Research Scientist - Education Research

Company: NORC at the University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY: Join the Education and Child Development department of NORC at the University of Chicago as a Research Scientist. The ideal candidate will hold an advanced degree and demonstrated expertise conducting research and delivering technical assistance for large-scale U.S. Department of Education research and technical assistance contracts or grants, specifically those funded by the Institute of Education Science’s National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance or the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Experience as an education practitioner working in a school, district, or state education agency is strongly preferred. Candidates should also have deep understanding of the Every Student Succeeds Act and bring subject-matter expertise in one or more of the following areas: assessment and accountability, resource allocation and return on investment, or literacy. Location: Hybrid role based in either our Chicago Loop or Washington, D.C. office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Remote: Candidates must reside in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wyoming. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens due to security clearance requirements for projects. DEPARTMENT: Education and Child Development Research For more than 40 years, NORC has been committed to conducting high-quality education research and capacity building. Our Education and Child Development department focuses its research, data collection, and technical assistance across the full array of education-relevant populations, from preschoolers to post-graduate doctorate holders. RESPONSIBILITIES: Conduct program evaluations, research, and/or technical assistance in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, capacity builders, practitioners, and program partners. Serve as task leader on large projects, overseeing staff responsibilities, monitoring budgets, and coordinating schedules. Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis and/or develop and lead technical assistance activities. Review, synthesize, and describe existing evidence. Guide programs and policymakers in using evidence to make decisions. Contribute to the development of white papers, briefs, reports, and evidence-based tools and resources. Engage in business development activities including idea generation, outreach, grant and proposal writing, and related budgeting. Potential for travel to client meetings and conferences. REQUIRED SKILLS: Master's Degree required. Ph.D. preferred. Minimum 7 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in research/technical assistance for education projects. Experience working on a Regional Educational Laboratory (RELs) or Comprehensive Center (RCCs). Experience working as an education practitioner in a school, district, or state education agency. Deep understanding of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Advanced understanding and application of implementation science or improvement science. Strong quantitative or qualitative skills required. Advanced quantitative or qualitative skills preferred. Strong written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate complex research methods and findings for practitioner and policy audiences. Strong problem solving, project management, and relationship management skills. Ability to manage time for work on multiple projects simultaneously. Some experience in client communications and relationship management Solid technical writing skills and use of plain language. Outstanding interpersonal and critical reasoning skills. Worked with state education agencies or school districts in one of the following U.S. states: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens due to security clearance requirements for projects. SALARY AND BENEFITS: The pay range for this position is $106,000 - $135,000. This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment Dental and vision insurance A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC). WHAT WE DO: NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge. WHO WE ARE: For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale. EEO STATEMENT: NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics. LI-MS1

Keywords: NORC at the University of Chicago, Arlington Heights , Research Scientist - Education Research, Science, Research & Development , Chicago, Illinois