Associate Director, Data and Assessment

At the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), research and evidence-based practice come together to transform educational outcomes for students and communities. Within the Institute, Tutor-ND plays a vital role in building capacity for high-impact tutoring grounded in cognitive science. From supporting local schools during the school day to equipping community partners, training school staff, and sharing evidence-based resources with families, Tutor-ND expands high-quality educational opportunities for children. We are seeking an Associate Director to provide scientific and operational leadership for the data infrastructure and assessment systems supporting Tutor-ND and related research initiatives. Housed within the Institute's new Center for Educational Research and Action (Era), this role ensures our data collection tools are robust and our assessment measures accurately capture student learning and program impact. If you are passionate about applying cognitive science, quantitative rigor, and structured data systems to advance educational opportunities, we invite you to join our team. Core Responsibilities: Research Data Infrastructure and Scientific Oversight • Develop and maintain core data systems for Tutor-ND and affiliated research initiatives. • Collaborate with faculty and research trainees to review and refine research proposals, ensuring methodological rigor and alignment with Era's mission, grant commitments, partner priorities, and human subjects protections. • Design efficient data collection tools for tutors and learning design team leads, ensure accurate data entry, and construct relational databases for effective reporting and analysis. • Serve as a key contributor to internal and external program evaluation reports as well as future grant proposals to further Tutor-ND's mission. Assessment Coordination and Management • Provide scientific and operational oversight of assessment systems across Tutor-ND and affiliated research projects. • Evaluate and select evidence-based assessments focusing on literacy and numeracy skills. • Develop standardized assessment protocols, training materials, and procedures for monitoring reliability and fidelity. • Ensure all learning design team leads and assessment specialists are properly trained to administer screeners, daily formative assessments, and progress monitoring measures. • Provide ongoing support to learning design team leads throughout the semester to ensure assessment and programmatic data integrity. Research Trainee Supervision and Mentorship • Manage, train, observe, and mentor staff and research trainees, expanding their expertise in literacy and numeracy skill assessment. • Guide trainees in clarifying research questions and matching them to appropriate data sources. • Prepare and provide cleaned datasets for research, analysis, and reporting. Qualifications Minimum • An earned Master's degree in a relevant field, such as Psychology, Educational Measurement, or Data Science • Professional experience in data analysis, educational research, assessment, or a related field. • Demonstrated proficiency with technology and computer applications, especially Google Suite and relational databases. • Experience preparing and integrating complex data from multiple sources. • Commitment to confidentiality and ethical data practices. • Ability to manage multiple projects independently and meet deadlines. • Ability to work in the United States, now or in the future, without visa sponsorship Preferred • A Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as Psychology, Educational Measurement, or Data Science • 2 or more years of experience in data analysis, educational research, assessment, or a related field. • Experience teaching, tutoring, or working directly with children in instructional settings. • Experience mentoring, training, and supervising undergraduate or graduate research assistants in a university research setting. • Experience contributing to grant proposals, managing grant-funded research projects, and preparing reports for schools and funding agencies. • Strong familiarity with Airtable Additional Information • Deadline to Apply (subject to change): Friday, December 4th, 2026 • Please include a cover letter for full consideration of your application • Please note: this is a fully onsite position