The Senior Researcher, Education serves at the Assistant Project Director for NCFF's U.S. Department of Education, Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Mid-Phase grant. The EIR will scale and rigorously evaluate Nebraska Growing Readers Plus TeacherRead/FamilyRead (NGR+), which enhances the existing Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) book-distribution program with two evidence-based shared book reading components, FamilyRead (FR) and TeacherRead (TR).

This position focuses on the day-to-day logistics, data coordination, partner communication, and reporting needed to keep the three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) running smoothly across the pilot and three implementation cohorts. The Senior Researcher, Education works closely with the Principal Researcher, internal project staff, the independent external evaluator, and NDE to ensure data is collected, interpreted, and reported accurately and on time to support data-informed continuous improvement.

This position serves as NCFF's primary relationship and recruitment lead for the Nebraska Growing Readers Plus EIR Mid-Phase grant, working closely with the Vice President of Early Childhood Programs, the Senior Researcher, and the early childhood team to support successful grant implementation. Responsibilities include leading outreach and recruitment for eligible school districts, preschool sites, and classrooms across pilot sites and study cohorts, while serving as the day-to-day point of contact for participating LEAs, administrators, and teachers throughout the grant period. This position coordinates partner activities with study timelines, data collection windows, and project deliverables, and proactively surfaces field-level issues that affect implementation and data quality. This position also engages community collaboratives, NGR Community Book Gardens, early literacy networks, libraries, Head Start programs, and childcare providers to strengthen family and community engagement and connect families to NGR book distribution and Family Read home supports. This position actively partners with the early childhood team and internal Nebraska Children staff to advance early literacy across Nebraska and support the long-term sustainability and dissemination of NGR+ learning beyond the grant period.

The Senior Lead is part of a larger team, Advancement, which comprises Development and Communication resources.

The Senior Lead works in close partnership with the Senior Vice President of Advancement and colleagues across the Advancement team to foster a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and donor-centered engagement. This role is responsible for strengthening and sustaining meaningful donor relationships, ensuring effective and timely donor communications, and advancing the organization's long-term financial sustainability.
The Senior Lead will excel in relationship building, results, inclusive leadership and management, setting and managing priorities and commitment to NCFF’s mission and strategy.

This position supports the Senior VP in executing Advancement’s vision, oversight, and direction for key fundraising initiatives and donor engagement strategies.

This role provides essential support for the administration of contracts and grants, with a primary focus on reviewing partner invoices and claims ensuring that expenditures comply with contract terms, deliverables, and approved budgets. The position works closely with accounting, initiative teams, subcontractors, and community partners to ensure timely, accurate processing of claims. Additional responsibilities include assisting with contract preparation, maintaining accurate records, and monitoring deliverables to ensure accountability for funds distributed through Nebraska Children programs.