Research Associate

The Brattle Group•Boston, MA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Brattle Group is seeking a Research Associate to join their team in Boston, MA. 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, manage schedules, and provide 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 and spreadsheets. Expertise in modeling areas and proficiency in applications like STATA and SAS are expected. The role requires understanding and solving complex calculations and data transformations, as well as the ability to reverse engineer and critique opponent analyses. Creating compelling graphics, tables, and charts to support arguments independently is also a responsibility. Document management must be transparent, and creative solutions to project problems should be regularly offered. Ensuring both technical and conceptual quality, contributing to the conceptual foundation of projects, and performing interchangeably with junior associates are expected. Developing institutional expertise in a specific area of Brattle's work and becoming a go-to person for industry information is encouraged. The role involves managing multiple tasks simultaneously, developing an awareness of deadlines, and flexing as needed with little guidance. Drafting various aspects of final reports, including client memos, proposals, and presentations, is required. The Research Associate will independently determine data and information research needs and provide insightful analysis rather than descriptive summaries. The ability to see connections between projects and articulate them to others is valued. Contributions to firm initiatives such as recruiting, training, and business development are expected. Developing a leadership presence and taking a front seat role on projects, as well as teaching technical and project management skills to other RAs, are key components of the position. The role requires self-motivation, the ability to motivate others, and fostering teamwork. Working with limited or vague instructions, developing responsibilities and tasks, and providing insight into project analysis and industry issues are also essential.

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.
Qualified candidate must possess 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.