Research Associate II (Hybrid)

Vital Research•Los Angeles, CA

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Vital Research is seeking a curious, analytical, and mission-driven Research Associate II to join their collaborative team. This role contributes to high-impact projects that leverage research and evaluation to improve lives and strengthen communities. The company partners with government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and community organizations to evaluate programs and generate insights that advance health equity, education, aging services, supports for people with disabilities, and community well-being. Preference will be given to candidates based in or near Los Angeles due to collaboration and business needs.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a social science field (e.g., education, gerontology, public health, sociology, psychology, or a related discipline).
4+ years of post-graduate experience in research and/or evaluation experience.
Expertise in mixed-methods research, including survey design, qualitative research, and large-scale data analysis.
Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, Stata, and survey platforms.
Strong project management and client-facing consulting experience.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings to varied audiences.
Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and independently manage workflows across multiple projects.
Flexible, adaptable, and committed to equity, community-based research, and impact-driven work.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Medicaid programs, public health, or Health & Human Services research strongly preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead Research and Evaluation Projects: Manage multiple research and evaluation projects from planning through final deliverables. Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and project partners. Coordinate project timelines, budgets, communications, and deliverables. Ensure research activities meet quality standards and project objectives. Support business development efforts, including proposal writing and client relationship management.
Conduct Mixed-Methods Research: Design and implement surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other data collection activities. Support participant recruitment and stakeholder engagement efforts, including outreach to diverse and hard-to-reach populations. Manage, clean, and organize quantitative and qualitative datasets. Maintain data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with research protocols.
Analyze Data and Communicate Findings: Conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative analyses using appropriate methodologies. Develop charts, dashboards, visualizations, and other tools to support data interpretations. Prepare reports, presentations, literature reviews, and client-facing deliverables. Translate complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
Contribute to Team Success: Mentor junior staff and support team development. Supervise field staff, consultants, and project team members as needed. Contribute to proposal development, business development initiatives, and client relationship management. Participate in professional development, conferences, publications, and knowledge-sharing activities.