Research Program Manager

Job Overview and Requirements

Character Lab is looking for a Research Program Manager. Reporting to the head of our Research Partnerships team (Kelly Organ), you will work to help maintain and improve our research processes in collaboration with both internal and external partners. You will be involved in recruiting new researchers to join the Character Lab Research Network (CLRN) and supporting them through the research facilitation process. You will support study development and data management work, ensure project timelines are met, and promote best practices in the field, including data quality, generalizability, and open science initiatives.

We especially encourage applicants who identify as Black, Latinx, Asian, Native American, and/or LGBTQ+ to apply for this position. The best candidate for this role wants to combine their passion for research and education with their skills in project management and communication. We are looking for an individual with hands-on experience with research, data collection, project management, and data management. To thrive within our small and dynamic team, the individual must be capable of juggling multiple projects at once, embracing both tactical and strategic tasks, practicing excellent time management, and spotting areas to improve inefficiencies.

About Character Lab

Founded in 2013 by two educators (Dave Levin and Dominic Randolph) and one scientist (Angela Duckworth), Character Lab is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing scientific insights that help kids thrive. By connecting researchers with educators, Character Lab seeks to create greater knowledge about the conditions that lead to social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being for young people throughout the country. To learn more, go to www.characterlab.org.

Our culture is both challenging (we’re never done improving) and supportive (one of our core values is excessive generosity). We are a small, distributed team that maintains high standards for productivity and a strong team culture. To learn more, read our Culture Book (https://s35472.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Culture-Book_Digital_04.28.2022.pdf).

Job Responsibilities

• Facilitating the work of top-tier scientists interested in student well-being
• Coordinating data collection between researchers and school district teams
• Ensuring quality communication and strong relationships with researchers
• Providing programming, technical support, and troubleshooting for research projects
• Recruiting new scientists to join our growing network
• Managing IRB protocols
• Managing open science initiatives
• Managing vendor relationships
• Identifying opportunities for increased efficiency
• Supporting researchers and research projects that contribute to increased equity in the education system
• Maintaining attention to detail, accuracy, and a commitment to data security and quality assurance in all tasks

Job Requirements

Character Lab understands that job requirements sometimes exclude historically marginalized groups, such as BIPOC individuals or those who identify as LGBTQ+, from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the specific requirements listed below, or if you achieved these requirements through unconventional channels, we encourage you to apply.

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, statistics, economics, or a related social sciences field (Master’s degree preferred)
• 5+ years of relevant work experience
• Experience in social science research
• Experience with data management
• Experience with survey development, statistical, and/or data visualization technology (e.g. Qualtrics, Stata, Tableau) preferred
• Experience managing vendors or consultants a plus
• Excellent project and time management skills
• A high level of thoroughness and attention to detail, in order to maintain our high quality of work
• Fierce work ethic and sense of purpose, with the ability to work well as part of a dynamic team juggling multiple projects
• Highly effective interpersonal communication, collaboration, and writing skills
• A strong commitment to the importance of evidence-based practice in the field of education

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

• Prolonged and irregular hours of duty, as necessary.
• Some light-to-medium level of manual labor (e.g., preparing mailings, moving boxes of materials).

Application Process

Character Lab is an equal opportunity employer and encourages a diverse pool of candidates to apply. We accept applications on a rolling basis. Please submit a compelling cover letter with your résumé.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary is commensurate with an individual’s experience and skills. All full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package. The annual salary range for this position is $65,000-$80,000.