Associate Director of Research

Associate Director of Research Do you have a passion for research and advanced analytics thatare used to make decisions? Can you successfully balance innovation with operational reliability? Do you lead with accountability foroutcomes and organizational impact? Then apply today for this Associate Director of Research opportunity!

NOTE :

This is nota fully remote position. Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale Arizona three days a week. ASU EdPlus is a dynamic unit of ArizonaState University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reducebarriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national, andinternational communities served by ASU. Action Lab is a learning laboratory at ASU that is housed inside EdPlus. As a data-driven,research-focused service organization—an impact hub—Action Lab supports ASU and EdPlus initiatives by equipping leaders with the insightsand analyses they need to make informed, evidence-based decisions. Action Lab's goal is to support ASU with data and scholarship that fostertransformations within higher education. With an emphasis on online learning, our predictive and evaluative analyses support student successand persistence from curiosity to graduation. Our research is actionable and operationally oriented, and we support and coordinate withhigh-level university stakeholders to improve student learning, motivation, and persistence and to increase equity across the university. Weare a fast-paced unit that gets stuff done, makes a difference in the lives of our ASU students to drive change, and bolsters successesgrounded in data and research. Want to know more about working at EdPlus? Click here ! We are seeking an AssociateDirector of Research to co-lead the research strategy and execution for Action Lab, ASU's data-driven, research-focused serviceorganization. Every day you will make a difference in the lives of others by shaping and advancing a rigorous, actionable, and scalableresearch portfolio that directly informs institutional decision-making across enrollment, persistence, student success, innovation, andemerging technologies. As a senior strategic advisor to executive leadership, you will be accountable for measurable impact andvalue realization from Action Lab's research investments. You will oversee a diverse research portfolio, define success metrics, ensuremethodological rigor and reproducibility, and track adoption and return on research insights. Reporting to the Senior Director or ExecutiveDirector of Action Lab, you will ensure Action Lab's research capabilities evolve in step with institutional strategy, scale, and complexitywhile remaining deeply grounded in real-world decision contexts.

Essential Duties:

Define and co-lead Action Lab'sapplied research strategy across enrollment, persistence, student success, and educational innovation, ensuring alignment with EdPlus andASU priorities. Oversee a portfolio of mixed-methods research and advanced analytics initiatives, ensuring methodological rigor,data integrity, reproducibility, and measurable institutional impact. Establish and execute existing Action Lab and ASU standardsfor data collection, research design, modeling, governance, and ethical data use; partner with analytics, Action Lab colleagues and otherASU teams to deliver scalable, actionable research products. Lead various analytics efforts, including portfolio management, intake,prioritization, service delivery, and lifecycle oversight, ensuring accountability for outcomes, not just outputs. Serve as astrategic advisor to senior and executive leadership, translating complex analyses into clear, actionable insights that inform planning,performance, and decision-making. Direct development of research products and staff to execute the work, KPIs, forecasting models,and performance measurement systems, co-supporting student success, operations, finance, and R&D. Lead, mentor, and develop amultidisciplinary team; oversee hiring, performance management, and professional development while fostering a culture of rigorous ethicaland data-informed decision-making that is woven tightly with our analytics colleagues in Action Lab. Ensure compliance with IRB anddata governance standards; represent Action Lab in cross-institutional partnerships, committees, and external engagements a guide andcollaborative thought partner. Perform other duties or projects as assigned or directed.

NOTE :

This is not a fully remoteposition. Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale Arizona three days a week.

MinimumQualifications :

Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including two(2) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills andabilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications:

PhD in Statistics, Economics, Education Policy, Data Science,Organizational Research, Behavioral Sciences, Learning Science, or a related quantitative or interdisciplinary field. Seven to tenplus years of progressively responsible experience leading applied research and analytics functions in complex organizations (preferablyhigher education, edtech, or mission-driven enterprises). Demonstrated experience building and scaling an applied research oranalytics organization with measurable institutional impact. Proven record of aligning research strategy to enterprise strategy anddelivering actionable insights that directly influence executive decision-making. Demonstrated advanced expertise in quantitativemethodologies first and foremost, including generalized linear modeling, mixed-effects models, causal inference, experimental andquasi-experimental design, structural equation modeling, and predictive analytics. Demonstrated fluency in integrating qualitative(minor skill) and quantitative (major skill) methods into cohesive, decision-ready narratives. Extensive experience using R andcreating reproducible workflows.

NOTE :

Please answer the following questions in your cover letter: Describe yourexperience using R to conduct analyses or build reproducible workflows. Applied research impact (aligned to role expectations):

Provide an example of how your research or analysis directly informed a decision or action within an organization.

Salary &Benefits:

$130,000 - $140,000 per year, DOE ASU offers a total compensation package that includes valuable employeebenefits. Click here to exploreoptions. Healthcare Financial Security Retirement Family Resources Tuition Reduction (Eligible ASUEmployee, their dependents and spouse.)

Discounts Working Environment:

Your desk will be in the beautiful,cutting-edge, and collaborative workspace at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. The Center houses a diverse business communitythat links technology, research, education, and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledgeeconomy. ASU EdPlus supports flexible work options, ranging from alternate work schedules to hybrid remote work schedules, subjectto approvals per ASU policy. (This is NOT a fully remote position.) Applicant must be eligible to work in the United States. ASUEdPlus will not be a sponsor for this position.

Department Statement:

EdPlus defines itself through a culture ofcuriosity, risk-taking and refusing to accept the status quo. As a central enterprise unit for ASU focused on the design and scalabledelivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education, ourcommitments support the University charter. ASU is a national service university and aspires to accelerate positive social outcomes throughthe seamless integration of cutting-edge technological innovation and scalability. EdPlus employees are valued, respected, andencouraged to be their unique selves. We know that our ability to deliver high-quality services and educational experiences is strengthenedby our culture of inclusion. Our innovative approach drives outcomes through serving learners, achieving milestones, striving forexcellence, solving problems, embracing urgency, and being bold. ASU EdPlus Apply by 11:59pm Arizona time: Monday, April 6, 2026 To apply, visit: https://asu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ASUStaffCareers/job/Associate-Director-of-Research_

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