Senior Researcher, Employment and Economic Opportunity

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee daily project operations in capacities such as principal investigator, project director, or task lead.

• Lead collaborative project teams by establishing timelines, coordinating staff roles, and ensuring deliverables are met on schedule, within budget, and to a high standard.

• Identify research challenges and design studies to address significant questions in applied research settings.

• Utilize subject-matter expertise to design and implement pertinent, timely, and impactful research initiatives.

• Develop study frameworks that align research inquiries, methodologies, and analysis strategies.

• Lead and contribute to research proposals for federal agencies, state organizations, foundations, and other clients.

• Create and implement innovative solutions to practical challenges in applied research.

• Direct data collection and analysis activities.

• Oversee the development and planning of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection instruments, such as interview protocols, focus group guides, and surveys.

• Supervise field-based data collection processes, including interviews, observations, focus groups, and document reviews.

• Conduct or supervise data analysis utilizing appropriate tools and methods for various data types.

• Communicate study progress and outcomes clearly and effectively.

• Prepare reports, briefs, visualizations, and other materials that interpret and present research results for clients and stakeholders.

• Represent the organization professionally in all client engagements.

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, partners, and stakeholders.

• Cultivate and maintain positive, collaborative working relationships.

• Manage client and stakeholder engagements with professionalism and an awareness of the broader policy and practice environment.

• Contribute thoughtfully and creatively to project teams.

⛳️ Requirements

• PhD in a related subject area (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Policy, or a related field) with 3+ years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.

• Strong understanding of implementation science.

• Ability to transform large concepts into actionable work plans and timelines.

• Experience in contract research and/or evaluation organizations.

• Proficiency in data collection methodologies (including but not limited to structured interviews, observations, and survey research) and analysis activities (including experience with quantitative and/or qualitative analytic software packages such as STATA, R, EXCEL, NViVO, and Access).

• Experience managing project and/or task teams in research and evaluation projects.

• Proven track record in building and maintaining client and partner relationships.

• Experience in business development (e.g., grant writing and proposal submission).

🏝️ Benefits

• AIR’s Total Rewards Program designed to offer competitive compensation to staff.

• Encouragement for staff to achieve our critical mission.