Principal Researcher, Youth Development

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

📋 Description

• Spearhead business initiatives related to research, evaluation, and technical assistance in youth development across federal, state, and local levels.

• Provide strategic thought leadership, enhance capacity, and elevate the prominence of youth development.

• Identify opportunities and create marketing and business strategies to expand AIR’s youth development initiatives.

• Emphasize interdisciplinary methods that incorporate mental health, trauma-informed care, juvenile justice, and social service support.

• Lead the development and writing of grant and contract proposals targeting government entities, foundations, and other clients.

• Oversee large and/or intricate research studies, evaluations, or technical assistance centers as the principal investigator and/or project director.

• Design project methodologies, guide teams, supervise project activities, ensure quality assurance, manage budgets, and nurture client relationships.

• Mentor junior staff and provide constructive feedback and best practices.

• Sustain relationships with funders, clients, and partners; act as the primary contact for clients.

• Expand the work portfolio by fostering relationships and keeping abreast of developments in the field.

⛳️ Requirements

• Doctorate in child development, developmental psychology, human development, education, public or social policy, or a related field, with at least 7 years of pertinent experience managing and conducting research, or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 11 years of relevant experience.

• Over 10 years of experience leading projects, including proposal writing, project management, staff supervision, report generation, and external relationship management.

• Nationally recognized and respected for expertise in youth development and well-connected within the field.

• Familiarity with youth development, adolescent health, and/or research on youth economic mobility.

• Demonstrated success in leading proposals and securing competitive contracts/grants from federal, state, and local governments as well as foundations.

• Knowledge of federal and state procurement and contract opportunities.

• Experience in leading and mentoring teams on large/complex projects to ensure excellence, punctuality, and adherence to budget.

• Proficient in quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method design and analysis skills, or technical assistance leadership.

• Excellent writing ability for articulating technical research findings and policy implications.

• Strong oral communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients, project officers, partners, consultants, leadership staff, and stakeholders.

• Capacity to develop staff expertise in research and evaluation design, project management, client relations, publications, and business development.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines autonomously within a collaborative team setting.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen attention to detail and adherence to research best practices.

• Must be authorized to work full-time in the U.S.; employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.

• May need to comply with project-specific residency requirements.

• Must follow child safeguarding principles and complete reference and background checks.

🏝️ Benefits

• AIR’s Total Rewards Program.

• Equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.

• Reasonable accommodations provided throughout the employment process.

• Reference and background checks conducted.

• Drug-free work environment.