Senior Manager, Research and Development chez The Tech Interactive

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Manager, R&D to lead research and innovation efforts in the development of student and educator learning products in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This role will focus on gathering, analyzing, and applying data to inform product development, improving existing offerings, and ensuring alignment with evidence-based teaching practices and learner needs. The Senior Manager will manage a small team of learning experience designers, and collaborate across product and partnership teams to create impactful, data-driven solutions for classrooms, digital platforms, and blended learning environments. This exempt role reports to the Vice President of Programs.

Responsibilities 

• Research and Development
• • Plan and implement pilots, user-testing initiatives, and A/B testing with educators and student learners
  • Collect, analyze, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., observations, user feedback, learning analytics, assessments)
  • Translate research insights into practical recommendations for product design and pedagogy integration
• Communication and Collaboration
• • Partner with educators, school districts, and designers to co-create solutions grounded in real-world experiences
  • Stay current on emerging STEM education trends, technologies, and instructional practices to guide product development
  • Collaborate across the organization and STEM programs team including product, partnerships, and marketing teams to support the design and improvement of evidence-based learning products
• Team Management 
• • Supervise and mentor a small team of learning designers and contractors
  • Provide clear direction, feedback, and support to ensure high-quality outputs and effective collaboration
  • Manage project timelines, budget, deliverables, and reporting to ensure work is completed on schedule and within scope
• Operational Support
• • Ensure compliance with research ethics, data privacy, and equitable learning design principles
  • Support budgeting, contracts, timelines, and resources for the R&D portfolio

Requirements and Skills 

• 7+ years of experience in educational research, instructional design, or product development, with a focus on STEM
• Demonstrated ability to apply research insights to inform product development and drive measurable learning outcomes
• Experience managing small teams and cross-functional project groups
• Knowledge of learning analytics, AI in education, or adaptive learning technologies.
• Experience working in K12 environments
• Ability to communicate orally or in writing to diverse audiences, including learners of all ages and backgrounds, Board members, staff, volunteers, sponsors, etc., about the organization’s mission.
• Advanced degree in Education Research, Learning Sciences, Cognitive Science, STEM Education, or a related field preferred

Working Conditions and Schedule

• Schedule includes weekend and evening work as programmatic and organizational business needs require.
• This is an on-site role with the possibility of flexibility for working some days at an alternative work location. Flexibility will vary depending on the needs of the job.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at The Tech

Our success is dependent on building teams that include people from different backgrounds and experiences who challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives. To that end, we look for a diverse pool of applicants including but not limited to those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or nonconforming, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Tech will provide an equal opportunity in recruitment and employment to all individuals and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Any applicant with a disability may contact The Tech Interactive to arrange for accommodations. Please contact the Tech at [email protected] or call (408) 795 - 6188.