Mlrc Quantitative Research Director

Job Summary:

The Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) seeks a Quantitative Research Director for its newly launched Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC, or the Center). Established in July 2023, the MLRC is an interdisciplinary unit that advances educational outcomes for multilingual learners through innovative and socially just research and research practice partnerships (RPPs). The Quantitative Research Director will join the Qualitative Research Director and the School Network Director to co-lead the MLRC's research portfolio and develop its long-term strategy to improve the schooling experiences of multilingual learners and the teachers who support them. This is an unparalleled opportunity to help lead a groundbreaking boundary-crossing research center that will have a wide-ranging impact on a generation of scholars, educators, and students.

The MLRC leverages local, national, and global contexts to interrogate a range of issues related to the education of multilingual learners, the fastest-growing student population in the United States. Intersectional at its core, the MLRC explores the connections between multilingual and multimodal communication, language learning and content learning, qualitative and quantitative research, and scholars and practitioners. In addition to its domestic research priorities, the Center is home to the MLRC School Network, an RPP with English-speaking and bilingual international schools around the world that collaborate on research for educational improvement and equity for multilingual learners everywhere.

The Quantitative Research Director will lead and participate in the design and implementation of externally funded research, co-direct the MLRC and its strategy, and engage collaboratively with WCER, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) and its School of Education, and the broader scholarly community. This is an exceptional opportunity for a researcher interested in building and shaping a mixed-portfolio research startup enterprise, which is well-scaffolded by WCER and the UW-Madison School of Education.

The Quantitative Research Director has the ability to help shape the MLRC and build it into one of the most substantial centers focused on the education and support of multilingual learners by envisioning and developing new projects that are focused on classrooms, teachers, and teaching. The MLRC is well positioned to generate even-handed, bridge-building, high-quality research that can address pressing challenges that are seen differently around the world and across the political divide. The successful candidate will have access to a robust set of existing resources at WCER and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including project managers who can support the core research work at the Center.

Key roles and responsibilities for this new position include:

Build and support a thriving, innovative, and cross-disciplinary research portfolio that embodies the MLRC's founding vision and mission.

Work collaboratively with the Qualitative and School Network Directors to research the teaching and learning of multilingual learners through descriptive and hypothesis-testing studies that impact teaching practice, teacher quality, and policy in local and global contexts.

Productively identify research problems, design innovative, boundary crossing research methodologies, perform and supervise research, and regularly prepare and present results to professional organizations and scholarly publications.

Contribute to UW-Madison's overall research footprint, whose growth is one of the Chancellor's principal priorities.

Collaboratively develop the MLRC's vision, strategy, and structure.

Continue to develop the MLRC in close collaboration with the Qualitative and School Network Directors and WCER's leadership. Strategize about the Center's trajectory, priorities, infrastructure, and culture, and attract research and administrative staff.

Co-direct the day-to-day activities of the Center, including the oversight of operational responsibilities (e.g., budget and staffing).

Engage UW-Madison's collaborative spirit and MLRC's value of collaboration to leverage the social, material, and intellectual resources provided by the nation?s best education school in the pursuit of knowledge that will improve the education of multilingual learners.

Successfully solicit grant funding and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the MLRC.

Creatively identify, write, and assist in developing grant opportunities, applications, and proposals that will steadily grow the size of the MLRC's grant portfolio.

Co-lead the MLRC in becoming a financially self-sustaining entity through the strategic development of a revenue model consisting of grant funding and fee-for-service income.

Thoughtfully monitor the MLRC's budget, revenue, and expenditures.

Elevate social justice as a core principle of the MLRC.

Center social justice and equity in the MLRC's research priorities and the overall impact of the Center.

Proactively engage in and lead conversations that explore the intersections among identities, experiences, abilities, and learning styles that impact multilingual learners.

Center diversity, equity, and inclusion within the MLRC today and as it grows and evolves.

Effectively represent the MLRC within the University of Wisconsin and with external stakeholders .

Serve as a subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders. Provide expert-level information and represent the interests of the MLRC and its research.

Attend and assist with facilitating scholarly events and presentations to support continued professional development and the dissemination of research information.

Shape the positive reputation of the MLRC within scholarly communities.

Support and collaborate with UW-Madison faculty to train the next generation of education researchers focused on multilingual learners.

Responsibilities:

Identifies research problems, designs research methodologies, performs and supervises research, and prepares and presents results for presentation to professional organizations or for scholarly publications. May supervise staff.

15% Identifies research problems and develops highly complex research methodologies and procedures. Publishes and presents results to help advance research

20% Collects and analyzes highly complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures

10% Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials and, disseminates information to appropriate entities

10% Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information

20% Identifies, writes, or assists in developing grant opportunities, grant applications, and proposals to secure research funding

5% May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit and staff and resolve routine personnel issues

10% Serves as an institutional subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders providing expert level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area

5% Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures

5% Co-leads MLRC strategy for financial stability and mission impact with MLRC co-Directors

Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

Education:
Required

Terminal Degree

A PhD or EdD in an education-related field (e.g., educational linguistics, curriculum, instruction) is required.

Qualifications:

Recognized expertise in the field of multilingual learning. Experience carrying out research on multilingual learners and/or their teachers.

At least six years of independent quantitative research experience coupled with an appreciation and respect for a variety of epistemological perspectives and methodological tools.

A strong publication record and evidence of securing substantial external funding from federal and/or private funders.

Experience developing and leading research portfolios that explore the intersections among identities, experiences, and/or abilities that impact multilingual learners.

Experience collaborating effectively across disciplines, organizations, and communities. Experience carrying out research with practitioners using a positive, collaborative approach.

A record of innovative accomplishments and flexibility and courage to test new ideas and take risks. Commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Track record of fostering a workplace that is based on mutual respect and transparency.

An optimistic spirit and a grounded, realistic, and positive demeanor. Excellent communication skills with high emotional intelligence. Success as an effective listener and authentic partner.

Experience leading a team of researchers preferred.

Work Type:
Full Time: 100%

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:
Minimum

$100,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications

Additional Information:
The selected candidate will be an accomplished quantitative researcher with an unwavering commitment to creating a just and equitable education system and interest in advancing the research on the education of multilingual learners. The ideal candidate will bring an exemplary funding and publication record and experience with RPPs. They will be curious about the conceptualization of study design, enthusiastically reach across disciplinary boundaries, and appreciate an array of research methodologies. They will be proactive and creative, embrace ambiguity, thrive in a collaborative environment, and bring the ability to learn from research in international contexts.

How to Apply:
All inquiries, nominations, and applications (including a CV, three academic writing samples, and a letter of interest describing experience relevant to the opportunities, challenges, and qualifications outlined above) should be directed in strict confidence to the search team below. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.

To apply for the position, follow this link: Quantitative Research Director, Multilingual Learning Research Center | Isaacson, Miller (imsearch.com)

Isaacson, Miller
MLRC Quantitative Research Director Search

Contact:
Erik Borresen
********
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Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:
Scientist III(RE045)

Department(s):
A17-SCHOOL OF EDUCATION/WCER

Employment Class:
Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:
303819-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

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