Director of Research

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in District of Columbia, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Oversee, expand, and enhance the Beeck Center's growing research initiatives.

• Fine-tune the strategic vision, operational frameworks, and methodologies for high-quality, practical, and ethical applied research.

• Create research focused on the digital transformation of government service delivery, encompassing human-centered design, product management, data governance, artificial intelligence, public benefits, and institutional capacity development.

• Convert practitioner insights into scalable research projects.

• Set quality control benchmarks, participant safeguards, and data management protocols.

• Define and implement applied research strategies that position the Beeck Center as a reputable authority in public interest technology.

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team, Fellows, and staff throughout the organization.

• Directly supervise research personnel, contractors, and Student Analysts.

• Engage cross-functionally with Networks, Training + Technical Assistance, Operations, Business Development, and Communications.

• Act as the primary spokesperson for the research portfolio, representing the Beeck Center and Georgetown University at conferences, with funders, and in media or academic contexts.

• Report directly to the Executive Director of the Beeck Center.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience or equivalent qualifications.

• Demonstrated success in designing and leading applied research initiatives within policy, public administration, data science, civic technology, or related fields focused on social impact.

• In-depth understanding of research design principles, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, ethical and equitable research practices, human-subject protection, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) standards.

• Proven capability to establish operational frameworks from the ground up, manage multi-stakeholder portfolios, coordinate across various functions, and navigate organizational complexities.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for translating technical or academic ideas into clear, actionable language.

• Experience supervising professional staff and contractors, fostering effective collaboration and review environments, and mentoring students.

• Strong dedication to centering equity, serving the public interest, and building public trust in government through rigorous, evidence-based insights.

• Proficiency with collaborative project management tools, asynchronous communication platforms, and modern digital publishing or analytics tools, including Asana, Slack, Zoom, and Google Workspace.

• Preferred: Graduate degree in public policy, public administration, human-centered design, or a related technology and society field.

• Experience with federal, state, or local government agencies, or familiarity with public-sector service delivery, technology modernization, and procurement processes.

• Extensive experience in public speaking, publishing, advocacy, and/or academic citations within the public interest technology sector.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards such as WCAG and universal design principles.

• Experience in supervising and developing a team.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.

• Retirement savings plan.

• Tuition assistance program.

• Work-life balance initiatives.

• Employee discounts.

• Voluntary insurance options.

• Remote work flexibility.

• Travel opportunities for team retreats, conferences, and in-person workweeks.

• Opportunities for professional development and community engagement.