Senior Researcher- Human Services (Remote Eligible)

Mathematica Inc•Ann Arbor, MI

1d•$125,000 - $160,000•Remote

About The Position

Mathematica applies expertise at the intersection of data, methods, policy, and practice to improve well-being around the world. We collaborate closely with public- and private-sector partners to translate big questions into deep insights that improve programs, refine strategies, and enhance understanding using data science and analytics. Our work yields actionable information to guide decisions in wide-ranging policy areas, from health, education, early childhood, and family support to nutrition, employment, disability, and international development. Mathematica offers our employees competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, as well as the advantages of being 100 percent employee owned. As an employee stock owner, you will experience financial benefits of ESOP holdings that have increased in tandem with the company’s growth and financial strength. You will also be part of an independent, employee-owned firm that is able to define and further our mission, enhance our quality and accountability, and steadily grow our financial strength. Read more about our benefits here: Benefits at a Glance.

Requirements

Ph.D. or Masters with equivalent experience in public policy, social work, sociology, psychology, education, economics, statistics, data science/data analytics, demography, or a related field and at least 10 years of relevant experience.
Substantive expertise in one or more human services policy areas. Candidates with experience in TANF and/or employment and training programs serving families with low incomes will be prioritized.
Experience developing and using performance measures or performance measurement frameworks, including defining indicators, assessing data quality and feasibility, monitoring implementation and outcomes, and translating results into actionable information for program leaders.
Experience leading research and evaluation activities; mentoring staff; and delegating and supporting project workflows.
Candidates with evidence of strong quantitative research skills will be prioritized. This includes experience with research design and analysis of primary, secondary, administrative, or survey data; current knowledge of the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse evidence standards; mixed-methods experience is also valued.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate complex research methods and findings for a practitioner and policy audience.
Willingness to learn and apply new techniques or technology, including AI.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and contribute flexibly.

Nice To Haves

Experience directly providing evaluation technical assistance to federal grant recipients.
Experience with, or knowledge of, large-scale federal and/or other administrative data sets.

Responsibilities

Leading and supporting project teams within the department and across the company in the planning and execution of projects for clients such as, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state and local agencies, and Foundations and nonprofits.
Leading, conducting, and advising research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities.
Leading, designing, and implementing program evaluations and other research studies.
Overseeing or providing technical assistance focused on evaluation, performance measurement, and program improvement to organizations serving families, youth, and adults.
Advising clients on strategy and policy.
Linking and using data to answer complex policy-relevant questions.
Identifying proactive business development opportunities and responding to federal and non-federal requests for proposals.
Evaluating TANF policies, programs, and pilots and providing technical assistance to federal, state, and local agencies implementing TANF and related employment and training initiatives.
Building evidence on effective strategies to help parents and other adults in families with low incomes obtain and sustain employment, increase earnings, advance in careers, and achieve greater economic stability.
Developing, refining, validating, and using performance measures to assess program implementation, service delivery, participant engagement, employment and earnings outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Designing studies and evaluating outcomes for programs that are focused on improving children, youth, couples, and families well-being and stability.
Providing evaluation technical assistance to help grantees maintain high-quality impact and descriptive study designs and develop clear, and specific performance measures.
Conducting systematic reviews to determine the effectiveness of programs across areas such as home visiting, education, and teen pregnancy prevention.
Designing and implementing studies of early care and education, including Head Start and Child Care.
Enhancing and supporting the data analytic capacity of state child welfare and Medicaid agencies to improve the delivery of services.
Leading multidisciplinary teams to implement research and evaluation studies and conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Engaging in proactive business development and responding to requests for proposals from a range of federal and other clients, particularly for work related to TANF, employment and training, economic mobility, and performance measurement.
Overseeing and conducting monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including developing performance measurement frameworks and using performance data to support accountability and program improvement; and providing leadership, support, and mentorship in the successful completion of tasks.
Leading technical assistance to TANF agencies and other programs serving families with low incomes to build evaluation capacity; develop and use clear, feasible, and meaningful performance measures; use data; support continuous quality improvement; and engage in rapid-cycle evaluation.
Learning and applying new methods, tools, and technologies, including AI-enabled tools, data visualization platforms, and emerging analytic approaches.
Designing rigorous mixed-methods evaluations, including primary and secondary data collection.
Assessing the strength of study designs and summarizing large and diverse sets of existing research through systematic evidence reviews and meta-analyses.
Applying innovative research approaches and advanced statistical methods to answer policy-relevant questions.
Working with data scientists to link and analyze administrative data, including data used to calculate performance measures and monitor service delivery and outcomes.
Guiding program staff and policymakers in the use of evidence to make decisions about program selection and adaptation.
Synthesizing and presenting data in accessible formats for a variety of audiences, including writing briefs, reports, blogs, and articles; and developing interactive data dashboard and visualizations.