Research Assistant (Tax and Income Supports)

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:

The Tax and Income Supports Division seeks a research assistant ( Step 1/ Research track) with a strong interest in social safety net programs to join the Income, Benefits, and Poverty practice area.  The research assistant will contribute to research on social safety net programs and policies.

The Income and Benefits Policy at the Urban Institute analyzes family economic well-being from childhood through retirement and undertakes research on a wide range of issues.  The Income, Benefits, and Poverty practice area carries out research on a range of topics, including the social safety net, social insurance, taxes, and child support.  The team’s research includes projects that use microsimulation modeling to analyze the effects of different programs and policy alternatives, projects that track state policies for select safety net programs, and projects using program administrative data, survey data, and other methods.  The team works with federal and state agencies as well as non-profits and philanthropies, and has a strong reputation for fact-based, non-partisan research.

What You’ll Do:

• Collect and analyze state policies for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Policies Database project and the Welfare Rules Database project.

• Assist with additional research projects, such as administrative data analysis, microsimulation modeling, or qualitative interviews.

• Summarize findings and present data effectively in multiple formats.

• Work closely with senior researchers to contribute to research papers.

Who You Are:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in a field related to social science (e.g. public policy, political science, sociology, or economics).

• Preferably, have prior research experience through school coursework or internships. 

• Have a strong interest in CCDF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and other social safety net programs.

• Be interested in a position that requires highly-detailed work and involves understanding and conveying the detailed policy rules of benefit programs, based on government documents and communication with agency officials.

• Be detailed-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to work on multiple priorities, work independently and as part of a team, and communicate effectively.  Have excellent organization skills.

• Exhibit strong analytical research skills.

• Show outstanding writing ability.

• Have strong skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; Knowledge of Access is a plus.

• Prior experience with SAS, R, or similar software is a plus.

Applications must include all of the following:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Undergraduate transcript (can be unofficial copy)

The recruitment process for the selected candidates is as follows:

• A written hiring exercise

• Phone screen

• Three panel interviews, if selected to proceed

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. And whether you call the Washington, DC area or elsewhere home, you can expect to be part of a welcoming and hybrid workplace. We are committed to cultivating a community and working in a manner defined by collaboration, equity, inclusivity, independence, and int