Research Manager

Projected Hours: Full Time, 5 days per week, Hybrid position

NYS/tri-state area location: Travel required throughout New York State for school visits. (living location can be anywhere in tri-state if willing to travel)

Projected Start Date: Immediate hire 2026

Project Background:

Bridges to Academic Success (Bridges) is a project The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) that provides educational services and advocates for newcomer students who enter U.S. schools with limited academic skills, including low levels of literacy in their home languages. Bridges supports schools, teachers, and students by helping to accelerate language, literacy, and content area learning through special school programming, curricula, and professional development for educators.

Bridges is part of two centers at The Graduate Center. These include the Center for Advanced Study in Education (CASE), a group of researchers and practitioners who conduct basic and applied research concerned with improving and upgrading the quality of education in urban areas. In addition, we work and collaborate with linguistic researchers from the Research Institute for the Study of Language in Urban Society (RISLUS).

General Description: Under the supervision of the Senior Project Director/PI, the Research Manager will lead project management of tasks across the research team, supervision of the Research Assistant, facilitation of qualitative and quantitative data collection, interfacing with lab site teachers and administrative staff, conducting interviews and focus groups, observing teacher professional development meetings, and observing classes in Project schools. They will also engage in data analysis and create impact flyers for the project based on data collected.

Travel Commitment: Approximately 2 days per month in NYS schools, sometimes more as needed. Occasional overnight trips to schools or conferences may be required.

Duties include:

Strategic Planning & Research

• Work with the PI/Project Director to identify research-related project goals, priorities, and needs; and identify new projects and priorities for team;
• Focus on research needs and planning in content meetings, kick-off meetings, and staff meetings
  • Lead project planning and basecamp organization regarding data needs
  • Create and maintain timelines and project plans to support planning process
  • Set up Basecamp projects, templates, and finalize systems RE research according to project needs
  • Prepare IRB documentation and submit research protocols
  • Brainstorm around new development opportunities

Supervise Research Assistant (RA)

• Train on relevant protocols and data collection processes
• Work with RA on prioritizing workload and moving projects along
• Ensure that basecamp tasks are reflective of priorities and are updated and monitoring on a regular basis
• Flag any issues, concerns, workload matters etc. for project director
• Help RA prepare for content meeting presentations; review work that is completed
• Conduct team meetings and performance reviews as needed

Meet with team coaches around data collection

• Organize data collection process and systems with coaches and RAs
• Conduct project management around data collection and assessment
• Supervise relationship between RAs and coaches
• Support cross-team collaboration

Project Management

• Project manage all research and evaluation related deliverables on time and on budget

Field work

• Conduct fieldwork on site at specific schools approximately twice per month;
• Coordinate fieldwork with RAs

Report and Journal Writing

• Edit and co-write reports and journal articles
• Assist and delegate with writing up any data-related activities for mid-year and final report.
• Create graphics to represent data
• Create and update research flyers
• Review grant materials as requested
• Review proposals and provide feedback

Health, dental and vision benefits through RF CUNY

Core Competencies and Qualifications

• 2-3 years of on-the-job research experience
• Experience working with youth and teachers
• Supervision, management or leadership experience
• Graduate degree (e.g. Masters in Education, or Sociology, Public Health, Program Evaluation focus)
• Proficiency in a second language, preferably Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Haitian Creole, or French.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Proficiency in R
• Proficiency in qualitative research methods, specifically interviews, focus groups and coding.
• Proficiency with using research tools and ability to learn Dedoose
• Technologically adept and comfortable with a variety of apps and online platforms
• Demonstrated proficiency in Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google docs, etc.)
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent project management skills and familiarity with Basecamp or similar PM tools
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience working on a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to be flexible, and work independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D or more extensive research experience