Research Assistant- Workforce (Income and Benefits Policy)
Who we are:
At the nonprofit Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. Our employees are empowered to open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions. We encourage intellectual honesty, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect, and our analysis elevates the debate, wherever it takes place.
Urban’s greatest asset is our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community. Our employees drive Urban’s mission through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, effective communication, results-orientation, and relationship cultivation. Our success depends on engaging individuals who possess and value these attributes.
The Income and Benefits Policy Center (IBP) analyzes family economic well-being from childhood through retirement. The workforce team in IBP undertakes research on a wide range of issues, including education and training programs and policies; employers, workplaces and the labor market; and workforce development systems and policies. Our goal is to improve policy and practice at the federal, state, and local levels, with a focus on building a skilled workforce that earns sustainable wages. We do this through rigorous evaluations of programs using quantitative and qualitative methods; analysis of data, policies and issues; and the development of frameworks and other tools for the field.
How you’ll contribute:
The IBP Center is looking for a research assistant to work with project teams as part of Urban’s Building America’s Workforce initiative, which focuses on workforce development, post-secondary education, and other labor policy issues. Subjects of those ongoing projects include employer engagement in workforce programs, career pathways, community college programs, workforce program supportive services, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and youth career development.
Responsibilities:
- Work on projects which include a variety of research and analytic assignments related to workforce development and post-secondary education programs.
- Perform qualitative data collection, quantitative data analysis, managing data in a Management Information System (MIS), literature reviews, and contributing to proposal and project development.
- Balance work simultaneously on multiple projects, and communicate effectively with both peers and senior researchers.
- Work closely with project teams and often contribute to research reports and briefs; blogs; briefings; and peer-reviewed publications.
- Summarize findings and present data effectively in multiple formats.
What you’ll bring:
The successful candidate will:
- Possess the knowledge and skills usually associated with a bachelor's degree in economics, public policy, mathematics, statistics, sociology, political science, or related social science fields (preferred).
- Be detail-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to prioritize workload, and to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Communicate effectively with both peers and senior researchers to help manage the execution and timelines for multiple projects.
- Exhibit excellent research/analysis skills and critical thinking.
- Have experience performing research that employs the kinds of skills needed for the responsibilities listed above; experience in a similar setting as well as interest in workforce and labor market policy issues are a plus (preferred).
- Demonstrate prior experience that required the kinds of complex communication, people, and time management skills needed to be successful.
- Use a statistical software, such as SAS, R, or Stata (preferred), or be willing to learn.
- Display the initiative to suggest improvements or innovations on assigned tasks.
- Express a willingness to adapt to changes in work assignments, deadlines, and team environment.
What you’ll experience:
Working in the nation’s capital, the epicenter of public policy among a network of policy experts, you can expect to have an impact on policy areas you care about and work with great colleagues who are smart, mission-driven, and collaborative. You will be able to participate in exciting projects and work with your colleagues in our new state-of-the-art office. Urban employees are encouraged and supported to fulfill their potential through meaningful work that matters, and we enjoy a welcoming workplace free from harassment, discrimination and intolerance.
In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage, competitive paid time off allowance, eligibility to participate in a generous retirement savings plan, and reimbursable commuting expense program.
The Urban Institute is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected status under applicable law.
The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Women/Disabilities/Veterans.