Research Associate, Full-Time, Term - Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center

The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center aims to be the go-to resource for actionable evidence for state policy leaders as they develop and implement the most effective policies that ensure children get off to a strong start and thrive. Through original and rigorous research and analysis, the Research and Evaluation team at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center builds the evidence base of the most effective policies and strategies for young children and their families, with a focus on implementation factors and equity. We seek an energetic and experienced person to provide support for multiple policy-focused research studies and evaluations to build the evidence base for effective prenatal-to-3 policies. 

General Notes:

This position reports functionally and administratively to the Research Manager. Applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment to continue to build a strong and equitable prenatal-to-3 system of care. Candidates must be local to the Nashville area. Visa sponsorship is unavailable for this position. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule that includes both remote and in-office work.

 This position is a term appointment beginning May 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026.

 

Writing Exercise Requirement:

As part of the selection process, competitive candidates will be asked to complete a 2-hour writing exercise. This test will assess your ability to think critically and write clearly and concisely about statistics and policy issues relevant to our work. To complete the exercise, candidates will need access to a computer with word processing software and the Internet.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the position include:

Project management and leadership:

• Support the development of project plans and timelines for successfully completing research projects
• Routinely document project goals, deliverables, and timelines 
• Ensure project deliverables are completed on time, through an equity lens, and to the highest quality possible
• Demonstrate ownership of project timelines, analysis, and all work products
• Communicate and work collaboratively with other staff to ensure organizational goals are met

Research, analysis, writing, and client/stakeholder engagement: 

• Contribute to study design and development of evaluation plans 
• Synthesize and communicate relevant background research for a research area
• Develop survey and focus group instruments with substantial input and feedback from supervisor
• Represent the Center and engage with study participants on the phone and in person for recruitment, information sharing, and data collection. 
• Observe focus groups, take notes, and synthesize findings
• Execute survey data collection processes and testing, contribute to the development of the analytic plan and timeline for project analysis(es) 
• Demonstrate an understanding of the “shape” of data and how datasets can be used to answer research questions
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct simple analyses (e.g. cross tabs, counts, means, tests, etc.) in Stata to support the research projects
• Demonstrate excellence and clarity in writing project reports, policy briefs, and memos 
• Prepare presentations for clients that you or supervisor will deliver

 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with major coursework in the field of assignment, plus two years of related experience or Bachelor’s degree with four years of experience in the field of assignment is required; Additional related experience may substitute for required education
• Experience in program evaluation, policy research, research management, analytic methods used for evaluation, and/or writing products for diverse policy audiences 
• Excellent project management skills, strong critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities, tenacity about details and organization
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex concepts clearly and concisely; 
• Able to come up to speed on new topics quickly, multi-task effectively, and produce high-quality work under time constraints; flexible and able to adapt to changing timelines and circumstances when needed
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively and effectively with others in a team environment
• Demonstrated understanding and support for key concepts in diversity, equity, a