2023-18 : Technical Research Associate

MDRC is currently seeking a Technical Research Associate to join our K-12 Education policy area, which conducts rigorous research on some of the most critical issues in public education. Our researchers are at the top of the field and work on multiple large-scale projects for a variety of funders, including the U.S. Department of Education, the New York City Department of Education, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, among many other private and public organizations seeking to build evidence and knowledge about important educational issues. We conduct many of our evaluations in large school districts, such as New York City, Baltimore City, Los Angeles Unified, and Long Beach Unified. Our work focuses on improving the educational opportunities and experiences of low-income populations by addressing such issues as improving high school graduation, closing racial and economic achievement gaps, and using behavioral nudges to improve educational outcomes. The Technical Research Associate will have the opportunity to work on current social policy issues related to K-12 education in a dynamic and challenging environment, under the guidance and supervision of leading program evaluation and public policy researchers.

MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families, and children with low incomes. We are committed to finding solutions to some of the most difficult social problems facing the nation—from reducing poverty and bolstering economic mobility to improving public education and college graduation rates. We design promising new interventions, evaluate existing programs using the highest research standards, and provide technical assistance to build better programs and deliver effective interventions at scale.

Responsibilities : Responsibilities of this position include :

• Manage the quantitative aspects of MDRC projects, including the acquisition, processing, and analysis of a wide range of data.
• Supervise the work of junior technical staff as well as fostering their professional development.
• Work with project leadership to establish data requirements for new research projects.
• Communicate with school districts and other external stakeholders to negotiate data access and sharing agreements.
• Ensure the secure handling and disposition of sensitive data in accordance with MDRC policies.
• Contribute to the continuous refinement of existing best practices, protocols, and tools (e.g., data processing workflows, code template, custom functions) for working with student data.

Qualifications : We are looking for candidates with strong academic backgrounds and work experience in quantitative research, data management, or both. The ideal candidate will be someone who pairs strong interpersonal skills with deep knowledge and enthusiasm for all aspects of leveraging data for policy research—from data processing and analysis to data confidentiality and security considerations, to building best practices that enable cross-project efficiencies and learning. A strong candidate will have :

Preferred qualifications :

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit under Social Policy Worker United (SPWU) – Local 57 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Compensation and benefits : Salary range is $85K - $120K and will be commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits and relocation assistance offered. Some on-the-job training will be provided.

Location : The position is ideally based in MDRC's New York City, Los Angeles, or Washington, DC, offices. MDRC is also open to remote work.

Instructions : When submitting your application, please include :

Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please note that the health and safety of our employees and candidates is very important to us and that interviews (when scheduled) will be conducted via video conferencing. As a Federally Contracted employer, MDRC is in full compliance with all applicable regulations including, but not limited to, recent changes that require vaccination of employees of federal contractors. All employees are required to be fully vaccinated with one of the available COVID-19 vaccinations, unless they have sought and received an exemption from this policy due to a disability or other medical condition, or because of a sincerely held religious belief. Accommodations are granted in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Applicants must submit proof of vaccination or request and submit an applicable request for accommodation during the offer stage.

MDRC is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. No qualified applicant, employee, intern, volunteer, or apprenticeship trainee will be discriminated against on the basis of his, her, or their race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin (including physical, cultural or linguistic characteristics), marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group, tribal affiliation, membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group, name that is associated with a national origin group, accent, language use, immigration status, citizenship, possession of a driver's license issued to persons unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States, and other definitions under California or other states' laws, ancestry, creed, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, citizenship, veteran and / or military status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, gender transitioning or perceived gender transitioning, marital status or civil partnership / union status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, protected medical leaves (requesting or being approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act) or similar state family medical leave laws, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law. Legal work authorization is required. To request a reasonable accommodation during any stage of MDRC's employment process due to a disability, please contact HRQuestions@mdrc.org.

MDRC's dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements. We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and engaged in their work.

About the company

MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research organization based in New York City and Oakland, CA.

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