Strategic Data Project Fellow

Position: Strategic Data Project Fellow

Location: Multiple US Locations (see below)

Duration: Summer/Fall 2025 through Summer 2027 (with option for continued employment)

Contact: [email protected]

Join a powerful, growing community of 625+ forward-thinking data advocates and leaders across more than 40 states and 290+ education organizations. The Strategic Data Project (SDP) is an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. The SDP Fellowship program helps school system leaders use data and evidence in strategic decision-making to improve public education. By placing fellows in school systems and education organizations across the United States, SDP provides a unique career pathway for passionate quantitative researchers and data strategists who want to make a difference.  

The SDP Fellowship is a unique opportunity, combining full-time employment as a mid-to-senior level education data analyst/researcher at an SDP-approved partner organization (a school district, state education agency, postsecondary system, non-profit, etc.) and two-years of intensive in-person and virtual professional development, training, and mentorship to build your toolkit as an education data leader. As a fellow, you and your host agency will develop clear priorities and plans for using data and build organizational willingness to use data for decision-making. Over the course of two years, fellows participate in a series of tailored workshops, both virtual and in person, to develop their measurement, leadership, communication and education policy skills. Training is delivered by Harvard-affiliated researchers and practitioners and fellows are supported by faculty advisors, fellowship alumni mentors, and their colleagues across the SDP network. 

Learn more about past fellows’ work by visiting the SDP blog. In the past, fellows have tackled strategic data projects in one of the following focus areas: 

• program evaluation 
• data visualization 
• early warning indicator systems 
• data management governance 
• survey design and analysis 
• data dashboards 
• student pathways and postsecondary success 
• educator quality, pipeline, and training

and more!   

Fellows are paid an annual salary of $75,000-95,000 USD plus appropriate benefits by their placement organization. The average salary offer is around $88,000. The Fellowship lasts two years (Summer/Fall 2025 through Summer 2027) with the possibility for longer-term employment. Exact salaries, benefits, hybrid work arrangements, etc. differ and are determined by the host organization.

Locations

Fellowship placements are available in various locations across the United States and shift from year to year. SDP is currently selecting placement organizations. A sample of potentially available locations/projects includes:

TBA

This list is subject to change. Candidates who successfully progress through the SDP Fellowship selection process will learn more details about available placements.

Qualifications

The Strategic Data Project seeks candidates who possess: 

• a strong background in applied quantitative analysis (beyond descriptive analysis), familiarity with working with large datasets within education, and ability to work with limited oversight  
• a demonstrated passion for improving outcomes for all students, familiarity with US domestic education policy and current issues 
• a track record of collaboration, humility, and ability to guide change
• a proven ability to communicate complex information and analytic findings to various audiences in verbal, written, and visual formats
• evidence of an emerging leadership skillset and a commitment to continuous learning
• an advanced degree (Master’s degree or higher) completed (graduated) by August 2025 (certificates are not eligible)
• at least four years of relevant full-time work experience by August 2025 (waived for those with a PhD) 

SDP and our partner organizations are unable to provide visa sponsorship for fellows, either at present or in the future. SDP fellows are hired directly by our partner agencies (not by Harvard University) and must adhere to the specific hiring requirements of those agencies. Applicants must be legally authorized to work for an employer in the U.S. on a full-time basis without restriction for the entire duration of the fellowship (September 2025 – August 2027). Please note that SDP and our partner agencies cannot sponsor visas, now or in the future, and are unable to take over sponsorship of an existing visa. Additionally, most SDP fellowship roles do not meet the criteria for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT) for international students on F-1 or J-1 visas.

Candidates who are geographically flexible and willing to relocate will be given preference in the selection process. In addition, due to the inherent nature of the matching process, your willingness to relocate will increase your chances of matching with an SDP partner agency if admitted as a finalist to the candidate matching pool. Candidates are encouraged to be flexible and willing to relocate to the placement that is the best skill and interest match for them. Candidates with flexible relocation available will have the best chances of a successful placement match - about 85% of fellows relocate for placements.

SDP Placed Fellows become full-time employees of their placement organizations where they receive a salary between $75,00-95,000 and appropriate benefits. Placement organizations may have additional hiring requirements, including drug testing, criminal record and background checks, vaccination policies, residency requirements, etc. 

Please follow the link to complete the online application: https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c18_fellow/