Quantitative Research Associate, Employment & Economic Opportunity

American Institutes for Research•Sacramento, CA

11d•Remote

About The Position

AIR’s Employment & Economic Opportunity Program is seeking a Quantitative Research Associate to support U.S. participation in international education data collections and assessments (e.g., Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, Programme for International Student Assessment). The role involves producing and validating education statistics, reviewing assessment and survey content, supporting survey operations and quality assurance, contributing to analysis and reporting, and coordinating with domestic and international partners. The position requires strong quantitative data sense, attention to detail, and the ability to work across multiple projects with differing timelines. This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations but requires availability to participate in meetings across all continental U.S. time zones. This does not include U.S. territories. About AIR Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of relevant experience or a Master's degree in in education, statistics, economics, social sciences, public policy, data science, or a related field.
Substantive coursework or training in statistics or quantitative methods.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, data review and validation).
Experience working with datasets, large spreadsheets, databases, or survey data.
High level of familiarity/proficiency with statistical programming (e.g., R, SAS, Stata) and the ability to read and interpret code or scripts for troubleshooting purposes.
Strong attention to detail and familiarity with data quality assurance procedures.
Excellent organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under deadlines.
Ability to work independently to meet deadlines while also collaborating effectively within a team environment.
Effective communication skills, especially for technical documentation and summaries.
Demonstrated initiative, problem‑solving skills, and adaptability across multiple projects.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis.
Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

Nice To Haves

Understanding sampling and weighting theories and techniques is preferred, but not required.
Subject matter knowledge in elementary, middle, or high school science, reading, mathematics, and/or financial literacy is preferred, but not required.
Familiarity with the U.S. education system, including education standards (e.g., CCSS, NGSS) and state education systems and policies is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Compile, review, and submit U.S. national and subnational education data to international organizations and partners.
Conduct basic statistical and descriptive analyses, (e.g., means, medians, percentages, distributions, subgroup comparisons, and regressions).
Perform detailed data quality checks on statistical tables, figures, and narrative text to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with technical standards.
Review and provide input on assessment and survey frameworks, questionnaires, and content‑related materials, including documenting comments and supporting alignment or review studies.
Support survey and assessment operations by helping implement procedures, manage logistics, track timelines, and carry out quality assurance activities.
Assist with preparation of technical documentation, methodological descriptions, literature summaries, meeting notes, and project records.
Contribute to the development of descriptive analyses and support interpretation of results for reports, presentations, and policy‑facing materials.
Support production and review of reports and data products in PDF and web‑based formats.
Assist with project management tasks, including organizing files, tracking deliverables, troubleshooting issues, and coordinating across multiple concurrent projects.
Maintain professional, collaborative working relationships with internal teams, federal clients, and international partner organizations.