Job Details
Posting Number: PG194820EP
Internal Recruitment: No
Working Title: Research Associate - Digital Learning
Anticipated Hiring Range: Commensurate with education and experience ($72,000 - $76,000)
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Raleigh-based position with an on-site presence approximately four days per week with flexibility based on program needs, meetings, and events.
Job Location: Raleigh, NC
Department: Friday Institute
About the Department:
The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation is a large, multi-faceted Institute housed in a 33,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility on NC State University’s Centennial Campus in Raleigh. Our work encompasses educational research, professional development, policy and program evaluation, and direct services to schools, districts, state departments of education and public- and private sector organizations. We are deeply involved in work in throughout North Carolina, leading some of the major statewide K-12 education initiatives and working closely with the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, and the majority of school districts in the State on the transition to digital teaching and learning. Since opening in 2005, the Friday Institute has developed a strong national presence, working with organizations throughout the country, and is increasingly developing international connections. More information is available at http://www.fi.ncsu.edu.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Retirement Programs
- Disability Plans
- Life Insurance
- Accident Plan
- Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
- 12 Holidays Each Year
- Tuition and Academic Assistance
- And so much more!
Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties:
The Friday Institute at NC State University seeks a Research Associate to help build and scale a growing portfolio of work focused on capacity building in digital learning, including computer science and AI education, and strategic initiatives that support national, state, and local education leaders. This role is pivotal in translating research and partner input into coherent programs, implementation supports, and field-facing deliverables. The successful candidate will be a strong project and portfolio manager; bring experience working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice; excel at building relationships across varied partners; and demonstrate strengths in synthesis, strategic communication, and continuous improvement.
In this role, you will help turn emerging ideas, research, and partner needs into strategies and resources that can be implemented and scaled. You will bring structure to complex initiatives, helping teams prioritize work, make informed decisions, and move projects from planning through execution. Your ability to build trusted relationships, synthesize varied perspectives, and communicate clearly will help the Friday Institute strengthen partnerships, improve its work, and extend the reach and impact of digital learning initiatives across the field.
Key Impact areas include and are not limited to:
- Shape and advance strategic initiatives by synthesizing research, partner perspectives, and emerging trends into priorities, recommendations, workplans, and opportunities for alignment across projects.
- Strengthen implementation and continuous improvement by tracking meaningful indicators, gathering feedback, documenting lessons learned, and translating evidence into practical improvements.
- Build alignment and engagement by coordinating project teams and partners, facilitating meetings and learning opportunities, and developing clear, publication-ready materials that support implementation and shared decision-making.
- Support growth and sustainability by contributing to proposals, funder communications, project reporting, and opportunity development while helping communicate outcomes, impact, and future priorities.
If you are an adaptable, collaborative professional who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, builds strong relationships across varying partners and audiences, and enjoys working with others to turn ideas into meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.
Other Responsibilities:
In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties such as:
- Support day-to-day operations
- Coordinate project meetings, organization structures, and communications
- Prepare, maintain, and update project materials for online and print dissemination
- Up to 20% for in-state and/or out-of-state travel
This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Master’s degree in Education or Technology, or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, plus 5 or more years of experience as a K-12 educator, technology leader, or researcher.
Other Required Qualifications:
- Project management, organizational, and coordination skills sufficient to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholders while maintaining attention to detail and follow-through.
- Strong communication skills sufficient to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively to academic, practitioner, and partner audiences through written materials, presentations, and other communications.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of digital learning and emerging technologies, including computer science and AI education, and their application to teaching, learning, implementation, or program improvement.
- Experience developing instructional or implementation materials for in-person and online audiences.
- Facilitation and presentation skills sufficient to effectively engage varied audiences in trainings, meetings, and collaborative learning experiences.
- Experience working across research, policy, and practice to support education initiatives, implementation, or capacity building.
Required License(s) or Certification(s):
N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required: Yes
Commercial Driver's License required: No
Job Open Date: 08/27/2026
Anticipated Close Date: 9/9/2026, if posting is active we are still accepting and reviewing applications
Special Instructions to Applicants: Resume, Cover letter, and Contact Information for 3 Professional references.
Position Number: 00112268
Position Type: EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.0
Appointment: 12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID: 139001 - Friday Institute
EEO:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
Organization
NC State: Think and Do
NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.
Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).
Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives
NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.
Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.
Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future
NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.
Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”
In Raleigh and Around the World
It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:
- No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
- No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
- No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
- Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
- Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city
With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.
More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.
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