Director of Applied Research – Policy

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Develop and spearhead the enterprise applied research agenda in alignment with organizational goals.

• Set research priorities, methodologies, quality benchmarks, and publication timelines.

• Lead key initiatives, including the State of Prosperity research portfolio.

• Provide counsel to executive leadership on economic, demographic, and policy trends.

• Oversee both quantitative and qualitative research focused on financial well-being, wealth accumulation, entrepreneurship, housing, tax opportunities, and family financial health.

• Ensure methodological integrity through the use of appropriate economic and mixed-methods research approaches.

• Assess policies, markets, and interventions based on objective evidence.

• Supervise the production of reports, briefs, dashboards, and research publications.

• Convert research findings into actionable policy options and implementation strategies.

• Evaluate feasibility, trade-offs, and anticipated outcomes of proposed solutions.

• Collaborate with Programs and Public Policy to ensure research aligns with organizational priorities.

• Build partnerships with universities, research institutions, and government entities.

• Aid in grant proposals by formulating methodologies and technical narratives.

• Represent Prosperity Now through various presentations and publications.

• Mentor, coach, and develop the Applied Research & Policy Associate and prospective Research Scientist.

• Establish research standards and review deliverables.

• Exemplify collaborative leadership.

• Engage in planning, goal setting, and performance management.

• Carry out additional duties as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Master's degree is required; a Ph.D. is preferred in Economics, Applied Economics, Public Policy, Anthropology, Sociology, Demography, Statistics, or a related field.

• 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience in applied research.

• Proven track record of producing objective, evidence-based research.

• Strong foundation in economics, quantitative analysis, and mixed-methods research.

• Proficient with large public datasets and tools such as STATA, R, Python, or similar.

• Experience in supervising research staff.

• Outstanding writing and presentation abilities.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions.

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.

• Opportunities for professional development and advancement.

• Flexible work arrangements and a supportive work environment.