Evaluation and Social Science Researcher

Center for Energy and Environment•Minneapolis, MN

4d•$81,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Market Transformation team is looking for an Evaluation and Social Science Researcher to help us evaluate progress of our initiatives, identify critical and strategic market insights, and turn insights into action. The Evaluation and Social Science Researcher will apply their research expertise to gauge the effectiveness of our market transformation initiatives and help us gain new understandings to create more successful initiatives. The Evaluation and Social Science Researcher will be responsible for managing and conducting research activities including research design, data collection, data analysis, and report writing, as well as managing subcontractors and vendors to perform similar work. This position will report to the Sr. Manager of Market Transformation Evaluation.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience with designing and managing social research or evaluation projects
Experience with a wide variety of research methods and the ability to determine the best approaches given certain contexts and constraints
Strong project and relationship management skills with experience managing project teams or subcontractors
Strong ability to understand and translate technical concepts into survey/interview questions and deliverables for a range of audiences
Experience interviewing and building rapport with a range of individuals; demonstrating persistence and creativity in engaging harder-to-reach populations a plus
Experience with qualitative analysis software (e.g., Atlas.TI, NVIVO) and/or quantitative data analysis and visualization software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, Tableau, GIS)
Ability to distill complex research data into relevant and appropriate conclusions and recommendations
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially Microsoft Excel, required
Excellent interpersonal skills and written/verbal communication
Flexibility, adaptability, and a can-do attitude to support the team

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in social science, environmental studies, or related fields with relevant coursework in social science research methods.
Knowledge of energy efficiency and decarbonization is a plus; must be willing to learn and dive into related technical content.

Responsibilities

Develop research and sampling plans, working across teams to identify best practices and feasible options
Develop surveys, interview guides, and other data collection instruments
Conduct literature reviews and other background research
Conduct interviews, administer surveys, and implement other data collection methods with key stakeholders and market actors including manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and consumers.
Analyze results using appropriate qualitative coding processes or quantitative statistical analyses
Manage internal research processes and coordinate across teams to meet project milestones
Develop and manage requests for proposals and other vendor selection processes
Apply research expertise to subcontractor development and implementation processes to ensure projects are rigorous and high quality
Manage subcontractors, ensuring that projects remain on schedule and on budget
Draft reports compiling key research findings and recommendations
Create compelling presentations for teams internally and externally
Work with our teams to turn research findings into actionable steps and identify additional research needs
Support development, tracking, and reporting on our progress indicators using our CRM and research results
Support evaluation plan and logic model design and refinement as needed
Lead research efforts for other departments within CEE as needed
Other duties as assigned