Director of the Center on Education and the Workforce

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. 

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 Materials

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.

Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or other categories protected by law. The projected salary range for this position is $215,000–$265,000, which represents the full range of anticipated compensation for this position. Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University’s business needs and external factors.