About WestEd
As a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact - asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.
WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran.
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION-Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.
The Opportunity
WestEd's Center for Teaching and Learning is seeking a Research Assistant II to work with a team of researchers, developers, and technical assistance providers on projects focused on improving teaching and learning for students from early childhood to postsecondary education. Projects typically focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, professional development programs or policy initiatives and involve tasks such as recruitment, instrumentation, data collection, analysis and reporting.
The ideal candidate has experience with quantitative methods; evidence of and a strong commitment to producing high-quality project deliverables and publications; strong organizational and project managements skills; experience or strong interest in working in school or district settings; and a curious, collaborative disposition.
What We're Looking For:
- Project Management and Coordination - coordinate and schedule research activities such as interviews, focus groups, and survey administrations; cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships with internal and external teams; assist with participant recruitment and incentive management.
- Data Collection - maintain data collection and implementation measurement systems to monitor program quality; participate in various data collection efforts (e.g., focus group, surveys, interviews, etc.); conduct user needs assessments and use data-driven frameworks to guide continuous product iteration.
- Quantitative Data Management/Analysis - build, maintain, clean, and manage large datasets (e.g., Common Core of Data school directory files, client implementation databases, etc.) using Stata, R or another statistical software package; effectively summarize descriptive data for client products, dissemination, and annual reports.
- Report and Proposal Production - contribute to the and writing of small-to-large project reports and proposals; assist in the preparation and submission of large and small proposals.
- Facilitation/Presentation - present project work to internal project teams; interface with research participants related to data collection, analyses and reports; communicate effectively with internal colleagues about project needs, including IRB, the Data Protection Office, and Accounting.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., quantitative methods, cognitive science, statistics, mathematics, data science) or degree in education or social science with knowledge about quantitative methods.
- Prior coursework or direct work experience related to research and evaluation methodology, measurement, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Fluency with major statistical package (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R, or Stata).
- Ability to balance multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and communicate effectively with peers and supervisors. Capability to be adaptive to pressing requests and work with project directors to ensure timely completion of deliverables.
- Excellent organizational skills & demonstrated ability to learn new technologies and quantitative methodologies.
- Ability to collaborate with others and work in a team setting.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks on various projects.
- Ability to develop charts, tables, and other graphics for reports.
- Familiarity with generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot) and sound judgment about when and how to use them across research and technical tasks, including fact-checking, bias awareness, and source verification of written outputs, as well as catching hallucinated or incorrect code.
*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
The full salary range for this position, WestEd level (8), is $71,200 to $111,300 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $71,200 to $89,000. The actual offer considers multiple factors, including but not limited to education, experience, internal equity, and other organizational needs.
In addition to the base salary, benefits include:
• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment and immediately 100% vested
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account option
• All health/welfare benefits are effective the first of the month following the hire date
• PTO: 19 days (increases to 21 days beginning the third year of employment), 12 paid holidays
• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary, max of 500k
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives
• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program
For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/#benefits WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #LI-Remote #Circa-Remote
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
