Research Associate

The Brattle Group•Boston, MA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Brattle Group is seeking a Research Associate to join their team. This role involves understanding, performing, and supervising statistical/economic analyses, serving as a resource for junior staff, and utilizing state-of-the-art tools. The Research Associate will help identify conceptual flaws in project analyses, define research analyst tasks, guide junior staff, and provide timely feedback. A key aspect of the role is assessing model conceptualization, translating institutional knowledge into realistic models, and producing professionally formatted and error-free documents. Expertise in modeling areas is expected, along with proficiency in applications like STATA and SAS. The role requires solving complex calculations and data transformations, replicating opponent analyses, and creating compelling graphics and tables independently. Document management must be transparent, and creative solutions to project problems are encouraged. The Research Associate will ensure technical and conceptual quality, contribute to project foundations, and perform interchangeably with junior associates. Developing expertise in a specific area of Brattle's work and becoming a go-to person for information sources is also a key objective. The role involves managing multiple tasks simultaneously, understanding the impact of work on deadlines, and adapting as needed with minimal guidance. Drafting various report components, independently determining research needs, and providing insightful analysis are crucial. The ability to see connections between projects and articulate them is valued. Contributions to firm initiatives like recruiting, training, and business development are expected. The role requires developing a leadership presence, taking a front seat on projects, and teaching technical and project management skills to other RAs. Efficient and error-free work, clear communication skills, self-motivation, and the ability to motivate others are essential. The Research Associate will work with limited instructions, develop responsibilities, and provide insight into project analysis and industry issues.

Requirements

Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in Economics, Finance or related quantitative field OR Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Economics, Finance or related qualitative field and 2 years of direct economic consulting or related industry experience.
Any amount of experience with or demonstrated knowledge of Excel as well as other data applications (SAS or STATA). Knowledge may be demonstrated through education, training and / or experience.

Responsibilities

Understand, perform, and supervise statistical/economic analyses.
Serve as a resource for junior staff.
Use state of the art tools most suited to problem at hand.
Help associate(s) spot conceptual flaws in other parts of the project analysis.
Define research analyst tasks, be able to get research analysts started and keep them on schedule.
Give timely feedback, positive and negative, to research analysts when appropriate.
Assess whether model is conceptually doing what is needed for the project and able to translate institutional knowledge into realistic but tractable model.
Produce documents/spreadsheets that are professionally formatted/edited and free of errors.
Possess expertise in one or more modeling areas while maintaining proficiency in other applications when needed (STATA, SAS, etc.).
Understand and solve complex calculations and/or data transformations.
Be able to reverse engineer and/or replicate opponent's analysis for evaluation and criticism.
Create compelling graphics/tables/charts to support the relevant arguments (without associate guidance).
Manage documents in a manner that is transparent to others outside of the project team.
Regularly offer creative solutions to project and other problems.
Ensure both technical and conceptual quality in all work.
Regularly contribute to the conceptual foundation of projects.
Perform interchangeably with junior level associates in the majority of situations.
Develop institutional expertise in a particular area of Brattle work and have an expertise regarding several information sources (knowing where to get industry information) – is viewed as the go to person for at least one area.
Regularly be responsible for multiple tasks simultaneously.
Develop awareness of impact of work on deadlines and be able to flex as appropriate to ensure compliance with little guidance.
Draft several aspects of final report: client memos, proposals, presentations, etc.
Independently determine the data or information research needs based on the end results desired by the associate or principals.
Provide insightful analysis, rather than descriptive summaries, for written work products.
See connections and applications from one project to others and can articulately explain to others.
Regularly contribute to firm initiatives, e.g. recruiting, training, and business development.
Develop a leadership “presence” and regularly take a “front seat” role on projects.
Teach technical and project management skills to other RAs either through tutoring, training or Brown Bags.
Produce efficient and error-free work.
Possess clear and effective oral and written skills.
Is self-motivated and motivates others; facilitates and fosters teamwork.
Work with limited or vague instructions, develop responsibilities and tasks.
Provide insight into project analysis and understand why key issues exist in industry.