2023-34: Resource Manager (Management and Strategy)

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of people with low incomes, being part of a diverse and multidisciplinary staff, and having hands-on involvement in building better programs, then consider an opportunity with MDRC to be on the cutting edge of social research methodology.

MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research organization that works to find solutions to some of the most difficult problems facing the nation — from reducing poverty and bolstering economic self-sufficiency to improving public education and college graduation rates. We design promising new interventions, evaluate existing programs using the highest research standards, and provide technical assistance to build better programs and deliver effective interventions at scale.

Candidates with immediate availability are highly encouraged to apply. As a resource manager, you will have the opportunity to work as part of multidisciplinary teams in a dynamic and challenging environment.

Responsibilities:

Resource managers focus on management and organizational tasks related to specific projects in support of the organization’s substantive research and evaluation work. At MDRC, resource managers coordinate project activities and provide logistical, operational, and strategic management support to our research project teams. Resource managers also conduct business analyses and identify and design project and process improvements. The resource manager will report directly to the policy area resource manager and project directors and will have a range of responsibilities, including:

Project Resource Management

• Monitor and/or update project work plans, staffing levels of effort, budgets, and expenditures across several projects. (The total number of assigned projects will vary depending on policy area needs.)
• Work with project directors and task leads to develop new project work plans, staffing levels of effort, and modification budgets.
• Identify project risks and elevate issue resolution to leadership as needed.
• Collaborate with staff from various departments including fiscal and legal.

Policy Area Management

• Support day-to-day management of the policy area and projects, including supporting efforts to monitor and coordinate policy area staffing needs and deployment strategies.
• Participate in strategic and management planning meetings and reviews.
• Coordinate or contribute to project and policy area status reports for senior leadership.
• Collaborate with staff from various departments, including development and strategy.
• Participate in the development, testing, and implementation of project management tools and standards.

Proposal Development

• Supervise, coordinate, and assist with development of proposals for new projects and funding.
• Work with proposal team leads to develop proposal budgets, including developing detailed work plans and budget assumptions.

Other Activities

• Depending on workload and policy area demands, may serve as a member of project team to support site development, data collection, or analyses.

Qualifications:

• Three to five years of project management experience required, preferably related to grants management, government contracting, or research.
• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, public administration, public policy, social science, or a related field. Master’s degree in public policy or nonprofit management or similar field preferred.
• Understanding of or direct experience working on research and program evaluation projects a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in project management, budget and work plan development, and/or management process and systems improvements and innovations.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (especially Excel).

The following policy area has an in our New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles or Oakland, California locations:

• Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment. Identify the most effective ways to improve employment outcomes for disadvantaged young people and other individuals facing barriers to employment, including people with substance use disorders and mental health conditions as well as former prisoners. Study criminal justice reforms that aim to reduce the use of incarceration, save money for taxpayers, and maintain public safety.

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

Compensation and benefits: Salary range is $73K - $80K and will be commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits and relocation assistance offered. Some on-the-job training will be provided

Location: The position can be based in either of MDRC’s New York City, Oakland or Los Angeles California offices; we are also open to remote work.

Instructions: When submitting your application, please include:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Writing 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.