Director Innovation Lab

Education is ever-evolving. And so are we.

We seek passionate people from diverse backgrounds who are committed to helping improve the work of schools as a trusted partner in advancing learning.

By joining the Cognia team, you will be immersed in a community of energetic and resourceful people dedicated to a common vision to impact and inspire education providers to advance and enable pathways of success for all learners.

At Cognia we have developed a holistic approach to education that empowers schools to create real outcomes and optimize learning for students of all backgrounds, servicing more than 36,000 institutions, 5 million teachers, and 25 million students in 85 countries.

When you join Cognia, you join a team of experts passionate about our mission and embracing our core values in everything we do.

NATURE AND SCOPE :

The Director Innovation Lab ensures the realization of Cognia's vision for education and continuous improvement. The primary role of the Director Innovation Lab is to manage the ideation process which includes but is not limited to environment scanning, problem identification, researching, and conceptualizing new products and services and documenting solutions with an emphasis on the development and utilization of solutions that are linked to improved student learning outcomes.

The Director Innovation Lab collaborates with subject matter experts within and outside the Improvement Services division to ensure Cognia solutions and related communications are thoroughly developed, and effectively support and help drive the socialization and business development of the Lab's educational products / services to the K-12 marketplace.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES :

• Collaborate with content teams, psychometricians, division colleagues, the Research and Analytics group, and other internal and external subject matter experts to develop and implement data-based research studies to support the efficacy and impact of products and services to achieve the strategic priorities for Cognia and the Innovation Lab.
• Manage the ideation, research, and refinement of solutions - collaborating with colleagues and other subject matter experts internal and external to the organization.
• Maintain a repository of educational research literature associated with the ideation process.
• Provide strategic leadership in building evidence of impact for the Innovation Lab's products and services across multiple contexts.
• Lead the collection and analysis of data from clients / affiliate organizations and spearhead reflections on and efficiencies of feedback processes to ensure they support our continuous improvement.
• Leverage public / external data sources to benchmark and inform program outcomes and objectives.
• Evaluate programmatic and strategic initiatives at both the program and organizational level.
• Maintain and periodically update evaluation infrastructure to support evaluation methods, systems, and practices to obtain data on assessments (e.

g., item level summary statistics, form level summary statistics, reliability estimates, user demographics, etc.).

• Take initiative and propose new products / solutions based on research and / or evidence-based practices.
• Interact regularly with the Research and Analytics and other internal technical resource groups, to validate the advantageous use of Cognia products and services through the statistical analyses of data.
• Serve, along with Innovation Lab, as a subject matter expert for product and solution development and make presentations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify and develop innovative resources, products, and processes.
• Adhere to project plans, development tasks, timelines, and communications.
• Provide regular and frequent work / project status updates to the Chief Improvement Officer
• Manage assessment product and grants, overseeing project schedules, and risk management to ensure projects are completed timely and within budget.
• Define processes, tools, and templates to ensure efficient communication, decision-making, and delivery of products and projects, by standardizing methods for smooth progress across teams.
• Develop and support budgets for product builds, grant proposals, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Contribute to and manage the RFP development process, ensuring timely submissions through coordination with stakeholders.
• Provide exceptional and collaborative leadership and support to team members.
• Assist with and support the management of the Lab's staff and projects associated with the Innovation Lab.
• Fulfill roles and responsibilities on assigned interdivisional team projects.
• Perform duties and fulfill responsibilities that may, from time to time, include related or unrelated tasks.

JOB REQUIREMENTS :

Education & Experience :

• Master's degree in educational research, or educational leadership (or applicable discipline) required; PhD in related discipline or EdD preferred
• Five (5) to eight (8) years of combined K-12 classroom teaching and educational leadership experience, including demonstrated experience improving educational processes within K-12 environments, required
• Five years of educational industry experience - including proven experience conducting, writing about and / or publishing in the field of K-12 educational research and / or assessment required - along with demonstrated literacy in the field
• Understanding of and experience in assessing K-12 educational institutions' needs, and student learning effectiveness required

Competencies :

• Strategic thinker with strong research and statistical skills who can dissect complex issues and make thoughtful recommendations and action plans
• Strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage the work of others
• In depth literacy in K-12 education issues
• Ability to chronicle K-12 solutions and services successfully and compellingly in a manner that is accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to engage and harness input from various stakeholders and subject matter experts and to build consensus around innovative K-12 solutions
• Demonstrate ability to simultaneously lead and work on multiple projects and tasks
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively toward organizational objectives
• Self-driven, motivated, and organized

Anticipated Travel (may include local, national, and / or international travel) :

• Limited travel (0-10%)
• Travel to Annual All Staff Company Meeting required

At Cognia, we recognize the critical role played by our teams in carrying out the organization's important educational mission.

As a reflection of that recognition our exceptional benefits offerings include generous paid time off and holiday breaks, comprehensive insurance plans, and a 12.

5% retirement savings contribution which is immediately vested, all effective on your date of hire. This represents an affirmative commitment by the organization to attract and retain the highest quality workforce - to ensure our continued ability to effectively serve our mission for years to come.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Cognia is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.