Research Analyst - Planning [Research & Evaluation]

United States Government - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Washington, DC

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is seeking a highly organized and collaborative team player to join our Research and Evaluation Division as a Research Analyst [Planning]. This position is crucial in providing support to the ARC Research and Evaluation team, particularly in assisting the Director of Research and Evaluation with a variety of strategic planning, research, and evaluation assignments that align with ARC's Strategic Investment Plan. The role involves contributing to ARC's 5-year strategic plan, collecting and analyzing data to monitor annual progress toward strategic plan goals and objectives, and managing various planning and research assignments. Additionally, the Research Analyst will assist with a variety of research, data, and evaluation projects that are essential for understanding socioeconomic conditions in Appalachia, analyzing economic development trends, and documenting and evaluating ARC's programmatic investments. The Research and Evaluation team conducts work both internally and externally through commissioned contracts. The information gathered and analyzed is utilized for various purposes, including ARC policy documents, workshops and events, press releases, research reports, evaluation studies, website content, and other venues. This position reports directly to the Division Director and plays a vital role in ensuring that ARC's strategic goals are met through effective research and evaluation practices.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Research and Evaluation with strategic planning, research, and evaluation assignments.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of ARC's 5-year strategic plan.
• Collect and analyze data to track annual progress toward strategic plan goals and objectives.
• Manage various planning and research assignments as needed.
• Conduct research and evaluation projects to describe socioeconomic conditions in Appalachia.
• Analyze economic development trends and understand geographic areas of need.
• Document and evaluate ARC's programmatic investments and their impacts.
• Prepare and present findings in various formats for technical and broad audiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in regional and community planning, economic development, geography, public administration, or related fields.
• Two to four years of relevant experience in research and evaluation or strategic planning.
• Background and experience with community or strategic planning principles and methods.
• Working knowledge of research methods, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and familiarity with statistics and social sciences.
• Excellent writing skills for both technical and broad audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent customer service communications.
• Ability to use a variety of software such as grants management applications, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in collaborating with teams on research and evaluation projects focused on strategic and community planning.
• Proven experience with public speaking and public presentations for wide audiences.
• Adept knowledge of data collection and research analysis, with the ability to summarize data into research findings.
• Solid demonstrated project management experience, including the ability to develop and follow project timelines and deliverables.
• Core competencies: accountability, adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical analysis.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment and bring an energetic and innovative approach to work.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with federal or state government agencies in a research capacity.
• Familiarity with economic development policies and practices in the Appalachian Region.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Commuting subsidy
• Professional development
• Teleworking options