Research Associate I

$60,000 - $73,000/Yr

Public Policy Institute Of California - San Francisco, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

San Francisco, CA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Research Associate role is an extraordinary opportunity to join the Public Policy Institute of California, a unique organization that believes in the power of good information to build a brighter future. As a Research Associate, you will play a crucial role within the PK-12 Education research team to help deliver objective, non-partisan work that meets PPIC's high standards for excellence, relevance, and transparency. This team focuses on conducting research to inform long-term and real-time education policy issues in California. As a Research Associate I, you will provide foundational analytical support to PPIC research projects, under the close direction and with the guidance of at least one senior research colleague. You will gain exposure and an understanding of your policy area while also learning how to consistently meet PPIC's high standards for excellence in the quality of our research.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, manipulate, code, and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data with an emphasis on accuracy.
• Consult the research literature, perform searches, prepare bibliographies, abstract source materials, and stay informed on developments in the literature.
• Collect policy and budget information and stay informed on developments in the policy environment.
• Track progress and prioritize activities to meet key deadlines.
• Use and expand agility with and understanding of the analytical tools that support PPIC's work, and when appropriate share that expertise with the wider PPIC research community.
• Write primarily for internal use in teams and project work (e.g. memos, literature reviews), provide support for research publications (typically sections of technical appendices).
• Present research projects internally to colleagues.
• Engage in outreach and networking in collaboration with senior research colleagues.
• Support funding proposals and participate in institutional efforts, with guidance from senior colleagues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in public policy, economics, sociology, political science, or related field that includes training in quantitative and qualitative analysis, or equivalent experience.
• Experience conducting policy research and working with large data sets, preferably using at least one statistical software package along with outstanding analytical ability.
• Demonstrated interest in applied policy research in topics relevant to PPIC's research objectives.
• Knowledge of Stata, SAS, R or another statistical software program.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 and ability to learn other software programs.
• Attention to detail and accuracy; strong organization skills to manage complex tasks and verbal instructions, ability to prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple demands.
• Use clear and concise verbal communications with colleagues across the institute.
• Develop written communications with strong editing abilities and presentation skills.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and deliver high quality output in a timely manner.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with spatial data is desirable.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• 12 paid holidays
• 28 days of PTO annually (PTO balance increases with tenure)