2023-14: Technical Research Analyst

MDRC is seeking a Technical Research Analyst with experience with public policy research, data management, and quantitative analysis to join its Postsecondary Education policy group. MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that uses experimental studies and technical assistance projects to build and use knowledge in the social and education policy fields. The Postsecondary Education policy area at MDRC focuses on programs designed to help students with low incomes succeed in community colleges. Our projects include multisite random assignment trials and technical assistance efforts involving thousands of college students across the country, and draw upon behavioral science, predictive modeling, and other advanced quantitative techniques. Technical Research Analysts in the Postsecondary Education (PSE) group have the opportunity to work as a part of multidisciplinary teams on current social policy issues in a dynamic and challenging environment, alongside leading public policy experts.

Responsibilities:

The Technical Research Analyst will assist the PSE Senior Data Manager in setting data management and processing practices for PSE’s portfolio of work, including identifying the right balance between realizing cross-project efficiencies vs. allowing flexibility for the pursuit of project-specific objectives. The role will also be heavily involved with quantitative analysis and will contribute broadly to the development, production, and dissemination of MDRC’s community college work. Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the collection, processing, and analysis of a variety of data sets, including project management responsibilities and supervising junior staff members
• Helping to develop and maintain best practices and tools for effective, efficient, and accurate data work across PSE’s portfolio
• Active involvement in various stages of research and technical assistance projects, from proposals to project design to analysis and reporting
• Writing and reviewing code to clean and analyze data; running statistical models and performing data analysis to identify the impacts of social programs
• Contributing to analytical sections of reports and proposals
• Developing management information systems (MIS) and providing support for system users
• Opportunities to present findings to practitioner, researcher, and policymaker audiences
• Possible travel to visit program sites in the field

Qualifications:

We are looking for candidates with strong academic backgrounds and work experience in quantitative research and in analyzing and managing data (including domains such as data engineering, information architecture, and data quality control). The ideal candidate will be a passionate process-minded problem solver ? someone who relishes the intricacies of writing code to clean and manage difficult data and who enjoys thinking about how to establish processes that are simultaneously efficient and flexible. This role is a fit for someone who loves data and thrives on engaging in the intellectual puzzle of solving data problems. A strong candidate will have:

• A master’s degree in economics, public policy, statistics, mathematics, or social science, or a bachelor’s degree plus equivalent work experience
• A demonstrated interest in policy research
• Intermediate or advanced experience with R
• Experience with Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel)
• Data management experience
• Experience with CRM software (for example, Microsoft or Salesforce)
• Strong communication and writing skills
• Excellent attention to detail

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit under Social Policy Worker United (SPWU) – Local 57 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Timing: Please see “What to expect from MDRC’s recruitment process” for more information.

Location: The hybrid position can be based in either MDRC’s New York City, Oakland, Washington DC or Los Angeles office.

Compensation and benefits: The salary offered is $74K – $80K based on professional experience. Comprehensive benefits and relocation assistance offered. Some on-the-job training will be provided. Please see “What to expect from MDRC’s recruitment process” for more information.

Instructions: When submitting your application, please include:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Programming sample

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please note that the health and safety of our employees and candidates is very important to us and that interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing.

MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of his, her, or their race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin (including physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics), marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group, tribal affiliation, membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group, name that is associated with a national origin group, accent, language use, immigration status, citizenship, possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States, and other definitions under California or other states’ laws, ancestry, creed, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, citizenship, veteran and/or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, gender transitioning or perceived gender transitioning, marital status or civil partnership/union status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected medical leaves (requesting or being approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act) or similar state family medical leave laws, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC’s employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.

MDRC’s dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work.