Public Policy Research Manager

Position Summary The Public Policy Research Manager oversees the firm’s research function. You will set the research agenda, lead the teams that execute it, and make sure every study KLSA puts its name on is methodologically sound, defensible, and useful to the people who have to act on it. The objective of KLSA public policy research is to assess the impacts of public policy on community outcomes and deliver clear recommendations to policymakers and government leaders. You are accountable for that objective across the firm. This is a hands-on leadership and tactical role. You will design studies, supervise analysts, review deliverables, brief clients, and represent KLSA’s research capability in front of federal program offices, evaluation stakeholders, and proposal teams. Key Responsibilities Research Leadership and Strategy Set the firm-wide research agenda in alignment with KLSA’s advisory practice and client portfolio Design and direct policy research studies, program evaluations, and impact assessments across multiple concurrent engagements Select and defend appropriate methodologies, including experimental, quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, and qualitative designs Translate findings into recommendations that policymakers and agency leaders can act on, not just read Establish and maintain firm research standards, protocols, and quality controls Team and Practice Management Supervise, mentor, and develop research staff, analysts, and subject matter consultants Assign and balance workloads across teams and engagements; own delivery schedules and research budgets Build the firm’s research bench through hiring, subcontractor relationships, and academic partnerships Serve as the firm’s technical authority on research design and analytic rigor Client and Stakeholder Engagement Serve as principal research point of contact for client agencies and program offices Brief senior government officials, advisory boards, and community stakeholders on findings and implications Author and present technical reports, evaluation plans, policy briefs, white papers, and executive summaries Facilitate stakeholder sessions, working groups, and data collection activities with community partners Growth and Capture Support Support proposal development by writing technical approaches, evaluation plans, and past performance narratives Contribute to KLSA thought leadership through publications, conference presentations, and public commentary Quality and Compliance Ensure research activities comply with federal requirements, including IRB protocols, human subjects protections, data privacy standards, and applicable OMB evidence-building guidance Maintain research documentation consistent with KLSA’s ISO 9001:2015 quality management system Own data integrity, reproducibility, and audit readiness across all research products Required Qualifications PhD in a social science discipline (public policy, public administration, economics, sociology, political science, education, psychology, or a closely related field) or an equivalent combination of advanced education and demonstrated research leadership 7–10 years of progressive experience conducting and directing applied policy research or program evaluation Demonstrated experience leading research teams and managing multiple concurrent studies to deadline and budget Expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, including causal inference, survey design, sampling, and analysis of administrative and secondary data Proficiency with at least one major statistical package (R, Stata, SAS, SPSS, or Python) Track record of producing publication-quality technical reports and briefing senior decision-makers Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to move between technical and executive audiences U.S. work authorization; ability to pass a federal background investigation Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting federal, state, or local government clients under contract Familiarity with federal evaluation policy, the Evidence Act, and OMB evaluation and evidence guidance Experience with proposal development and technical volume writing in a government contracting environment Peer-reviewed publications or recognized policy briefs in a relevant domain Experience with community-based or participatory research and stakeholder engagement Working knowledge of data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and geospatial analysis Active or prior federal security clearance Benefits: Competitive salary Health, dental, and vision insurance 401K "Discretionary" PTO Professional development opportunities A dynamic and collaborative work environment Working Environment: If you are a results-driven professional and have the above qualifications, we encourage you to apply for this position.  Join our team and contribute to our continued growth and success.  To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role.