Senior Researcher, Health Innovations

American Institutes for Research•Chicago, IL

8h•Remote

About The Position

Join AIR as a Senior Researcher with our Health Innovations team. Our team works collaboratively to unravel the intertwined challenges of health care quality, costs, and access. Our team of experts – nurses, physicians, psychologists, economists, sociologists, data scientists, and public health experts – advance evidence and save lives by leading rigorous research and evaluation; results-driven technical assistance and training; and leading-edge data science and technology tools. The Senior Researcher leads and executes applied research projects end to end—designing rigorous studies, managing teams and budgets, overseeing data collection and analysis, developing proposals, and communicating actionable findings while serving as a trusted partner to clients and stakeholders. This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations . This does not include U.S. territories. About AIR: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Requirements

PhD in a related field (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Policy, or a related discipline) with 3+ years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas into actionable work plans and timelines.
Experience with qualitative data collection methodologies (e.g., structured interviews, observations, survey research) and analytic software (e.g., NVivo), and/or quantitative analysis using tools such as Stata, R, Python, or Access.
Experience managing project and/or task teams on research and evaluation projects.
Experience building and maintaining strong client and partner relationships.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills including strong communication skills with the ability to produce concise, high-level summaries and briefings.
Strong negotiator and communicator, with excellent client management skills.
Strong presentation, professional development delivery, and facilitation skills.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when writing.
Can collaborate effectively in a virtual work environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting business development efforts, including grant and proposal writing.
Experience analyzing claims and other large or complex data sets.
Experience working in contract research and/or evaluation organizations.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day project operations in roles such as principal investigator, project director, or task lead, ensuring deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
Lead collaborative project teams by developing timelines and coordinating staff assignments.
Identify research problems and design rigorous applied studies, including aligned research questions, methodologies, and analytic plans.
Apply subject-matter expertise to design and implement relevant, responsive, and impactful research projects.
Lead and contribute to research proposals for federal, state, foundation, and other clients.
Devise and implement innovative solutions to practical challenges in applied research.
Lead data collection and analysis efforts, including the design of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection tools (e.g., interview protocols, focus group guides, surveys).
Supervise field-based data collection activities, including interviews, observations, focus groups, and document reviews.
Conduct or oversee data analysis using appropriate tools and techniques for various data types.
Communicate study progress and findings clearly and effectively through reports, briefs, visualizations, and other materials.
Represent the organization professionally in client interactions and manage client and stakeholder relationships with awareness of the broader policy and practice landscape.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, partners, and stakeholders, and foster positive, collaborative working relationships.
Contribute thoughtfully and creatively to project teams.