Education Research and Evaluation Project Director (Proposal)

Core Responsibilities

• Provide overall strategic, technical, and operational leadership for large federal research and evaluation contracts.
• Serve as the primary client relationship manager, ensuring responsive communication, effective collaboration, and successful project execution.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams of researchers, statisticians, survey methodologists, project managers, and communications specialists.
• Oversee evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting, quality assurance, and dissemination.
• Manage staffing, budgets, schedules, subcontractors, risks, and contractual compliance to ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
• Guide the development of data collection plans, analytic plans, technical reports, and other key deliverables.
• Lead executive briefings and presentations for federal clients and external stakeholders.

What We Value

• Master’s degree in education, social science, public policy, or a related field with at least 15 years of relevant experience, or a PhD with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex federal education research, evaluation, or technical assistance contracts.
• Significant experience designing and overseeing applied education research using multiple methodologies, including implementation studies and randomized controlled trials.
• Extensive experience managing multidisciplinary teams, concurrent workstreams, budgets, schedules, subcontractors, and project risks.
• Experience forming technical working groups and leading related meetings.
• Strong client-management, communication, and relationship-building skills, including experience working with federal, state, or local education agencies.
• Strong record of producing rigorous technical reports, peer-reviewed research, and executive-level presentations.
• Familiarity with federal evaluation standards, evidence-building activities, and large-scale data collection.
• Substantive expertise in one or more high-priority education policy areas.
• Experience developing reports for Congress, state legislatures, or other policy-focused audiences.
• Certification in current What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards for group design studies, Version 5.0, is preferred.

What We Offer

• We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life.
• The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits, flexible schedules, and professional development.
• Abt Global Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive work environment.
• Abt provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.
• This position offers an anticipated annual base salary range of approximately $185,900 to $297,000 and may vary by ten percent depending on candidate geographic location.
• Salary offers are made based on internal equity and market analysis.