Research Analyst

$63,190 - $66,518/Yr

Volunteers of America - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Los Angeles, CA

Social Assistance

About the position

As part of the Evaluation team at Volunteers of America Los Angeles (VOALA), the Research Analyst I will play a crucial role in program evaluation efforts, contributing from the planning stages through to the execution of evaluation and testing processes. This position is integral to the organization's commitment to continuous improvement in the services provided to vulnerable communities. The Evaluation Department focuses on assessing the effectiveness of various programs through consultative approaches and extensive data analysis. The Research Analyst will collaborate with stakeholders both within the organization and with external partners to implement comprehensive evaluation plans that ensure the quality and integrity of data collection and analysis. The Research Analyst I will be responsible for creating effective systems for gathering, quality assurance, and storage of project data, both electronically and in hard copy. This includes monitoring staff usage of these systems and providing regular feedback. The role requires thorough verification and debugging of code and software components, utilizing best practices to identify and resolve database errors. The analyst will also participate in interviews with end-users to analyze and document program requirements, ensuring that these requirements are accurately translated into proposed solutions through initial mockups. In addition to technical documentation, the Research Analyst will conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection through various methods such as surveys, interviews, and observation protocols. The position involves managing, organizing, and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data using tools like SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, and Tableau. The analyst will prepare written and visual summaries of data to effectively convey results to stakeholders, including program evaluation reports, annual reports, dashboards, and other evaluation-related documents. Staying updated on best practices for data visualization is also a key aspect of this role. The Research Analyst I will also be tasked with performing special research projects as directed by the Evaluation Department.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization and with external partners to implement evaluation plans.
• Create effective systems for gathering, quality assurance, and storage of all project data.
• Monitor and provide regular feedback on staff use of data systems.
• Thoroughly verify and debug code and software components using best practices.
• Assist in identifying causes of database errors and provide resolutions.
• Participate in interviews with end-users to analyze and document program requirements.
• Create initial mockups to ensure requirements are accurately translated into proposed solutions.
• Prepare user manuals, flow charts, training materials, and various technical documents.
• Provide technical assistance and training to end-users.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection, including surveys and interviews.
• Manage, organize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data using various tools.
• Prepare written and visual summaries of data to convey results to stakeholders.
• Keep up to date on best practices for data visualization.
• Perform special research projects as directed.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social sciences, public health, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in program evaluation, data management, or training on data management.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in program evaluation and/or data management in a community-based organization.

Nice-to-haves

• PhD preferred.
• Experience in internal evaluation, mixed methods evaluation, community-based participatory research, data collection techniques, and data analysis.
• Experience working in underserved communities.
• Knowledge of evaluation theory.
• Knowledge of statistical software such as SPSS, R, Atlas TI.
• Training on making data accessible to all stakeholders.