The Application Process

Upcoming Deadlines:

Round I - closed

Round II - closed

Round III: 

1. Application Opens: February 16, 2024

2. Application Deadline: Monday, May 6, 2024, 9:00am ET

3. Application Review Period: May 6-9, 2024

4. Analytic Task 1: May 10-15, 2024

5. Virtual Screening Interviews: May 29 - June 4, 2024

6. Analytic Task 2: June 5-12, 2024

7. Virtual Selection Day Interviews: June 17-18, 2024

8. Decision Notification: June 25, 2024

9. Partner Agency Interviews: June-July, 2024

All dates and deadlines are subject to change.

Following each application deadline, we will invite successful candidates to move through the selection process. This process includes a technical analytic assignment, a virtual screening interview, and a virtual interview day. Candidates who are selected from the virtual interview day will interview remotely or on-site at an SDP partner organization. After receiving and accepting an offer from a placement, fellows are welcomed to the fellowship.

Please follow the link to complete the online application: https://sdp.smapply.io/prog/c16_fellowapp/

New to Cohort 16 is our first ever Early Education Working Group, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this working group, 8-10 fellows at state and/or district early education partner agencies will collaborate to answer common questions (from Child Trend's STEP Forward with Data Framework) facing early education, participate in additional workshops and training, and contribute to a public-facing analytic tool.

Fellows are paid an annual salary of $75,000-90,000 USD plus appropriate benefits by their placement organization. Salary is commensurate with experience and must be negotiated with the host organization. The Fellowship lasts two years (Summer/Fall 2024 through Summer 2026) with the possibility for longer-term employment. Exact salaries, benefits, hybrid work arrangements, etc. differ and must be negotiated with the host organization.

The Strategic Data Project seeks candidates who possess: 

• a strong background in applied quantitative analysis (beyond descriptive analysis), familiarity with working with large datasets within education, and ability to work with limited oversight  
• a demonstrated passion for improving outcomes for all students, familiarity with US domestic education policy and current issues 
• a track record of collaboration, humility, and ability to guide change
• a proven ability to communicate complex information and analytic findings to various audiences in verbal, written, and visual formats
• evidence of an emerging leadership skill set and a commitment to continuous learning
• an advanced degree (Master’s level or higher) completed by summer 2024 
• at least four years of relevant full-time work experience by summer 2024 (waived for those with a PhD) 
• Valid U.S. work authorization; fellows become employees of our partner organizations and they do not provide visa sponsorship to their fellows. Candidates with CPT/OPT/EAD status are encouraged to email us at sdprecruitment@gse.harvard.edu to confirm your eligibility.

SDP Placed Fellows become full-time employees of their placement organizations where they receive a salary between $75-90k and appropriate benefits. Placement organizations may have additional hiring requirements, including drug testing, criminal record and background checks, vaccination policies, residency requirements, etc. 

We do not take geographic availability into account during the selection process, but candidates are encouraged to be flexible and willing to relocate to the placement that is the best skill and interest match for them. Candidates with flexible relocation available will have the best chances of a successful placement match - about 85% of fellows relocate for placements.

See full and updated job description here

Join a powerful, growing community of over 500 forward-thinking data advocates and leaders across more than 38 states and 240+ education organizations. The Strategic Data Project (SDP) is an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. The SDP Fellowship program helps school system leaders use data and evidence in strategic decision-making to improve public education. By placing fellows in school systems and education organizations across the United States, SDP provides a unique entry point for passionate quantitative researchers and data strategists who want to make a difference.  

The SDP Fellowship is a unique opportunity, combining full-time employment as an education data analyst/researcher at an SDP-approved partner organization (a school district, state education agency, postsecondary system, non-profit, etc.) and two-years of intensive in-person and virtual professional development, training, and mentorship to build your toolkit as an education data leader. As a fellow, you and your host agency will develop clear priorities and plans for using data and build organizational willingness to use data for decision-making. Over the course of two years, fellows participate in a series of tailored workshops, both virtual and in person, to develop their measurement, leadership, communication and education policy skills. Training is delivered by Harvard-affiliated researchers and practitioners and fellows are supported by faculty advisors, fellowship alumni mentors, and their colleagues across the SDP network. 

Learn more about past fellows’ work by visiting the SDP blog. In the past, fellows have tackled strategic data projects in one of the following focus areas: 

• program evaluation 
• data visualization 
• early warning indicator systems 
• data management governance 
• survey design and analysis 
• data dashboards 
• student pathways and postsecondary success 
• educator quality, pipeline, and training

and more!

• Two-years of full-time employment with annual salary + benefits, with potential for continued employment
• Mission-driven analytic work, tackling high-impact challenges in the education sector
• Network of talented life-long colleagues and peers in the education data field
• Ongoing professional development and training
• In-person and virtual workshops, learning modules, and conferences (travel + lodging included)
• Active network-wide slack channel
• Word class mentorship from faculty (Harvard + other institutions)and SDP fellowship alumni
• Global alumni network
• Pathways to leadership