarterly in-person gatherings in downtown Washington, DC, plus annual staff retreats) and offers the flexibility of working from home while being part of a mission-driven, high-energy team that values collaboration and intellectual rigor.
Learn more at fordhaminstitute.org.
The role
We are looking for an exceptional researcher and project manager to join our small but influential national research team. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research, this person will help bring Fordham’s ambitious research agenda to life—designing studies, managing projects from start to finish, and ensuring that every product we publish meets our exacting standards for quality, clarity, and impact.
This is an ideal role for someone who is curious, analytical, and detail-oriented, and who relishes the challenge of translating complex ideas into clear, compelling insights for policymakers, the media, and the broader public.
Responsibilities
The National Research Manager/ Senior Research Analyst’s primary role is to help manage Fordham’s research studies and keep multiple data-intensive and methodologically involved projects on budget, on schedule, and consistent with Fordham’s high standards for rigor and quality. He or she will also periodically conduct research projects in-house and/or author policy briefs on key topics of interest.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Conducting preliminary research on a variety of education topics to determine their significance and the feasibility of further study;
- Developing research questions and study designs for new research projects;
- Recruiting external scholars to conduct analyses and/or author reports, developing project descriptions and timelines, and ensuring that projects progress as planned;
- Providing external authors with in-depth feedback on all aspects of their work (including their methodology, findings, and conclusions);
- Editing/revising drafts to ensure that final products are rigorous and readable;
- Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data for Fordham’s in-house research projects;
- Representing Fordham’s work to external audiences by speaking with members of the media and policymakers, presenting at conferences, and writing for external outlets.
- Collaborating with Fordham’s development and communications staff to ensure that grant proposals, funding reports, and marketing materials are accurate and up to date – and that Fordham’s work is widely disseminated.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have significant prior experience as an empirical researcher, deep knowledge of education policy, and experience communicating research to a policy audience.
Key qualifications include:
- A passion for Fordham's mission and general agreement with our guiding principles;
- Training in and demonstrated experience with a variety of empirical research methods (especially quantitative), project design, and policy analysis;
- Knowledge of education policy issues, including charter schools and school choice, academic standards, testing and accountability, and social mobility via education;
- Demonstrated ability to speak to a variety of audiences (especially policymakers and their intermediaries), and the ability to translate academic reports into lay-friendly prose;
- Experience with project management;
- A PhD or master’s degree in public policy, education, economics, or related field (new PhDs or post-docs strongly preferred).
Salary and benefits
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute offers all staff an attractive compensation package, including a competitive salary plus health insurance, generous 403(b) retirement support, vacation benefits, and a monthly “work from home” tech stipend for full time employees. We are an equal opportunity employer.
The projected annual salary range is $80,000 - $100,000, contingent upon the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate.
To apply
We’re eager to fill this position quickly, so candidates should be available to start as soon as possible. Apply here with your cover letter, CV, and a short writing sample (3–5 pages).
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those submitted by September 30, 2025.
While we are grateful to all applicants for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered.
This position was originally posted by Thomas B. Fordham Institute and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
