Director, Research & Insights Strategy

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 250 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

Equal Employment Opportunity at JFF  

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF’s North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.  

JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply to our open roles.  

About the Team    

Research and Insights (R&I) brings together impact measurement, market insights, and research under one roof, creating an integrated and strategic approach to how we generate, interpret, and apply evidence. The team functions as strategic engine to power JFF’s reach, effectiveness, and influence. Specifically, R&I seeks to:   

• Strengthen programmatic rigor through project-based evaluation and practice-informed evidence  
• Advance our North Star Impact Framework and impact ROI frameworks 
• Translate data and trends into actionable insights that shape strategy and amplify our influence 
• Lead the national conversation on quality jobs through evidence and thought leadership 

About the Position 

JFF is seeking a Director, Research & Insights to lead and strengthen our enterprise-wide impact measurement systems and data infrastructure. This role is ideal for a researcher who thrives at the intersection of research rigor, data strategy, and organizational learning. The Director will support and lead major initiatives including the American Job Quality Survey (AJQS) and North Star measurement, Program Impact Measurement (PIM), and the development of an AI–powered research repository that centralizes data and insights across JFF. The Director will also manage a team of researchers, support research activities on select funded projects, and contribute to fundraising and proposal development to expand JFF’s research portfolio.  

As a strategic partner to the Associate Vice President and senior leadership, the Director will help shape the future of JFF’s research portfolio. This includes evaluating tools and methodologies, pinpointing strengths and opportunities, and designing strategies that anticipate long-term goals. We’re building on a strong foundation of work with rich data assets like AJQS and PIM, and now we’re ready to take things to the next level. You’ll have the flexibility to shape the vision in collaboration with the Associate Vice President and others by engaging in ongoing dialogue to refine strategies.

The ideal candidate is nimble, creative, and solutions-oriented and should be excited about leveraging big data to drive impact. If you're a researcher looking for a chance to think boldly, this is your opportunity.  

What You'll Do:  

Lead impactful efforts by supporting JFF’s Job Quality Measurement and North Star Efforts and oversee program impact measurement (PMI) 

• Provide technical guidance on survey design, analysis, and interpretation to our external research partners 
• Analyze a large, complex dataset on job quality to answer enterprise inquiries and elevate intriguing findings to support strategic decision making  
• Define and implement a process for internal data use, including repository integration, access protocols, and sensemaking across business units (BUs) 
• Facilitate Business Unit (BU)-specific work sessions and targeted discussions to help leaders apply AJQS data within their portfolios 
• Align job quality measurement with JFF’s North Star impact drivers, ensuring internal alignment and contribution to our impact platform 
• Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting for JFF’s Program Impact Measurement (PIM) system, ensuring consistency, rigor, and relevance across projects 
• Use PIM data to produce actionable insights that inform organizational strategy, investment priorities, and storytelling 
• Strengthen data quality and privacy standards, and ensure integration of PIM findings into JFF’s learning infrastructure  

Build and Launch JFF’s Research Repository and AI-Powered Search Mechanism 

• Design and implement a centralized, AI-powered research repository (e.g., Glean) that consolidates insights from PIM, AJQS, market intelligence efforts, and programmatic work 
• Lead prototype development of the repository, ensuring accessibility and usability for JFF staff 
• Develop governance, metadata standards, and training processes to ensure long-term adoption and data stewardship  

Advance business development/proposal strategies and support research activities on funded projects 

• Partner with the Associate Vice President (AVP) to develop proposals, concept notes, and funder materials, translating complex research and measurement work into compelling narratives 
• Lead or co-lead sections of proposals that require research design, evaluation plans, or measurement frameworks 
• Support funder cultivation by contributing data-informed insights, storytelling, and briefings 
• Oversee or advise on select research activities, ensuring methodological quality and alignment with JFF’s priorities 
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to co-design studies  
• Synthesize and share findings with internal and external audiences to drive learning and influence the field 

Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion and results  

• Manage a team of researchers and analysts, setting clear goals, coaching for growth, and ensuring accountability to quality, fairness, and rigor 
• Cultivate an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture, where all perspectives and lived experiences strengthen research design and insights 
• Provide professional development opportunities and mentorship aligned to individual and organizational goals 
• Foster cross-functional collaboration between R&I and other JFF units, promoting shared learning and joint problem-solving 
• Develop and coach others through feedback, to ensure effective and consistent delivery of JFF’s programs and services, while expanding the capacity and expertise of the team 

 Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work.

• You are an experienced researcher and systems thinker with significant years of experience in applied research, evaluation, or data strategy within education, workforce, or social impact settings; You bring deep understanding of impact measurement frameworks, performance indicators, and data governance practices. (New hires at the Director II level at JFF typically bring 12+ years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions) 
• You possess extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, with demonstrated ability to design and interpret surveys, analyze large datasets, and synthesize qualitative data (e.g., interviews, focus groups, open-ended feedback) into actionable insights 
• You are highly skilled in conducting labor market intelligence (LMI) analyses and possess extensive experience with data collection, analytics, and visualization using tools such as Baserow, Domo, Alchemer, SPSS, etc 
• You are adept at integrating mixed-methods findings and working with external research partners to tell cohesive stories about program impact and organizational learning 
• You have demonstrated success leading enterprise-level data infrastructure or research systems that drive strategy and performance improvement 
• You are an exceptional communicator who can translate complex data into compelling narratives for technical and non-technical audiences alike 
• You have proven experience managing and mentoring high-performing teams and fostering inclusive, collaborative, and learning-oriented environments 
• You are a strategic thinker with the ability to identify competency and performance gaps across teams and identify and implement professional development opportunities to build the capacities of your direct or indirect reports 
• You possess the ability to engage and influence senior and executive leaders and have guided them to drive change in their organizations 
• You have strong writing and proposal development skills, with experience contributing to concept papers, RFPs, and funder deliverables 
• You bring a commitment to JFF’s mission of economic advancement and enthusiasm for leveraging data and insights to drive measurable impact 
• You operate with a growth mindset and high standards; You’re agile and creative with a disciplined yet flexible approach to execution 
• You are deeply aligned with JFF’s mission, vision, and values, and committed to advancing JFF’s performance and people management principles in all aspects of your work   

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Director II salary band and our compensation philosophy.  Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Tia Kim, Associate Vice President, Research & Insights, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

Applications submitted by 11:59pmEST on Thursday, December 11th will be prioritized for review. We encourage interested candidates to apply by that date in order to be considered with the first slate of candidates, early in the hiring process. Applications submitted after that date may not be prioritized for review, depending on the strength of the pool. We will ensure that all candidates will receive updates on their candidacy before the search is closed.     

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process.  

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

 Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.