The Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCLA's School of Education and Information Studies (Ed&IS) is dedicated to partnering with the education ecosystem to bring about systems change through Humanizing Research, Validating Practices, and Transformative Policies with key stakeholders to support equitable educational outcomes for all students. Our vision is to be a catalyst for learning communities to boldly nurture and protect the dignity, wellbeing, and full potential of all students.
The Executive Director will be responsible for leading research programs, projects, and new initiatives in CTS. The Executive Director will be the leader in research administration for CTS in securing independent funding and carrying out the research initiatives of the center. The Executive Director will provide research project management and participate in the design and implementation of educational research, evaluation, and assessment studies. The Executive Director will develop grant proposals in collaboration with Project Directors and Senior Director of Operations & Administration, develop research instrument;, manage and delegate implementation of data collection efforts, supervise and manage data being entered into computerized database; analyze qualitative and quantitative data to generate findings; arrange and conduct site visits; prepare and deliver project presentations; support in preparing effort reports and other key documents for granting agencies; and assist with distribution and dissemination of research findings to key stakeholders as well as state and local government officials. The Executive Director will report to the Co-Faculty Director of CTS.
Key Responsibilities:• Direct the research efforts for Center for the Transformation of Schools with the Center’s Co-Faculty Directors.
• In collaboration with Project Directors and Senior Director of Operations & Administration support research administrative activities in CTS including but not limited to: developing research proposals to secure funding, managing and facilitating research tied to projects in CTS, track and manage effort reporting for funding in CTS to adhere to University and granting agency policies and procedures.
• Lead role in revenue generation and securing extramural funding for CTS
• Lead efforts to collect and analyze data, and disseminate findings to broader audiences of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers and other engaged stakeholders.
• Build research-practice partnerships with universities across the United States and abroad, along with collaborating schools and/or districts (e.g., educators and administrators) to ensure proposed research projects are both meaningful and relevant to the interest/needs of CTS.
• Cultivate and oversee key philanthropic relationships to advance the Center’s growing research agenda.
• Develop and lead the composition of research focused grant proposals.
• Build partnerships and develop alliances with external organizations that have conducted research and have established measures of various aspects of social- emotional learning.
• Build partnerships and develop alliances with external organizations that can complement emerging knowledge.
• Conduct intensive research (e.g., observations, interviews, surveys, documentation of educators’ perspectives, and documentation of student learning);
• Lead IRB processes.
• Write peer-reviewed journal articles, blogs, book chapters, etc.
• Present at conferences locally, nationally and internally.
• In collaboration with Senior Director of Operations & Administration, support the development of project budgets.
• Create and uphold a strong research agenda as evidenced by publications and external and internal grant support.
• Manage research team in collaboration with Senior Director of Operations & Administration including Senior Project Scientists, team of Graduate Student Researchers, and other research administrative team members.
• The appointee should have the terminal or top degree in the appointee’s field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree that is commonly expected in the fields of Education, Social Work, or related field.
• Strong background in research related to issues of racial equity in schools, linkages between poverty, social inequality and education, education policy and the academic, social and emotional factors that impact student learning.
• Exhibit a deep understanding of how in-school and out-of-school factors influence student achievement, the role of school systems to prioritize the success of its most vulnerable student populations and scholarship that examines the disproportionate impact of zero tolerance policies and practices on low-income students of color.
• Must have a program of research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore how education policies can mitigate or address structural racism and social inequities.
• Candidates with 5+ years of experience working with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and student populations
• Candidates with 5+ years of experience with demonstrated leadership experience in education and research
• Candidates with 5+ years of experience in securing extramural funding
See Table 13-B (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t13-b.pdf) for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $116,200 - $169,700.
Application Requirements:• Curriculum Vitae- Your most updated CV
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research (Optional)
Preferred
• Earned Doctorate in Education from an accredited university or college orequivalent work experience with a major in early childhood development,
elementary or secondary education, bilingual/multicultural education, special education, applied linguistics, or a related field.
Required
• Expert knowledge of the following programming languages: Python, Javascript, HTML, SQL, R, LaTex.
• Experience with the following tools - project management using GitHub, Web-• Scraping, Parsing HTML data, Database Management, and creating documents using LaTex.
• Proven track record of ability to secure independent funding
• Records of research and scholarly publications consistent with the position and appointment level.
• Strong record of leading and managing projects.
• Strong qualitative research and grant-getting record.
• Willingness to collaborate on program development.
• Demonstrate commitment to diversity-related research and service.
• Demonstrate ability to exercise initiative, flexibility, and solid decision-making.
• Experience working with educators, schools, districts and key education stakeholders
• Working knowledge of the educational research and evaluation process.
• Working knowledge of research and data collection design, for qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies.
• Background and experience in writing or contributing to the writing of educational research reports, proposals, and/or other related documents.
• Demonstrated skill in the development and use of materials for training/development and technical assistance.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, implement and successfully complete evaluation and research projects including formative and summative evaluation procedures
• Demonstrated skill in the review/synthesis of relevant literature or research.
• Excellent skills in oral and written English communication including as
• appropriate, skills in writing sections of technical reports, proposals, and other documents/products with fluency and precision.
• Ability to make oral group presentations to present project information and explain the methods and the meaning of the work being performed.
• Ability and willingness to work directly and collaboratively with multilingual, multiethnic, and/or multiracial and/or other education and non-education professional and lay persons.
• Ability to accept delegated work, validate expectations, problem-solve obstacles, and follow-up to completion and/or report status of delegated tasks.
• Ability to work with competing deadlines, meet fixed deadlines, manage multiple assignments, and follow through tasks to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct or lead interviews, training sessions, and/or scoring sessions.
• Knowledge of curriculum development and analysis sufficient to recommend modifications, evaluate quality, and determine ease and practicality of administration.
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently operate Macintosh and PC computers including working knowledge of standard computer packages (SPSS, SAS, and BMDP) for analysis of educational data.
• Ability to travel to sites in and outside the state to represent the Center as required by the research or at the request of the supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned