Manager, Efficacy Research

Savvas is committed to evidence-based practices and is seeking a highly qualified individual to join our team as the Manager of Efficacy Research. This position plays a key role in strengthening and expanding Savvas Learning’s efforts to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve our offerings to better serve educators and students. The manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing high-profile research initiatives that assess the effectiveness of Savvas Learning’s products and services in K-12 settings. This position will also collaborate with colleagues in Marketing to disseminate research results meaningful to users and buyers of Savvas products and services. It will require an individual who is well versed and practiced in research designs including randomized control trials, quasi-experimental studies, correlations studies, and descriptive studies in the K-12 education setting. This individual can specify and lead the educational research studies as outlined in the What Works Clearinghouse and ESSA Evidence for Education and advise the product teams and senior executives of the findings and implications of the research conducted. The Manager also supports research-related responses to RFPs from districts and/or state departments of education, inquiries from the public, and, at times, may provide research and data analysis support directly to customers. Lastly, this position supports efforts around the development of formative and norm-referenced assessments.

SCOPE AND IMPACT OF JOB

Responsible for at least three direct reports. Responsible for directing the activities associated with research among staff and multiple vendors. Directly responsible for planning the activities and timeline for all efficacy research.

Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee the design and implementation of research studies ensuring alignment with industry standards as well as compliance with ethical guidelines and data protection laws.
• Collaboratively and appropriately decide tradeoffs in degree of scientific rigor and intended use of research results, as Savvas disseminates efficacy evidence for a variety of different purposes.
• Engage in thought leadership activities, including research briefs, white papers, case studies, etc.
• Review, and at times replicate, statistical analyses section of external evaluator’s efficacy reports.
• Analyze, synthesize, and create customer-facing research summaries and/or reports, upon request, regarding state/district assessment data to support sales and marketing.
• Support Savvas public relations department with communications related to research.
• Consult regularly (and proactively) with the director, senior project development, management/marketing team, as well as sales managers regarding research needs, designs, plans, and activities.
• Manage the work of a team of internal and external researchers to ensure the successful execution of research projects. Develop direct report(s), to advance their skills against professional aspirations.
• Manage a budget within acceptable variance.
• Maintain a professional network of potential vendors and partners.
  
  

Required Knowledge And Experience

Related Work Experience:

• Seven years of experience in designing and executing research studies for the purposes of establishing efficacy evidence for products.
• Five years of experience in advanced statistical analyses commonly used in educational efficacy research as well as the experience in the use of data analysis software (e.g., R, Python, SAS or SPSS)
• Two years of management experience required, including planning and fiscal management.
• Knowledge of research review organizations and standards.
• Experience communicating with and influencing a variety of audiences ranging from individual contributors to directors and vice presidents.
• Knowledge of education measurement principles, including familiarity with psychometric concepts such as measurement error and validity and reliability estimation, as well as assessments used to evaluate educational products.
• Proven track record for thought leadership in designing an efficacy study, executing it within established timelines and costs, and using the results to inform product decisions and to shape new and existing approaches for efficacy research.
• Knowledge of educational technology and its impact on K-12 education
• Experience with mixed methods and/or qualitative research preferred.
  
  

Formal Education or Equivalent

• A Master’s or Ph.D. in Educational Research or related field
  
  

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication and public speaking skills.
• Proven record of delivering research on time, on budget, at high quality that delights the customer.
• Ability to present complex ideas and information with detail appropriate to the target audience.
• Ability to work on multiple projects independently and collaboratively to achieve objectives.
• Must be able to motivate others to meet deadlines, if necessary, for project execution and completion.
• Ability to collaborate, influence, and quickly build trust and respect within the organization and with partners.