Research Assistant Research Associate Jobs in Reston, VA

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

The Research Assistant or Research Associate (RA) will sit on CBPP’s Data Analysis and Research team and will support work across the Health Policy (roughly 70%) and the Housing and Income Security teams (roughly 30%) with analysis and research, especially quantitative analysis. The position may support other teams, if the Health Policy and Housing and Income Security teams’ workloads permit.

CBPP’s Health Policy team undertakes extensive work at both the state and federal levels to strengthen health coverage for people with low and moderate incomes. Its work includes analyzing proposed changes in government policies, promoting effective approaches to covering low- and moderate-income families and individuals, providing technical assistance to federal and state policymakers, conducting research on the implications of health policy choices, and working with other federal and state nonprofits on these issues.

CBPP’s Housing and Income Security team works collectively on improving housing affordability and expanding access to cash assistance for families with low incomes, focusing on federal and state rental assistance, responding to and reducing homelessness, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, related cash assistance initiatives, and child support services. The team is a leading source of expertise on federal low-income housing programs with a strong record of advancing policies that improve their effectiveness and help drive the national conversation around affordable housing for low-income people.

This position reports to the Vice President for Data Analysis and Research. The Data Analysis and Research team works extensively with other CBPP teams on a range of policy issues and research topics affecting lower-income families and individuals. This position is an exceptional foundational role for people seeking to build a career in public policy. The RA will also participate in a skill and knowledge development program for early-career Center staff.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze data to evaluate the effects of enacted and proposed health or housing policies, including their impact on different demographic groups – such as communities of color, older adults, and families with children – nationally and by state. 
• Extract, clean, transform, manipulate, and analyze quantitative government surveys and administrative data using Stata and Excel. Develop checks and document sources and methods to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reproducibility.
• Prepare tables, graphs, and other data visualizations that present analytic findings for use in CBPP papers, blogs, and presentations.  
• Assist in monitoring trends and changes in health insurance coverage, program enrollment, program costs, and other outcomes.
• Work with health and housing policy experts to stay abreast of new and relevant research, interpret findings, and incorporate them into analyses and written products.
• Contribute to analytic papers, policy briefs, blogs, and memos, with opportunities to author or co-author sections or full products as appropriate.   
• Assist with data requests from CBPP colleagues, partner organizations, policymakers, and the media, often under tight deadlines.
• Collaborate with team members to apply an equity lens to all work, including public products and internal processes.
• Perform other job-related duties within the role’s scope as assigned to support the team’s goals.

Qualifications:

• Research Assistant: Bachelor’s degree with coursework demonstrating strong quantitative skills.      
• Research Associate: Advanced degree in economics, public policy, statistics, any field that requires strong quantitative skills, or a bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience.  
• Strong quantitative skills, including the ability to manipulate data using Excel and statistical software (such as Stata, R, Python). A willingness to learn and use Stata.
• Excellent research skills, including the ability to use and interpret a range of research sources and clearly summarize findings in writing.
• A commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity.
• Excellent project management skills, the ability to work independently and collaboratively, handle multiple projects, anticipate challenges, and meet deadlines.
• Meticulous attention to detail and an exemplary commitment to accuracy.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships, manage multiple priorities, and communicate clearly and proactively with supervisors and colleagues across teams.
• Commitment to economic and racial justice, with a focus on how policies can address institutional racism and economic inequality.
• A desire to deepen your understanding of health policy and housing policy. Experience or coursework in health policy and/or housing policy is a plus but not required.

This position reports to the Vice President for Data Analysis and Research.

Work Location and Hybrid Schedule Expectations: Employees are expected to work in the Washington, D.C. office for this position. CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two full in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week, as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office.

Terms of Employment: Full-time; exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: Salary for this position ranges from $55,800 to $60,000 per year for Assistants and $58,655 to $63,000 per year for Associates; pay is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and internal pay equity. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and transcripts. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP’s mission.