Educational Research Scientist

Education is ever-evolving. And so are we.

We seek passionate people from diverse backgrounds who are committed to helping improve the work of schools as a trusted partner in advancing learning. By joining the Cognia team, you will be immersed in a community of energetic and resourceful people dedicated to a common vision to impact and inspire education providers to advance and enable pathways of success for all learners. At Cognia we have developed a holistic approach to education that empowers schools to create real outcomes and optimize learning for students of all backgrounds, servicing more than 36,000 institutions, 5 million teachers, and 25 million students in 85 countries. When you join Cognia, you join a team of experts passionate about our mission and embracing our core values in everything we do.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Research & Analytics is a multidisciplinary team supporting Cognia s ongoing commitment to the research, evaluation, and implementation of continuous improvement practices that improve school quality and student learning. The Educational Research Scientist will focus on deriving meaningful insights from educational data, creating compelling data visualizations, and advancing the evidence base for educational effectiveness. A successful candidate will have a passion for storytelling through data and a commitment to improving educational outcomes. This role will support strategic activities across lines of business and empower staff to act through the use of data and visualizations.

The Educational Research Scientist will serve as a subject-matter expert for research design and execution, evaluation methods, and data visualization. They will contribute to evolving data management processes and provide consulting and technical assistance to cross-functional partners, senior leadership, and education partners. Working with large data sets the Educational Research Scientist will employ statistical methods and visualization tools to tell stories about school improvement, learning environments, and student outcomes.

As a member of the Research & Analytics team, the Educational Research Scientist collaborates with colleagues across the organization to research, understand, and communicate the impact and value of Cognia s solutions, while identifying opportunities for improvement. This role requires an entrepreneurial mentality and a collaborative approach to untangle complex datasets and provide creative solutions. The Educational Research Scientist also serves as an advocate for the value of our work, maintaining relationships with clients, consumers, educational stakeholders, and experts nationwide.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

Research & Reporting

• Design and conduct educational research studies, including quasi-experimental and observational studies.
• Prepare detailed research reports, including methodology, findings, and implications for practice.
• Translate complex data and research findings into accessible narratives for diverse audiences, including educators, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate research findings into practice and policy recommendations.
• Contribute to the design of research instruments and analysis plans.
• Execute the design, development, and maintenance of ongoing metrics, reports, dashboards, etc., to drive key business decisions.

Data Analysis & Visualization

• Conduct in-depth quantitative and qualitative analyses of educational data.
• Develop and implement data visualization techniques to present findings clearly and effectively.
• Use statistical software and data visualization tools to create interactive and static visualizations.
• Leverage understanding of business and strategy to provide data-based recommendations to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Collaborate within a team environment to develop relevant and repeatable policies and procedures for conducting analyses, building reports, and visualizations.

Advancement of Effectiveness Evidence

• Identify and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs, interventions, and policies.
• Manage projects with minimal oversight, supporting strategic planning efforts, and ensuring alignment with ongoing research and programmatic initiatives.
• Serve as an advocate for and conveyer of the impact and value of our work, maintaining relationships with current and potential clients and educational stakeholders.
• Assist with primary and secondary data collection, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Conduct literature reviews and author reports, briefs, and presentations for various audiences.
• Provide project management support, including tracking project milestones and managing project documents and databases.
• Perform duties and fulfill responsibilities that may, from time to time, include related or unrelated tasks.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

• Master s degree, Educational Psychology, Statistics, Data Science, or related field required and a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in designing reports, visualizations, and dashboards using Tableau, PowerBI, or similar tools including experience writing complex queries using Microsoft SQL Service required; Ph.D. preferred
• Strong background in educational research methodologies and statistical analysis required
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, SAS) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, D3.js) required
• Demonstrated understanding and experience with descriptive and inferential statistics in a business environment required
• Passion for improving educational outcomes and making a positive impact on the field of education required
• Understanding of principles and practices of educational research methodology, survey development, and experimental design preferred
• Familiarity with evidence-based practices in education and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions preferred
• Experience in K-12 education preferred
• Expertise with statistical analysis packages (e.g., R, Python) preferred

Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-experts
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Technical expertise job related specialized knowledge and the proficient use of technology-based tools
• Accountability takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work, and achieves results with little oversight
• Communication strong verbal and written communication; listening
• Leadership influencing or control in which a person enlists the participation of others and the resources to accomplish a goal
• Influencing others influences others to be excited and committed to furthering objectives
• Problem Solving resolves difficult or complicated challenges
• Creative & Innovative thinking develops fresh ideas that provide solutions to all types of workplace challenges

Anticipated Travel (may include local, national, and/or international travel):

• Occasional travel (10-20%)
• Travel to All Staff Company Meeting required

At Cognia, we recognize the critical role played by our teams in carrying out the organization s important educational mission. As a reflection of that recognition our exceptional benefits offerings include generous paid time off and holiday breaks, comprehensive insurance plans, and a 12.5% retirement savings contribution which is immediately vested, all effective on your date of hire. This represents an affirmative commitment by the organization to attract and retain the highest quality workforce to ensure our continued ability to effectively serve our mission for years to come.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. Cognia is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.