Description

Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) is seeking an Evaluation and Research-focused Associate for full-time employment in our Workforce and Human Services Division. We are a 100 percent employee-owned dynamic research, evaluation, and technical assistance firm based in Oakland, CA. Currently, we are seeking an Evaluation and Research-focused Associate for the Workforce Development and Human Service (WHS) Division. SPR’s WHS Division provides a range of research services for federal, state, local and philanthropic partners, often using a mixed methods approach. Currently, we are seeking applications for a full-time mid-level researcher with demonstrated strength in carrying out research and evaluation projects, a strategic and analytical approach to problem solving, and a commitment to equity to apply to all our research services. 

The Company: At SPR, we believe in providing rigorous, high-quality research, evaluation, and technical assistance to improve the well-being of diverse groups of individuals, families, organizations, and communities.  Over the past 30 years, SPR has earned national recognition for our work in providing research and TA services for education systems, philanthropy, and public-sector investments in policies, practices, and programs designed to improve outcomes for diverse populations across the country. Our clients consistently share an appreciation of the equity lens we bring to our evaluations, the technical rigor that we bring to our evaluation design, and our ability to engage real-time data to inform continuous learning and iterative strategy improvements. For more information about SPR, please visit our website at www.spra.com.   

What We Are Looking For: An Equal Opportunity Employer, SPR is an organization that values a staff with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability and veteran status (EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled).   

All candidates must meet all the following minimum requirements to be considered for this position: 

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, sociology, education, psychology, economics, and other social sciences, plus 3 years of research experience or PhD plus 1 year. 
• Demonstrated experience in conducting one or more of the following research activities: literature reviews; in-person and remote interviews and focus groups; survey design, administration, and analyses; management, data cleaning, and analyses of administrative data.  
• Demonstrated research or evaluation experience in workforce development (e.g., apprenticeships, employer engagement, reentry services, services for opportunity youth, dislocated workers, and disabled workers), housing (especially housing vouchers), or human services (especially guaranteed income, SNAP, and TANF). 
• Experience working with communities of color and other diverse communities, ideally as a researcher.  
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines and complete assigned tasks within budget. 
• Ability to work professionally and productively within a team context, including excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Proficiency with the MS Office Suite and its collaboration platforms including Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. 
• Excellent writing, oral communication, and analytical skills.  
• Ability to travel domestically as requested. 

Qualifications below are preferred but not required. 

• Practitioner or policy-level experience in a public agency or education setting.  
• Experience with client management, project management, business/proposal development, and/or reporting. 
• Spanish fluency. 
• Experience with Nvivo or other qualitative software. 

• Experience with R/Stata/SAS. 
• Experience with data visualization software. 

About the Position:  Associates at SPR have key responsibilities for working within multiple project teams to implement research and evaluation studies. Specific duties will vary by previous experience, but may include a mix of the following: 

• Independently collect data through onsite or remote interviews, focus groups and observations and document reviews, as well as provide detailed written documentation and analyses of the results of these activities.  
• Manage quantitative data collection, including surveys, and collection of administrative data. Depending on experience, may lead quantitative analyses on behalf of project teams. 
• Lead project tasks within larger projects and/or manage smaller projects.  
• Prepare sections of reports and contribute to the preparation of evaluation reports, case studies, learning papers, or other deliverables for government, foundation, and/or non-profit clients. 
• Serve as a site liaison within large scale studies to support quality implementation of study design, and/or assess needs and facilitate technical assistance support. 
• Travel occasionally to conduct site visits and attend client meetings or conferences. 
• As part of a team, participate in proposal writing and business development. 

Salary Range: $74,500 - $102,500 commensurate with experience and cost of living in primary place of residency (top of the range will generally only be available for candidates living in the San Francisco Bay Area). 

The Location: SPR staff members can work remotely from locations in California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. Employees who live within commuting distance from downtown Oakland California office can also work full or part-time from the company’s Oakland offices.  

Other Information: In this role, you can expect frequent phone or video conferencing usage; extensive computer use; use of office machines; heavy keyboarding; and occasional travel in which you may need to transport equipment up to 40 pounds in weight. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. SPR offers excellent benefits, including health, dental, vision, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401k plan, PTO, and 6 days of paid professional development time (8 days in the first year) and $600 to $1200 per year in company financial support for professional development activities. 

How to Apply: Apply through our website at https://www.spra.com/about-spr/careers/. This position will remain open until filled.  

Requirements

All candidates must meet all the following minimum requirements to be considered for this position: 

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as public policy, sociology, education, psychology, economics, and other social sciences, plus 3 years of research experience or PhD plus 1 year. 
• Demonstrated experience in conducting one or more of the following research activities: literature reviews; in-person and remote interviews and focus groups; survey design, administration, and analyses; management, data cleaning, and analyses of administrative data.  
• Demonstrated research or evaluation experience in workforce development (e.g., apprenticeships, employer engagement, reentry services, services for opportunity youth, dislocated workers, and disabled workers), housing (especially housing vouchers), or human services (especially guaranteed income, SNAP, and TANF). 
• Experience working with communities of color and other diverse communities, ideally as a researcher.  
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines and complete assigned tasks within budget. 
• Ability to work professionally and productively within a team context, including excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
• Proficiency with the MS Office Suite and its collaboration platforms including Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. 
• Excellent writing, oral communication, and analytical skills.  
• Ability to travel domestically as requested. 

Qualifications below are preferred but not required. 

• Practitioner or policy-level experience in a public agency or education setting.  
• Experience with client management, project management, business/proposal development, and/or reporting. 
• Spanish fluency. 
• Experience with Nvivo or other qualitative software. 

• Experience with R/Stata/SAS. 
• Experience with data visualization software.