Director of Research

ABOUT US

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.


UPSKILL AMERICA

UpSkill America supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers. We advance collaborative solutions that work for employers, employees, and communities, recognizing that shared value for workers, communities, and business bottom-line is the best strategy for long-term success — we believe in “doing well by doing good.”

We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities.

UpSkill America is an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

UpSkill America is seeking the ideal candidate to fill the role of Director of Research. The selected candidate will join a small team, working closely with the Senior Director, to advance high-quality research into a variety of issues in the realm of employer-supported education, upskilling/reskilling, and Skills First practice adoption. The ideal candidate has exceptional research skills and a commitment to skill development for front-line workers and marginalized populations in the US.

The major expectations of the individual in the Director role will be to collaborate in the brainstorming, development, and implementation of research projects; to develop strong, clear written products for a variety of audiences; and to be highly productive and collaborative in leading and supporting research efforts for UpSkill America.

The position reports directly to the Senior Director, UpSkill America. The salary range for the position is $140,000 - $160,000. The expectation is for this role to be in either our Washington D.C. or NYC office a minimum of 2x a week to collaborate with colleagues.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and lead research projects using a variety of methods, including surveys, interviews and focus groups, landscape and meta-analyses, etc.
• Read, synthesize, and apply research on employer-supported education issues, including labor market outcomes, policy initiatives (state and federal), academic research, and case studies.
• Co-author and author reports, articles, op-eds, and other publications to advance the UpSkill America’s objectives and communicate with a broad range of audiences.
• Contribute to other UpSkill America projects as required, staying up to speed on all aspects of the initiative’s work.
• Regularly collaborate with partner organizations and programs to advance shared goals.
• Represent UpSkill America at conferences, industry meetings, and other events.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Minimum 10+ years of professional experience in related fields, including research, academia, program administration and management.
• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research.
• Expertise in employer driven education, including apprenticeship, work-based learning, tuition assistance, internal employee training, etc.
• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrated talent for clear, effective, and persuasive writing; an ability to communicate data and complex ideas simply and effectively; and an ability to tailor writing style and voice to target different audiences.
• Detail-orientation, with the ability to produce high-quality deliverable drafts that do not require significant revisions.
• Strong project management skills and self-direction, able to take initiative and lead projects from start to finish.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and multi-tasking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work on a team; comfort working independently.
• Some travel required.

HOW TO APPLY:

This posting will close after two weeks, on October 29, 2025, at close of business.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.