Research Analyst

Description

Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Opening Date: 03/25/2025

The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) is seeking a thoughtful, dynamic, and creative Research Analyst to join its Research and Evaluation team. Our organization is dedicated to equipping educators and policymakers with the tools and insights necessary to build high-performing, inclusive, and future-ready education systems. Our rigorous international comparative research fuels our collaborative partnerships and is at the heart of all we do.

About NCEE

NCEE works at the intersection of education and the economy to understand current systems, anticipate future needs, elevate effective practices, and innovate for opportunity. We connect research, policy, and practice to drive transformative progress, engaging policymakers, educators, researchers, youth, philanthropists, and industry leaders as collaborators.

We build bridges across perspectives to address complex challenges—including technology, well-being, and lifelong learning—working with partners across sectors to advance shared goals.

NCEE’s Research

NCEE delivers cutting edge research on education and the future of work that is both proactively leading and actively responding to policy and practice. Our research and evaluation teams work hand-in-hand with our policy and practice arms, translating research into actionable, trajectory-altering policy and practice. NCEE’s international benchmarking is our signature calling card, with a focus on high-performers, strong reformers, and exceptional innovators with possibility to scale.

Research Analyst Role

The successful candidate will contribute equally to two main areas of work: 1) our NCEE Programmatic Benchmarking Cycle, and 2) a key set of projects in the broader NCEE research agenda (examples include Top Performers/Rapid Risers, our AI Guidelines scan, and more).

NCEE Programmatic Benchmarking entails extensive, multi-modal research on how top performing education systems design, implement, and align load-bearing components such as curriculum, teacher preparation, standards, and the like. This work is conducted in two-year benchmarking cycles. Currently, NCEE is in the midst of a cycle focused on assessment and accountability systems that will be wrapped up in mid-2027. The role will extend beyond the current cycle.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews related to key thematic areas (e.g., assessment and accountability systems and other education system components studied in future benchmarking cycles).
• Support comparative analysis of top-performing international education systems, developing and updating profiles of Top Performers, Rapid Risers, or others, as needed.
• Design and conduct interviews and site visits with international and domestic experts, policymakers, and practitioners.
• Conduct qualitative research, including coding and synthesis of interview and document data.
• Assist with data analysis and interpretation.
• Draft sections of research reports, analytic memos, and background papers.
• Contribute to research planning, project tracking, and quality assurance.
• Exercise sound professional judgment and diplomacy in external interactions.
• Manage independent research tasks while collaborating closely with team members.

Requirements

• Minimum 4+ years of experience in international comparative education research; experience in a policy-oriented context would be an advantage. Candidates with more extensive experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Master’s degree or higher in education, psychology, economics, social sciences, or a similar discipline required.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills; experience with tools such as Dedoose, R or other statistical software is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to interpret data and communicate complex findings to non-technical audiences.
• ​​Experience with the organisation of meetings, workshops and conferences an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and to build effective partnerships with external stakeholders.
• A proactive and adaptable approach to problem-solving and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Alignment with NCEE’s mission and values.

Benefits

NCEE offers competitive wages and benefits. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverages as well as generous 401(k) employer contributions, and an unlimited vacation policy.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at NCEE are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. NCEE does not discriminate based on any status protected by law.

Benefits

NCEE offers competitive wages and benefits. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverages as well as generous 401(k) employer contributions, and an unlimited vacation policy.