Data Scientist, Education Systems and Policy

Responsibilities

The Data Scientist will lead and contribute to the design and execution of rigorous quantitative research and evaluation projects within the Education Systems and Policy team. They will also develop reproducible analytic workflows, mentor junior staff, and translate complex findings into actionable insights for clients.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a master's or doctoral degree in a quantitative discipline such as statistics, computer science, or education data science. Proficiency in R, Stata, or Python and demonstrated experience in quantitative research or evaluation within education contexts are required.

Skills

• Quantitative analysis
• R
• Stata
• Python
• Machine learning
• Data management
• Inferential analysis
• Education policy
• Research design
• Technical writing
• Mentorship
• Quality control
• Project management
• Data interpretation
• Reproducible workflows

About this role

AIR is seeking a Data Scientist to join our Education Systems and Policy (ESP) team, providing advanced quantitative and technical expertise across a range of education research and evaluation projects. In this role, you will apply rigorous analytic methods to complex education policy and systems questions while helping develop innovative tools and resources that improve project efficiency, strengthen analytic capabilities, and enhance the value we deliver to clients. You will work closely with researchers, technical staff, and project leaders to bridge education content expertise with data science and technical development, contributing to high-quality analyses, reproducible workflows, and practical solutions that advance ESP’s research and client work.
Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.
About AIR:
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.
Responsibilities:
Lead or contribute to the design and execution of rigorous quantitative research and evaluation projects across multiple Education Systems and Policy initiatives.
Apply appropriate quantitative methods to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret data, including leading inferential analyses for both causal and non‑causal research questions.
Develop, maintain, and document reproducible and collaborative analytic workflows, including data management processes and quality control procedures.
Review, quality‑check, and strengthen analytic code and outputs produced by junior staff; provide guidance and mentorship to promote best practices in analysis and documentation.
Translate complex analytic findings into clear, actionable insights for client reports, technical memos, presentations, and briefings.
Manage discrete project tasks or analytic components, including planning timelines, tracking deliverables, and coordinating with project leadership and clients.
Support proposal development by contributing to technical and analytic sections and helping shape study design and analytic approaches.
Engage with internal and external stakeholders through meetings and dissemination activities, contributing to a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
Qualifications:
Education, Knowledge, and Experience
Master's or doctoral degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science, computational social science, education data science, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated understanding of education policy, education systems and school and district finance.
Demonstrated experience supporting or leading quantitative research or evaluation projects, preferably for public-sector, nonprofit, or education-focused clients.
Experience designing and executing inferential analyses and contributing to research reports, briefs, or presentations.
Experience managing and maintaining analytic datasets, including documentation, quality control, and reproducible workflows.
Experience with machine learning methods or interest in applying ML to support causal and non-causal research.
Experience working in education or K–12 research contexts.
Skills
Proficiency in R, Stata, or Python for applied quantitative analysis.
Ability to review, quality-check, and improve others’ analytic code and support junior staff through guidance and mentorship.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to accuracy and research, best practices.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analyses for technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.
American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law, including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braid, locs, and twists), creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition (e.g., cancer), sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, civil union status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information, or military or veteran status. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.
ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.org or call 202.403.5000.
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About American Institutes for Research

Research Services · 1,001-5,000 employees · headquartered in Arlington, Virginia · founded 1946