Director, Qualitative Research & Insights | Research, Data, & Insights Team

Director, Qualitative Research & Insights | Research, Data, & Insights Team 

Job Description

About the Role

Good Reason Houston is seeking a leader to serve as the Director, Qualitative Research & Insights. This role is essential in driving the organization's mission to advance Houston as a leading education city through the production and strategic use of data, research, and evaluation. The Director leads the production of high-quality, timely, relevant and rigorous qualitative research and data analysis that can be shared across stakeholders, including policymakers, school district leaders, and community members, to accelerate and amplify our impact. This experienced professional collaborates across the organization to augment quantitative analyses with insightful qualitative storytelling to illuminate the context behind the numbers.

This is a leadership role on Good Reason Houston’s growing Research, Data, and Insights team and is considered a thought leader and strategic advisor across the organization. The Director will manage and execute an organization-wide research agenda by refining research questions and orchestrating data collection, analysis, visualization and meaning-making to inform our internal strategy and external messages. The Director, Qualitative Research & Insights will create systems and build team capacity to ensure our analyses are accurate, efficient, and accessible. In addition, this role will help departments develop strategies for systematic collection and analysis of qualitative data. This role reports to the Managing Director, Data Impact & Strategy and works cross-functionally to support data needs across divisions.

Primary Responsibilities

Research & Analysis (50%)

• Manage capacity (staff and contractors) to conduct recurring and ad hoc qualitative data analysis that maximize Good Reason Houston’s impact and aligns with strategic and external affairs objectives. 
• Lead planning and execution of a portfolio of research projects with a significant qualitative analysis component, including refining research questions, developing and codifying  research methods, accessing and/or collecting data, analyzing data, surfacing insights, and creating visualizations, presentations, and reports on the research findings.
• Collaborate with the Director, Quantitative Research & Data on integration of qualitative and quantitative research and findings and creation of mixed methods studies.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of initial and final findings from research projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional division leaders and team and external partners to develop appropriate research questions and data collection instruments, and coordinate research activities and dissemination
• Serve as lead consultant on publicly available state- and national- data sources on education as well as data requirements and access to support development of organization-wide research agenda.
• Build staff capacity to interpret and leverage data by developing and facilitating training and workshops, providing small group and individual coaching, and serving as a consultant to internal teams tackling research questions
• Facilitate collaboration across communications, advancement, and client service teams to integrate qualitative insights into broader business strategies.
• Maintain expertise on relevant research topics and methods. Encourage innovation in qualitative methodologies, tools, and frameworks through continuous learning and knowledge-sharing.

Data Storytelling (20%)

• Surface insights from data analyses and create visualizations, presentations, memos, and reports that communicate key insightsto various audiences.
• Present findings both internally and externally and ensure staff and partners are equipped to understand methodology and interpret findings.

• Collaborate with the leadership team to develop presentations that center data in support of key messages and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with Leadership, Advancement, Communications, District Partnership, and Policy and Advocacy teams to advise on available data and visualization. 
• Manage development of deliverables (including reports, presentation slides, one pagers, etc.) that center data in support of cross-departmental project goals and organizational key messages and objectives.

Data Management (15%)

• Oversee district data relationships and data sharing agreements as well as requests for data from external partners and internal teams.
• Coordinate IRB and ensure documentation of informed consent with research participants. Lead ethics oversight.
• Create and maintain systems for organization of data inputs and final deliverables that streamline access and collaboration and ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with data sharing agreements and data privacy laws (e.g. FERPA).
• Serve as a liaison between Good Reason Houston and other local and national organizations focused on education research.
• Develop and maintain dashboards or databases to share frequently requested data from internal and external stakeholders.

People Management (15%)

• Lead and mentor a team of qualitative researchers, strategists, and analysts, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and methodological rigor.
• Provide clear guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to support the professional growth and career development of team members.
• Manage performance evaluations, career progression plans, and succession planning for key research talent.
• Manage resource allocation, workload balancing, and project assignments to optimize team efficiency and well-being.
• Champion best practices in qualitative research design, analysis, and storytelling through active mentorship and peer review.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing training of researchers to strengthen the team’s capabilities and methodological range.
• Promote a positive, inclusive team culture that values diverse perspectives and approaches to insight generation.
   

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills

Who are you? The right candidate is an experienced researcher with knowledge in at least one area of education policy. You believe that research insights should extend beyond a white paper - findings and research products should be applied to better policies, practices, and outcomes on the ground. You are able to inspire and motivate people around big ideas, while also being a detailed executioner and project manager. Leading a team, coaching others, and developing early and mid- career researchers and researcher-practitioners is energizing work. You love thinking about the structures and processes needed to carry out research. Successful candidates will be able to clearly articulate how they are drawn to our mission and demonstrate how their past professional and academic experiences lend themselves to the skills, mindsets, capabilities, and knowledge critical to this role.

Experience/background: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required, advanced degree preferred* 
• 5+ years of professional experience*
• Expertise in an area of education policy required
• Prior experience independently leading qualitative research projects required, experience conducting quantitative and/or mixed methods research preferred
• Demonstrated experience organizing and leading interviews, focus groups, and community listening sessions with diverse populations and stakeholders
• Survey research experience a plus
• Demonstrated project management experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated experience writing research reports and insights for diverse audiences a plus
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Powerpoint skills
• Experience managing a team or playing leadership roles within project teams
• Deep experience working with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose, MaxQDA, ATLAS.ti)
• Some experience working with data visualization software (e.g., Tableau) 
• Experience working in an organization or on a team that requires flexibility, a high degree of responsiveness, and comfort with ambiguity

*Will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience

Skills: 

• Ability to produce quality work under tight deadlines
• Ability to translate complex data outputs into meaningful insights  
• Ability to set targets aligned to measurable results and outcomes and lead others to achieve them
• Ability to simplify and visually present findings to a variety of audiences and stakeholders  
• Ability to internalize feedback with open demeanor and adapt quickly based on changing information  
• Strong data visualization skills 
• Strong relationship management
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to synthesize and accurately present relevant research findings to various audiences
• Self-starter with strong sense of ownership and initiative
• Extremely strong organization skills and attention to detail

Working at Good Reason Houston

Our Team

Our core values reflect the principles that ground and guide our work. They serve as the foundation for how we show up, internally with our colleagues and externally with our partners and communities. These values shape how we make decisions, collaborate across teams, and navigate challenges. They are the throughline that connects our culture to our impact. 

CURIOUS

We are curious— we ask, listen, and learn with humility to grow our understanding and improve how we work in service of students.

CONNECTORS

We are connectors—we build meaningful, authentic relationships that create momentum for lasting change with and for Houston students, families, and communities.

ROOTED

We are rooted— we show up with purpose and persistence, grounded in our mission and in deep commitment to Houston.

FORWARD-THINKING

We are forward-thinkers–we champion an optimistic vision for Houston’s future and tackle complex challenges with boldness, creativity, and strategic action. 

STUDENT-CENTERED

We are students-centered—removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and shaping systems to improve outcomes for students with the greatest needs.

Good Reason Houston offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The starting salary for this position is $115,000, with offer commensurate with candidate experience. New hires are offered a salary depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. Good Reason Houston also has a 401(k) (automatic 3% employer contribution), life, medical, dental and vision insurance packages. Each employee accrues 35 paid time off days per calendar year in addition to the 19 paid holidays per year. This role is based in Houston. Good Reason Houston is an office-based organization, but allows for virtual work on Mondays and Fridays. Due to the nature of this position, candidates should expect to work the occasional weekend and evening. Candidates must reside in the Houston metro area or be willing to relocate.