Hiring: Principal Researcher, Youth Development Company: American Institutes for Research Location: United States Job Posted Time: 2026-09-16 19:39:44 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : Accessibility, Project Management, Quality Assurance About the job Experience: •10+ years of project leadership experience, including proposal writing, project management, staff supervision, report writing, and external relationship management. •At least 11 years of relevant experience. Required Skills: •Providing thought leadership, build capacity and expand eminence in youth development. •Exploring opportunities and develop a marketing and business plan to grow AIR’s youth development work. •Centering an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to support other intersecting fields, such as mental health, trauma-informed care, juvenile justice, and social service supports. •Supporting AIR’s growth through business development, including leading and writing proposals for grants or contracts to federal, state, and local education agencies; foundations; and other clients. •Managing projects, serving as principal investigator and/or project director for large and/or complex research studies, evaluations, or technical assistance centers, including designing project approaches, leading teams, overseeing project tasks, monitoring quality assurance, managing budgets, and fostering client relationships. •Mentoring junior colleagues by sharing best practices in conducting research and technical assistance, applying evaluation methods, and leading project tasks; modeling effective approaches for solving problems; and providing feedback on their work. •Maintaining excellent relationships with funders, clients, and other partners; serve as a primary client contact; and actively grow our portfolio of work through these relationships and by staying abreast of the field's direction. •Strong quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method design and analysis skills or technical assistance leadership to serve as a senior team leader on proposals and projects. Qualifications: •Ph.D. in child development, developmental psychology, human development, education, public or social policy or a related field, with minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience managing and conducting research, or Master’s degree and at least 11 years of relevant experience. •National and positive reputation for expertise in youth development and well-connected in the field. •Knowledge of youth development, adolescent health and/or youth economic mobility research. •Proven record of accomplishment leading proposals and winning competitive contracts/grants from various funding organizations (e.g., Federal, state, and local government; foundations). •Operational familiarity with federal and state procurement and contract opportunities. •7 years of relevant work experience managing and conducting research, or Master’s degree and at least 11 years of relevant experience. Compensation: •$150,000 - $180,000 / year Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!