Senior Research Associate (Higher Education & Workforce)

The Urban Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 116,706 - 203,111; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

The Urban Institute in Washington, DC is seeking a researcher to lead and co-lead various projects related to education and workforce development. The ideal candidate will have expertise in technology-enabled learning, project management, and a strong background in educational policy.

Responsibilities include developing research studies, managing teams, and analyzing data. The position offers a robust benefits package, including competitive salaries and retirement contributions. We welcome hybrid and remote applications, making this an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of related professional experience or equivalent education.
• Expertise in education and workforce research.
• Ability to lead and contribute to research agendas.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research studies on education and workforce.
• Manage project teams and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
• Oversee preparation of Institutional Review Board materials.

Skills

Data analysis

Project management

Research expertise

Communication skills

Education

Graduate degree in public policy, social work, education, economics, sociology, or related field

Tools

Stata

R

SAS

NVivo

Job description

About Urban Institute

The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work. From advancing well-being to fostering shared prosperity, leaders across sectors are working every day to create brighter futures for all people and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered evidence and solutions that drive meaningful change, and this remains our charge today. Our Mission To drive impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions. Our Values Collaboration, Fairness Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

The Opportunity

Urban is seeking a quantitative and/or qualitative researcher to work on a range of education and workforce projects, including technology-enabled learning, AI’s effects on learning and work, postsecondary student success, community college, and career pathways from K12. We are looking for individuals with a background in postsecondary education and/or workforce policy research and strong project management and analysis skills. The ideal candidate will bring subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas and a solid track record of studying a range of topics. This position will be expected to support ongoing work, contribute to business development to further build Urban’s higher education and workforce research portfolio, and over time, to serve as project director, principal investigator, or task lead for future studies. Note: We welcome hybrid and remote applicants.

What You’ll Do

• Conceptualize, develop, and lead or co‑lead research and evaluation studies related to education and workforce and provide intellectual leadership in project development.
• Play a key role in the development of proposals, responses to solicitations, and other meaningful business cultivation activities. This may include leading or co‑leading proposal efforts depending on their scale and complexity.
• Manage project teams, including assigning roles and responsibilities; managing project team performance; monitoring project progress, budget, and schedule; and designing and implementing strategies to successfully complete project tasks.
• Lead the development of data collection instruments, collection of qualitative data through site visits, interviews and focus groups, and administration of surveys and questionnaires.
• Design and lead analyses of qualitative and quantitative data using appropriate software (e.g., Stata, R, SAS, NVivo) and/or other accepted practices in data analysis, along with emerging AI tools.
• Oversee preparation of Institutional Review Board materials and ensure protection of human subjects.
• Lead the development, writing and publication of research reports, briefs, and presentations for external audiences.
• Represent Urban’s work to the public, policymakers, funders, and the press.
• Successfully develop and maintain partnerships and engage in collaboration with other Urban scholars (including across disciplines), practitioners, intermediaries, funders, philanthropies, and other research organizations.
• Directly supervise one or more early‑career staff.

Who You Are

• Possess a graduate degree in public policy, social work, education, economics, sociology, or related social science field as well as 5‑10 years of related professional experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Serve as an expert on education and workforce research and exhibit high‑level oral and written communication skills.
• Lived experience working in education or public agencies responsible for administering the sector is welcomed but not required.
• Have substantive content expertise in one or more of the following areas: technology‑enabled learning, career and technical education (K12 and/or postsecondary), workforce development, education and career pathways for youth, or similar.
• We are particularly interested in people with growing experience in the role of artificial intelligence in education and work.
• Have demonstrated ability in leading and contributing to research agendas and successful business development efforts.
• Experience with federal proposal writing is preferred but not required.
• Possess the relevant substantive knowledge, a solid understanding of various research methods and quantitative and/or qualitative analytic approaches, and the writing skills needed to perform the duties described above.
• Display strong management skills including management experience with complex projects, supervising staff, and managing project teams to achieve desired outcomes.
• Experience with federal contracts is preferred but not required.
• Respect diverse perspectives and value collaborating with colleagues to create a mutually respectful work environment.

What You’ll Experience

No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. We are committed to working in a manner defined by our mission and values. Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

Salary and Benefits

The target salary range for this position is Min $116,706 - Mid $159,883- Max $203,111. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal comparisons. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package.

Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well‑being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities.

If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case‑by‑case basis.