Pew Charitable Trusts
Washington, DC
Senior Associate, Research, Data
as a Strategic Asset
For more
information and to apply - senior associate research
Overview:
The Pew Charitable
Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging
problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy,
inform the public and invigorate civic life.
We are an
independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual
trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun
Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew.
Project Overview:
Pew’s new Data as a
Strategic Asset project is assessing administrative data use across the 50
states, taking an in-depth look at whether and how effectively states are
leveraging data for decision making. Because the field is so new, there is no
comprehensive source of information about what states are trying; whether they
face common challenges; and the effectiveness of different approaches. This
18-month research project will provide policy makers with a better
understanding of how states across the country are using data to inform policy
and budget decisions and make operations more efficient.
Position Overview:
The Senior
Associate will help conceptualize, design and implement a 50-state assessment
on the ways states are using data to inform policy and budgeting and to improve
organizational effectiveness. The Senior Associate will provide strategic
support to all aspects of the project’s research, with a particular focus on
designing the research methodology and leading the team’s data collection and analysis
efforts. The Senior Associate will co-author research papers, critically review
project materials, work collaboratively with experts in the field, and present
research findings in appropriate venues.
The Senior
Associate will be based in Pew's Washington, DC office and will report to the
Research Manager. It is expected that this position is for a term period
through March 31, 2017, with the possibility of renewal pending the success of
the program, funding sources and board decisions on continued support.
Responsibilities:
- Under direction of the
initiative’s senior staff, design and implement a 50-state assessment on
states’ use of administrative data to inform policymaking, budgeting and
operational effectiveness.
- Lead the team’s data
collection and organization efforts, and analyze legislation, rules,
policies, and other documents related to states’ use of administrative
data.
- Conduct and document
in-depth interviews with state officials.
- Translate qualitative
datasets into quantitative insight.
- Synthesize research to
identify trends, best practices, opportunities, challenges, and compelling
examples.
- Review and fact-check
materials produced by contractors and other staff; help coordinate
internal and external quality control processes.
- Coauthor research reports
and issue briefs for the project.
- Maintain knowledge of policy
issues relevant to Big Data.
- Assist in the management of
the project's contracts.
- Conduct data-driven research
and outreach to identify lines of inquiry. Help make strategic judgements
about when to pursue further research and when to move on to a different
exploration.
- Build and maintain
productive working relationships with internal colleagues and external
stakeholders – including state officials, state policy organizations,
researchers, and leading organizations engaged in business intelligence
and data analytics.
- Represent the project at
conferences, meetings, and other events, including preparing materials for
distribution and making presentations, as needed, to internal and external
audiences.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree required;
related graduate degree desirable.
- A minimum of five years of
relevant professional experience in policy research and analysis.
- Excellent applied research
and analytical skills, including an ability to synthesize information,
identify themes, and summarize large amounts of information effectively
and clearly.
- Experience working with
qualitative data.
- Experience working with
database software and spreadsheets.
- Ability to write quickly, clearly
and succinctly as well as to revise and edit based on input from a range
of reviewers.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
Able to develop and manage productive and collaborative relationships with
external and internal stakeholders; and approach issues with a
nonpartisan, objective mindset.
- Ability to work
independently with limited supervision. Flexible and able to routinely
juggle multiple competing priorities and work in teams to meet project
goals.
- Attention to detail,
including exacting standards to maintain accuracy in all work products.
- Experience participating in
or leading multi-disciplinary teams and analyzing policies and practices
from several disciplines.
- Knowledge of current trends
and issues in data analytics and/or evidence-based policymaking is
preferred.
Compensation:
We offer a
competitive salary and excellent benefits package.