Research Professor (Open Rank) and Director of the Center on Education and the Workforce

About the role

Description The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW), a nonpartisan research and policy institute within the McCourt School of Public Policy, seeks a new director to lead the center into its third decade. Founded in 2008, CEW generates accessible, independent research that (1) examines the evolving connections between education and careers; (2) identifies disparities in educational and economic outcomes that disadvantage underserved populations; and (3) strengthens education, training, and workforce systems to prepare people for the labor market and deliver equitable opportunity for all. CEW is seeking a new director with a clear vision for advancing the center’s mission by extending and building upon its unique strengths in research, analysis, and communications. The new CEW director must have substantial experience developing and executing a research agenda at the intersection of education and the labor market; securing external grant funding to support research activities; and communicating to multiple audiences about how and why linking research in both spheres is critical. The new director should also have experience providing support to policymakers, practitioners, and funders to build more effective education, training, and workforce systems. The director will serve as CEW’s primary external representative, engaging senior policymakers, philanthropic leaders, higher education and workforce leaders, and the media to ensure that the center’s research influences policy and practice in a dynamic environment. The new CEW director must demonstrate a deep commitment to intellectual rigor, collaborative leadership, and a research-driven approach to policy that advances equitable opportunity for all. The ideal candidate will combine rigorous quantitative training with practical policy intuition, have skill and experience translating research for nontechnical audiences, and draw energy from leading a mission-driven organization at the intersection of research, policy, and practice. Qualifications Required Doctoral or professional degree with a focus on rigorous quantitative research and a background in economics and workforce and education policy; Senior-level management experience, preferably at a research center or similar organization; Demonstrated commitment to mentoring, developing, and retaining a diverse, multidisciplinary research, policy, and communications staff; Demonstrated ability to set and execute a strategic vision across multiple, concurrent research initiatives; Demonstrated success securing multiyear research grants and experience fostering sustained relationships with private foundations; Extensive experience with labor market research and education policy research; and Strong writing, communications, and media relations skills. Preferred Background in economics or other quantitatively rigorous field; Experience using core US education, labor, and demographic data; Experience in multimethod data analysis; Experience in modeling, simulation, and/or evaluation techniques; and A clearly articulated vision for the future success of the center. Application Instructions Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and the names of three professional references. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by April 10, 2026. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement GU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, race, religion, personal appearance, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Requesting Accommodations If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process, please visit the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance website fo r  general information about requesting accommodations, as well as  information about requesting accommodations specifically for applicants.  You also can also contact the Office for Equal Opportunity Compliance at or .