Researcher, Military & Veterans Affairs

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Researcher, Military & Veterans Affairs serves as the lead researcher for sponsored research related to military and veteran populations in the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy within The John Glenn College of Public Affairs. The Researcher, Military & Veterans Affairs will support, coordinate and manage military-connected research and strategic initiatives (for example, for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the National Veterans Leadership Foundation, and others) across the university from within the Battelle Center. This includes: leading the biennial Ohio Military-Connected Community Assessment for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS); working closely with or serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) and subject-matter experts to meet project goals and ensure high-quality, actionable outputs; independently leading research activities, contributing to study design, implementing and refining research methods, preparing IRB submissions, analyzing and synthesizing diverse sets of data, and supporting project leadership in ensuring the successful execution of all phases of the assessment; working with center and university leadership to manage existing and develop new relationships with mil-vet organizations and funders.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in science or engineering with experience in public interest research, excellent leadership and communication skills, and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and public impact.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in a relevant field (public policy, social sciences, public health, psychology, statistics, or related discipline), or equivalent experience. or equivalent experience required; 5 years of relevant experience required with Bachelor's Degree, or 3 years of relevant experience required with Master's Degree.
• Relevant research experience, preferably in survey research, program evaluation, population health, or veterans-related work.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead research tasks on projects of large scope and complexity.
• Strong understanding of research methods, survey design, sampling approaches, and analytical techniques.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS, Python) and data management.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in a relevant field (public policy, social sciences, public health, psychology, statistics, or related discipline)
• 7-9 years of relevant experience
• Robust connections within military and veterans communities

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects focused on military-connected and veteran populations.
• Design and implement surveys, assessments, and other research activities.
• Prepare IRB submissions and ensure research compliance requirements are met.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Lead the biennial Ohio Military-Connected Community Assessment and related sponsored research efforts.
• Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans to inform research and policy development.
• Collaborate with faculty, sponsors, and community partners to advance military and veterans initiatives.
• Contribute to grant proposals, publications, presentations, and project deliverables.
• Provide guidance and oversight to research assistants and student staff.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and research deliverables for sponsors and stakeholders.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into actionable recommendations.
• Communicate project outcomes and research impact to funders, university leadership, and community partners.
• Produce periodic and final project reports that meet sponsor requirements.
• Contribute to publications, presentations, and strategic planning efforts.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and sponsor reporting requirements to ensure successful execution of grant-funded research initiatives.
• Coordinate meetings, stakeholder communications, and project logistics across university units, funders, and external partners.
• Maintain project documentation, data security protocols, and records in accordance with university and sponsor requirements.
• Support strategic planning, partnership development, and operational activities that advance the University and Battelle Center's military and veterans research agendas.

Benefits

• The full range of health, retirement, tuition, vacation benefits offered at Ohio State are available to this position.
• medical, dental and vision insurance
• tuition assistance for employees and their dependents
• state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior