Application Guide
How to Apply for Managing Director of Research and Evaluation
at Accelerate: The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning
🏢 About Accelerate: The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning
Accelerate stands out as a national collaborative specifically focused on translating educational research into scalable action through state partnerships. Unlike traditional research organizations, they function as an implementation hub that directly connects evidence-based practices with policy levers to achieve measurable student outcomes at scale. Someone would want to work here to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world educational impact through strategic state-level partnerships.
About This Role
This Managing Director role involves shaping Accelerate's entire research agenda while leading both internal teams and external partnerships to conduct timely studies on learning interventions and scaling implementation. The position is impactful because it directly influences how evidence moves through ESSA tiers to inform state education policy, making research actionable for accelerating student learning nationwide.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning meetings with state partners to understand implementation challenges, followed by reviewing study designs from grantees to ensure they meet ESSA evidence standards. Afternoons could include supervising the Director of Research on ongoing projects, coordinating with external consultants on partnership evaluations, and developing content for the Research Learning Community to facilitate knowledge sharing across states.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Accelerate: The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning Is Looking For
- A doctorate-holder with 10+ years of post-doctoral applied research experience specifically in K-12 education settings (academic, government, or non-profit)
- Proven principal investigator experience designing and leading rigorous randomized controlled trials in educational contexts
- Senior leadership background in research institutions or education non-profits with experience supervising research directors and managing external consultants
- Demonstrated ability to translate research findings into policy recommendations and practical implementation strategies for state education systems
📝 Tips for Applying to Accelerate: The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning
Highlight specific experience with ESSA evidence tiers and how you've designed studies to advance through these tiers in previous roles
Quantify your impact in previous research leadership roles - mention specific RCTs you led, publications in education policy journals, or state partnerships you influenced
Demonstrate understanding of Accelerate's 'hub' model by describing how you've previously turned research evidence into actionable implementation strategies
Showcase experience managing research partnerships and learning communities similar to Accelerate's Research Learning Community
Tailor your examples to K-12 education contexts specifically, avoiding generic research experience across different sectors
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience as principal investigator on rigorous education research projects, especially randomized controlled trials', "Specific examples of how you've translated research findings into policy recommendations or implementation strategies", 'Your approach to developing and managing research partnerships with external organizations and consultants', "How your research agenda aligns with Accelerate's mission of scaling evidence-based practices through state partnerships"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Accelerate's current state partnerships and funded projects to understand their implementation focus areas
- → Study their published reports and resources to understand their approach to evidence translation and scaling
- → Research their leadership team's backgrounds to understand the organizational culture and research priorities
- → Examine how they position themselves within the national education research landscape compared to organizations like RAND, AIR, or Mathematica
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting research experience that's primarily theoretical or academic without clear connections to practical implementation or policy influence
- Failing to demonstrate specific K-12 education research experience when the role requires deep sector knowledge
- Overemphasizing individual research accomplishments without showing leadership experience managing teams and partnerships
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Accelerate: The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning!