Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

STAR Autism Support is looking for a Director of Research and Development to join our Product team!

• Title: Director of Research and Development - Autism EdTech
• Department: Product
• Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, regular business hours
• Location: Remote, United States
• Reports to: Chief Learning Officer
• Compensation: $110,000 - $135,000 per year

STAR Autism Support (SAS) is a family-founded educational consulting company based in Portland, OR. SAS provides curriculum materials, workshops and training to school and agency staff who work with students with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our unique and practical approach provides school districts with curriculum resources and a continuum of professional development activities to address the educational needs of student’s early childhood through post-secondary throughout the country and internationally.

At SAS our goal is to cultivate a supportive, positive and welcoming work environment where all staff can successfully thrive. We value and celebrate equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our vision of equity includes a continuous commitment to becoming an antiracist, multicultural organization. We strive to provide all employees with a culture of curiosity and continued learning.

Our Research & Development team is a small group of self-motivated individuals dedicated to advancing evidence-based curriculum and educational technology. We provide strategic guidance and hands-on support to our product, professional services, and sales teams. Each team member contributes to our shared success by combining visionary thinking with practical execution, all while staying aligned with our mission to empower educators and support children with autism.

Who Are You?

Our ideal teammate:

• Has experience in educational research, curriculum development, or educational technology, ideally with a background in special education or applied behavior analysis.
• Demonstrates advanced technical proficiency, including experience with AI, data analysis, and digital tools to design, implement, and test innovative solutions.
• Is skilled in project management, able to organize, prioritize, and deliver multiple projects on time and with attention to detail.
• Thrives in a hands-on role, taking strategic direction from others and executing work independently
• Is self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable with ambiguity, able to pivot as priorities shift.
• Communicates clearly, collaborates effectively, and translates complex ideas into actionable insights.
• Champions innovation, inclusion, and respect, and is committed to empowering educators and improving outcomes for children with autism.

Position Summary/Objective

The Director of Research & Development leads evidence-based research and innovation across curriculum and educational technology. Under the strategic direction of the Head of R&D, this role conducts market and trend research, guides product innovation, and integrates AI and digital tools to create student-centered, accessible learning experiences. The Director partners closely with cross-functional teams and sales, contributes hands-on to project execution, and publishes and presents findings to strengthen the company’s evidence base and market presence.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Drives the execution of company initiatives in curriculum development and technology under the strategic direction of the Head of R&D.
• Conducts market and trend research in education and technology to guide product innovation and development.
• Leads evidence-based research projects to improve and validate the effectiveness of curriculum and technology solutions.
• Publishes research findings in peer-reviewed journals and professional publications to strengthen the evidence base and credibility of the curriculum.
• Writes and submits grant proposals, RFPs, and funding applications to secure implementation contracts.
• Partners with the sales team to provide research-based evidence, product expertise, and strategic insights that strengthen proposals for district-level and large-scale contracts.
• Collaborates with curriculum developers, trainers, and technology specialists to design and launch innovative educational products.
• Integrates AI, digital tools, and interactive platforms to create student-centered, accessible, and engaging learning experiences.
• Champions best practices in curriculum design, special education, and ABA to ensure products meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Gathers and apply feedback from educators and trainers to refine and optimize curriculum and tools.
• Evaluates and iterate on content, delivery methods, and technology solutions to maintain product relevance and market competitiveness.
• Incorporate research trends and best practices into conference proposals, ensuring submissions showcase organizational strengths, fit conference themes, and meet selection criteria.
• Represents the company at industry conferences and events to promote innovations and strengthen market presence.
• Models a hands-on, proactive, and action-oriented mindset within the R&D team; directly contribute to project execution.
• Stays informed on emerging AI technologies and best practices to responsibly integrate AI tools into team workflows, enhance operational efficiency, and support data-informed decision-making while upholding ethical and compliance standards.
• Establishes and maintains processes that promote the responsible use of company-approved AI tools, enabling automation to enhance workflow efficiency, accuracy, and compliance with organizational standards.
• Provides leadership and support to employees on use of company approved AI tools in department workflows

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Special Education, Educational Technology, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in educational research, EdTech, curriculum design, educational leadership, and/or special education.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and manage AI-driven and digital solutions in education.
• Strong technical proficiency with data analysis, spreadsheets, project management tools, and collaboration platforms.
• Demonstrated success in hands-on project execution — from strategy to implementation.
• Deep knowledge of curriculum development, special education, and ABA principles.
• High adaptability and ability to quickly learn and apply new software and tools.
• Excellent collaboration skills across curriculum, technology, and sales teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate research into actionable insights.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Education, Special Education, Educational Technology, or a related field.
• Experience conducting applied research and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience presenting at national conferences and representing organizations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Organizational KSA’s

• Strong verbal and written business communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively
• Has a growth mindset, is curious, and interested in ongoing learning and development
• Adaptable and easily able to pivot as needed
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Self-motivated and proficient at working both independently and as part of a team
• Intermediate Microsoft office skills and competence in a digital environment
• Ability to streamline workflows by leveraging automation and AI tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy

Role KSA’s

• Expertise in educational research, data analysis, and program evaluation.
• Deep understanding of curriculum development, special education, and ABA.
• Technical proficiency with AI-enabled tools for solution design and testing.
• Skilled in grant writing, RFPs, and stakeholder presentations.
• Strong leadership of cross-functional teams and project delivery.
• Ability to translate research into actionable product guidance.

Travel

Frequency

Duration

Location

Up to 5% (infrequent)

X

Day Trips

X

In-State

X

6-20% (Occasional)

X

Overnight

X

Out-of-State

21-50% (Regular)

Week(s)

Out-of-Country

51-75% (Frequent)

Months

76%+ (Continuous)

Purpose of Travel: Minimal travel may be required for conferences, research presentations, and cross-team collaboration.

Work Environment

If remote, the job is performed in a home office at a workstation with a telephone, headset, and computer. Home offices should be secure, quiet, and distraction-free as possible. Your work area should be ergonomic, clean, safe, and free of obstructions and hazardous situations.

If hybrid, the job is also performed in a home office at a workstation with a telephone, headset, and computer. Home offices should be secure, quiet, and distraction-free as possible. Your work area should be ergonomic, clean, safe, and free of obstructions and hazardous situations.

Physical Demands (Capability Requirements)

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to enter text or data into a computer by means of a keyboard. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time. The employee is required to express or exchange ideas verbally to impart oral information and to convey detailed spoken instructions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include clarity of vision including reading small print and the use of computers. Specific hearing abilities required include the ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech in person and over the phone.

The perks of working with us

Not only are you helping do good in the world, but you will be joining a team of passionate and exceptional people within a casual environment. We offer a full suite of benefits including:

• Retirement plan options with company matching
• Generous paid time off, including paid holidays and office closure days
• Paid COVID-19 sick leave
• Health Insurance Coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts)
• Life and Disability Insurance options
• Employee Assistance Program
  

We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. STAR Autism Support (SAS) is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We celebrate the differences that make each person unique, both at work and in the communities we serve. Using evidence-based practices we strive every day to make positive educational outcomes accessible to all students and educators. This commitment is also foundational to our company culture. We acknowledge that research shows that Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and women are significantly less likely to apply for some positions, believing they must meet every qualification as described in the job description. At STAR Autism Support, we value representation, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We know that sometimes that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described in the job description.

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