Associate Director, Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research

📋 Description

• • The Foundation for California Community Colleges is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Associate Director of Strategic Policy, Innovation, and Research (SPIR) to join the Success Center. This pivotal role is dedicated to advancing equitable student success within the California Community College system, aligning with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.
• • The Success Center acts as a crucial partner for the California Community Colleges, guiding innovation from its inception through to its successful implementation. Our mission is to drive solutions that create a more effective and equitable system for community college students across the state and beyond. Operating as the system's nonprofit partner through the Foundation for California Community Colleges, we are committed to championing system priorities and transforming educational structures to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
• • In this role, you will provide strategic leadership, leverage deep research expertise, and offer data-driven guidance to support statewide educational attainment goals. You will be instrumental in setting and overseeing the Success Center’s research agenda, working in close collaboration with the Chancellor’s Office. This position demands strong political acumen, strategic foresight, exceptional analytical and communication capabilities, and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• • Key responsibilities include leading and cultivating a high-performing research team focused on advancing equitable student success. You will design and manage innovative qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, including rigorous evaluations, all while adhering to Institutional Review Board (IRB) standards and aligning with systemwide priorities and Vision 2030.
• • You will be responsible for setting and executing the Success Center’s research and policy agenda, in close partnership with SPIR team leaders, the Chancellor’s Office, and the Success Center’s senior leadership. This involves conducting in-depth primary and secondary policy research, performing comprehensive literature reviews, and analyzing best practices using sophisticated research methodologies and tools.
• • The role also entails overseeing key initiatives and meticulously monitoring critical aspects of contracts and agreements. You will provide direct supervision to project staff, contractors, and college representatives, ensuring the effective execution of research projects and initiatives.
• • A significant part of this role involves partnering closely with the Senior Director of SPIR to collaboratively develop, prioritize, implement, and track departmental strategies. Furthermore, you will serve as a key liaison with Chancellor’s Office leadership, assessing and prioritizing the system's research, programmatic, and resource needs to ensure alignment and impact.
• • Success in this role hinges on advanced analytical and research skills, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative analysis and evaluation methodologies. You will be expected to analyze complex statistical, demographic, and other educational data using statistical packages such as Stata, R, or similar tools. The goal is to draw insightful conclusions, formulate actionable policy recommendations, and rigorously test research hypotheses, ideally within a higher education context.
• • Extensive experience working with large datasets, preferably using Stata, including data cleaning and analysis, is essential. You should be skilled in conceptualizing, designing, developing, evaluating, and monitoring both qualitative and quantitative research projects, along with establishing effective reporting strategies, again, preferably within a higher education setting.
• • A strong understanding of the California Community College system and a deep commitment to equitable student success are paramount. Experience in higher education policy and systems, coupled with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders in complex environments, will be critical for success.
• • We are actively seeking mission-driven, passionate, and equity-minded individuals who possess a strong desire to make a tangible impact and improve people's lives. This role carries significant weight and responsibility, offering a unique opportunity to influence the lives of millions of students.
• • The FoundationCCC fosters an environment that encourages innovation, creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, empowering employees to achieve organizational goals. We blend the impactful nature of a non-profit with the dynamic culture of an entrepreneurial start-up and the broad reach of a state agency.
• • Our team members are selected for their expertise in specialized areas within our focus domains and higher education, as well as their knowledge of business, philanthropy, technology, communications, and more. We are deeply committed to professional development and emphasize shared leadership to ensure continuous growth for both our employees and the organization as a whole.