Project Director, AI Century Study

AIR is seeking a Project Director to provide strategic, intellectual, and operational leadership for the organization’s flagship AI Century Study . The AI Century Study is a 100-year national research effort to understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping human development and society. Unlike short-term or one-time studies, the AI Century Study will return to participating families at regular intervals for repeated data collection, allowing researchers to observe how AI-related experiences and outcomes evolve across key life stages. This long-term design will help identify patterns that are difficult to detect in snapshots—and clarify how impacts differ by context, including varying access to technology and resources. The ideal candidate will: bring a strong track record leading complex, multi-year research initiatives; have demonstrated results with cultivating cross-sector partnerships that generate rigorous, accessible, longitudinal evidence; and hold intellectual curiosity for the main question driving the study AIR is seeking a Project Director to provide strategic, intellectual, and operational leadership for the organization’s flagship (“ How does the age of AI change the human condition? ”). The Project Director will help shape the vision and lead the execution and evolution of the AI Century Study, serving as both scientific steward and strategic leader. This role is responsible for guiding interdisciplinary teams, managing complex partnerships, and ensuring the study produces high-quality evidence that informs policy, practice, and public understanding of AI’s long-term impacts. The Project Director will work closely with AIR senior leadership, researchers across disciplines, external collaborators, and funders, and will represent the study publicly as a thought leader in AI and education research. At AIR, we create impact through evidence that improves lives and systems. The AI Century Study is a cornerstone of AIR’s forward-looking research agenda, addressing urgent questions about how AI is reshaping human development and society. The Project Director ensures that this work is human-centered; scientifically rigorous and methodologically innovative; credible, transparent, and policy-relevant; and designed for learning over time, not just one-off findings. This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations . This does not include U.S. territories. About AIR: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. Mission-focused and evidence-driven, AIR applies rigorous research and technical expertise to close gaps in opportunity and access, improving lives across communities and systems. Responsibilities: The responsibilities for the position include: Strategic and Scientific Leadership Contribute to and support the refinement of the strategic vision for the AI Century Study, ensuring alignment with AIR’s mission. Provide intellectual leadership on research questions, study design, and the evolution of the study over time. Integrate qualitative, quantitative, longitudinal, and design-informed research methods. Guide synthesis of findings into clear, compelling insights for diverse technical and non-technical audiences. Research Execution and Quality Assurance Lead the full research lifecycle, including data collection, governance, ethics, privacy, and security across all study components. Ensure high standards for research quality, transparency, and reproducibility. Apply adaptive learning, reflection, and iterative improvement as the study evolves. Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement Develop strategic relationships with funders, academic collabor ... (truncated, view full listing at source)