[Hiring] Research Associate, Healthcare & Human Services @Mathematica Inc

Role Description

We currently have openings for entry-level Research Associates with a strong interest in managing and evaluating federal, state, or foundation-funded programs and policies across health, disability, education, and employment domains. The research associate role blends research, technical assistance, and project management.

Research Associates contribute to a variety of activities including:

• Evaluation design
• Data collection
• Analysis
• Technical assistance
• Operational support to inform evidence-based decision making

We are looking for individuals who can support current and emerging work across a range of areas, including:

• Healthcare and human services (e.g., disability, population health, mental health and substance use, value-based purchasing, alternative payment models, health care quality and outcomes)
• Education and employment (e.g., K–12 and postsecondary education systems, workforce development and training programs, employment services, education-to-workforce transitions)

Candidates do not need experience in all these areas but should have academic or professional experience in at least one. We encourage candidates who enjoy working in a collaborative environment that emphasizes quality, rigor, and critical thinking to apply.

Research Associates are expected to perform a combination of the following tasks:

• Support project management activities, including creating agendas, tracking deliverables, scheduling meetings, and taking notes
• Learn complex policies and programs across health, education, employment, and disability domains to develop subject matter expertise
• Assist with interview scheduling, note-taking, and other qualitative data collection activities such as interviews, site visits, and focus groups
• Support quantitative and/or qualitative analyses, including cleaning, organizing, and summarizing data using tables, figures, and descriptive statistics
• Support recruitment and coordination with participating organizations such as schools, workforce programs, health care providers, or community-based organizations
• Compile and track project information in spreadsheets and databases
• Perform literature searches and reviews and synthesize findings from reports, policy documents, and academic articles
• Support administration and oversight of survey and data collection tasks, including preparing training materials, delivering training, and performing quality control activities
• Provide logistical and operational support for evaluations, including coordinating trainings, webinars, and expert meetings
• Provide or support delivery of technical assistance to programs, grantees, or government agencies
• Contribute to reports, issue briefs, client memos, and technical assistance tools

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, public policy, public health, education, economics, or a related field with an excellent academic record
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with a high level of attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and self-directed, with strong interpersonal skills
• Interest in improving and researching government programs or providing technical assistance to public sector or nonprofit organizations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Some travel may be required

Requirements

• Knowledge of quantitative and/or qualitative research methods
• Experience conducting research, evaluation, or data collection in health, education, workforce, or human services settings, including work with federal or state agencies, foundations, or related organizations
• Experience with project management or collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Confluence, SharePoint, or Jira
• Experience with quantitative or qualitative analytic software such as R, Stata, SAS, SPSS, NVivo, or ATLAS.ti
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas for diverse audiences
• Curious, analytically minded, and comfortable responsibly incorporating AI tools into day-to-day work. Experience using AI to support research tasks, whether for literature reviews, data analysis, drafting, or synthesis, is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) benefits

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and your resume along with a work product that reflects independent analysis and writing, such as a capstone project or an analytic report.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Any offer of employment will be contingent upon passing a background check. Various federal agencies with whom we contract require that staff successfully undergo security clearance as a condition of working on the project. If you are assigned to such a project, you will be required to obtain the requisite security clearance. Additionally, if you participate in or complete the application process and are denied, Mathematica may choose to terminate your employment.

We take pride in our employees and in their commitment to excellence. We encourage staff to collaborate in developing creative solutions to difficult problems and to share the responsibility and enjoyment of carrying out complex projects.