Research Associate

Summary

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international, nonprofit organization that works to mobilize social science knowledge for the public good. It advances interdisciplinary research in the social sciences and related disciplines through a wide variety of research programs, publications, workshops and conferences, fellowships and grants, and scholarly exchanges.

Measure of America (MOA) is an initiative of the SSRC dedicated to stimulating fact-based public debate about issues of well-being and access to opportunity in the United States. Through reports, interactive online tools, and evidence-based research, Measure of America breathes life into numbers, using data to identify areas of need, pinpoint levers for change, and track progress over time. We measure what matters for human well-being and develop tools for understanding opportunity and inequality in America. Our work informs decisions made across the United States, has guided the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private funding, is used as the foundation for community policy discussion and action, and shapes public debate in the highest-profile media outlets in the nation. More information about the program is available at www.measureofamerica.org.

Measure of America is seeking a Research Associate with strong quantitative social science skills and experience to join our high-impact team. The Research Associate designs and independently executes quantitative research that undergirds our reports and interactive tools; contributes qualitative research and project management; and upholds high standards of accuracy and detail.

This role is ideal for a quantitative researcher who wants to own end-to-end work that directly shapes public-facing research products. You’ll help build indicators and analyses that appear in MOA reports and interactive tools used by a broad audience of nonprofit leaders, municipalities, journalists, and policymakers—and you’ll work closely with a small, collaborative team where your work has clear visibility and impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead quantitative research on well-being, human flourishing, and access to opportunity (and related equity/public health/social and economic research topics)
• Own end-to-end analytic workstreams for high-visibility projects—from research design and data acquisition through cleaning, analysis, QA/reproducibility, and integration into reports and interactive tools
• Develop and communicate quantitative insights through clear data visualizations, written summaries, presentations, and web-based outputs (e.g., mapping tools/pages), in collaboration with a small research team and external technical and design contractor
• Acquire, compile, and clean datasets from diverse public and private sources (especially U.S. Census/ACS and public health authorities)
• Apply appropriate statistical methods to large datasets (e.g., descriptive analysis and hypothesis testing) and document methodological choices and tradeoffs
• Build and maintain indicators/indices along with documentation, data-quality validation to ensure transparent, replicable outputs
• Strengthen team-wide research quality and speed by developing shared infrastructure (templates/codebase/pipelines/standards), serving as a cross-project data and methods resource, and leading replication/QA reviews prior to publication
• Represent MOA externally through presentations to stakeholders at meetings and conferences
• Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Required education and experience:
  
  •   A master’s degree in a quantitative social science or related field (e.g., public health, sociology, economics, statistics, data science, or an interdisciplinary or related field with a strong quantitative component) AND
  •  At least three years of full-time quantitative social science or public health work experience
• Demonstrated experience compiling and analyzing quantitative data, including analyzing large public datasets
• Demonstrated project management skills, including coordinating timelines and stakeholders
• Natural attention to detail and drive for order that yields accuracy and reliability in the data and analysis you work with
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate quantitative findings for technical and non-technical audiences
• Collaborative, iterative working style with strong judgment and follow-through; able to take ownership while partnering effectively with colleagues and stakeholders to improve processes and deliverables
• Familiarity and facility with the principles of social scientific inquiry and reproducible research
• Required skills: proficiency with R; GIS; Excel; reproducible workflows
• Preferred skills: database management; design tools; version control; web development

Terms, Salary and Benefits  

Annual salary range: $80,000 - $90,000, depending upon experience and credentials. Grant-funded position with a one-year initial appointment; continuation is contingent on funding and performance. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, life, and gym reimbursement; annual tuition and/or student loan reimbursement; pension plan and tax savings programs; generous vacation and sick leave; and more.

Application Information    

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample or project that demonstrates your quantitative research abilities in the social sciences. In your cover letter, please include the answer to this exercise: Imagine you are presenting a data point from the Census Bureau on school enrollment in a rural area that has a high margin of error. How would you frame this for an external audience?  

The Social Science Research Council is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunity and to cultivating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. SSRC maintains a policy of nondiscrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. All aspects of employment with the Council are made on the basis of competence, skill, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, creed, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin/ancestry, ethnicity, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or domestic partner status, medical conditions (including pregnancy and/or genetic information) or physical or mental disability, citizenship status, or any other categories prohibited by law.