Research Associate (Income and Benefits Policy Center)

About Urban Institute:

At the Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. As a nonprofit focusing on social and economic policy, our researchers and policy entrepreneurs open minds, shape decisions, and identify transformative solutions to the most pressing issues of our time.

Our Mission

To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.

Our Values

Collaboration, Equity, Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity. For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

The Opportunity:

The Income and Benefits Policy Center seeks a research associate (Step 3 / Research track) within the Income, Benefits, and Poverty practice area.  The research associate will contribute to research on social safety net programs and policies and their impacts on economic wellbeing.  Projects will include a variety of research topics and analytical methods, including but not limited to microsimulation modeling.

The Income and Benefits Policy Center (IBP) 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:

• Contribute to social policy research, using a variety of research methods under the direction of senior staff.

• Work with large simulation models (ATTIS and TRIM3) to estimate how changes to safety net policies affect families’ economic well-being.

• Analyze data sets using statistical analysis software (e.g. SAS, Stata, R).

• Co-author research reports, briefs, and presentations.

• Provide project management support on research projects.

• Contribute to the development of proposals, responses to solicitations, and other business cultivation activities.

Who You Are:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a master’s degree and 3-5 years of professional work experience in a field related to social science (e.g. public policy, political science, sociology, or economics), a PhD in a related field, or an equivalent level of experience and education.

• Have strong demonstrated interest in one or more social safety net programs (Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child care subsidies, public and subsidized housing, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), etc.)  and how they operate at the federal and state levels.

• Exhibit strong analytical and quantitative research skills, including prior experience with SAS, R, or similar software.  Prior experience with direct use of microsimulation models is a plus.

• Have demonstrated ability to think strategically about a research agenda and interact with staff at all levels.  Project management experience is a plus.

• 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.

• Show outstanding writing and presentation ability.

• Have strong skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Applications must include all of the following:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• A sole-authored writing sample focused on quantitative analysis (can be academic or professional)

The recruitment process for the selected candidates is as follows:

• Phone Screen

• A mix of individual and panel interviews, not to exceed 3 hours of total tim