Research Analyst, Community Schools

University of California - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Los Angeles, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The Research Analyst position at the Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) at UCLA's School of Education and Information Studies is a pivotal role focused on advancing educational equity and access. The incumbent will be responsible for developing, managing, and executing research projects that address disparities in school discipline, achievement, and graduation rates, particularly within California but also extending to other states and federal programs. This role requires a deep engagement with both quantitative and qualitative data to analyze patterns of disparities in education and access to resources, ensuring that the research aligns with the goals of the CTS and its partners. The Research Analyst will collaborate closely with the Project Director, Executive Director, and Co-Faculty Directors to establish a comprehensive research agenda. This includes designing studies, managing data collection and analysis, and contributing to the dissemination of findings through reports and public presentations. The position also involves supporting the Los Angeles County Office of Education's Regional Technical Assistance and Coaching-Community Schools research portfolio, which encompasses coordinating bi-weekly meetings, project reporting, and developing evaluation metrics to measure progress. In addition to research responsibilities, the Research Analyst will play a key role in strategy development for policy change initiatives in California, working alongside various stakeholders including school districts, universities, and community organizations. The position is based at UCLA and may require travel for fieldwork and conferences, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability in managing multiple assignments and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and execute research projects related to educational equity and access issues.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to examine disparities in education, discipline, and access to resources.
• Collaborate with project leadership to establish research agendas and study designs.
• Participate in report writing and dissemination of research findings.
• Support strategy development for policy change initiatives in California.
• Manage bi-weekly meetings for research teams and project reporting to partners.
• Co-develop timelines, evaluation metrics, and project management benchmarks.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in research related to K-12 education policy, school discipline, and inequity in education.
• Knowledge of K-12 education policy at state and federal levels, particularly regarding school discipline.
• Ability to accept delegated work and follow through to completion.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel for research purposes as required.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-level presentations for various stakeholders.
• Experience in writing grant proposals for funding (preferred).
• Advanced degree in education, sociology, urban planning, public policy, statistics, law, economics, or a related field (preferred).
• Strong background in quantitative research methods and analysis.
• Proficiency in using quantitative statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata).
• Experience in writing education research summaries and policy reports.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience training local advocates to use data in presentations and problem-solving activities.
• Experience writing grant proposals for extramural funding.
• Master's or PhD in a related area.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package starting on day one.
• Flexible work hours.
• Professional development opportunities.