TBR | The College System of Tennessee

Title: Director of Policy Research

Employee Classification: Executive/Admin & Managerial

Institution: System Office

Department: Policy & Strategy

Campus Location: Tennessee Board of Regents System Office

Job Summary

TBR—The College System of Tennessee serves community colleges and technical colleges across the state. The Office of Policy & Strategy works at the front lines of TBR’s efforts to develop insights about student success through research, policy analysis, and innovation.

Through the Office of Policy & Strategy’s data and research, TBR is able to turn research findings into actionable information to support postsecondary access and success. Within the Office of Policy & Strategy, the TBR Policy Lab leads research about the effects of state and system policy on student outcomes. The TBR Policy Lab currently leads projects about corequisite learning support,
dual enrollment, and employment outcomes for graduates of TBR colleges. The TBR Policy Lab also collaborates closely with the TBR Innovation Lab, which leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects to improve student success.

The Director of Policy Research will lead the TBR Policy Lab’s project portfolio. The Director will coordinate research projects by developing research designs, leading data collection and analysis, and using research findings to make recommendations to improve student outcomes at TBR colleges. Additionally, the Director will manage project planning and coordinate the work of internal and external partners affiliated with the TBR Policy Lab. In this role, the Director of Policy Research will have the opportunity to apply advanced research skills, engage with system and community college leaders, and interact with academic research partners.

Policy research and data analysis are embedded into TBR’s work across the four units of the Policy and Strategy division. The Director of Policy Research will work closely with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Strategy to connect policy research findings to the work of the broader Policy & Strategy division and, where appropriate, other divisions of TBR.

This position may have the opportunity to work remotely within the state of Tennessee but with periodic visits to the TBR System Office (Nashville, TN) at the employee’s expense, and potential travel to Tennessee TBR colleges may be necessary.

Job Duties

• 40% - Coordinate the design, implementation, and evaluation of policy research projects. This includes developing research designs, leading project convenings, advising project teams on project progress, and interacting with partners on research project design and implementation. - (Essential)
• 25% - Lead the development of policy research briefs, policy research data presentations, and other research products for the Policy & Strategy team. - (Essential)
• 15% - Conduct advanced data analyses on large-scale projects for the Policy & Strategy division. This includes analysis of enrollment and degree trends, along with detailed descriptive and quasi-experimental analyses. - (Essential)
• 15% - Assist with project management for research efforts by coordinating meetings with project partners, managing grant agreements for research projects, and tracking progress toward project timelines. - (Essential)
• 5% - Other duties as assigned. - (Essential)

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate degree in higher education, public policy, or a related field.
• Three years of professional work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Coursework in quantitative research methods, data analysis, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the design, implementation, or evaluation of student success interventions.
• Experience analyzing education data.
• Experience with project management for a long-term research project.
• Demonstrated proficiency with data analysis software.
• Related professional work experience beyond that obtained in a graduate learning environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work with a research team and turn data into actionable insights.
• Experience designing or leading policy research projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work simultaneously with short and long-term priorities.
• Experience analyzing data using tools like PowerBI, SQL, Stata, R, or related tools in either a professional or academic setting.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and present information in a concise and informative manner.
• Demonstrated ability to be a professional, courteous, trustworthy team player.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions