Research Analyst

Description

Child Action is a private, non-profit corporation created in 1976 to promote the education and social welfare of children and families and to advocate on their behalf. Our programs include resource and referral services for families seeking child care, child care subsidies for qualifying families, recruitment and professional development of the child care workforce, and family education and support.

We are seeking individuals who are highly organized, have the ability to multi-task, provide excellent customer service, have good problem-solving skills, and have the ability to understand the challenges facing families from a variety of ethnic and economic communities.

Please note that completing the job application is a mandatory requirement for this position.

Position Purpose & Scope:

The Research Analyst brings research methodology, stakeholder perspectives, business understanding, and narrative expertise into the agency's broader data environment. Through thoughtful interpretation and accessible storytelling, the role transforms information into evidence that supports organizational strategy, demonstrates impact, and advances Child Action's mission.


Working as part of the Research & Data (R&D) team, the Research Analyst designs and implements research activities; analyzes and synthesizes findings; leads strategic interview and focus group initiatives; develops public- and internal-facing research products; and provides research and evidence-based thought partnership that supports policy and advocacy, funding and business development, and other cross-functional initiatives. The Research Analyst collaborates with R&D analysts, program teams, organizational leadership, and external partners to ensure findings are accurate, relevant, accessible, and grounded in operational and community context.

Requirements

Typical Duties

• Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research aligned with organizational priorities, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and other stakeholder research.

• Develop research questions, methodologies, surveys, questionnaires, interview protocols, focus group guides, and other data collection approaches and tools appropriate to the research need.

• Coordinate assigned research projects from initial scoping and planning through stakeholder engagement, data collection, analysis, review, and final deliverables.

• Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative information, applying appropriate research methods and considering the reliability, limitations, context, and implications of available evidence.

• Conduct child care landscape research, literature reviews, benchmarking, and other secondary research to identify emerging trends, promising practices, community needs, and external factors relevant to agency priorities.

• Develop research briefs, data sheets, reports, presentations, and other narrative products that support organizational strategy, policy and advocacy, funding and business development, community partnerships, and other agency priorities.

• Translate research and organizational data into clear, actionable findings about community need, program impact, funding gaps, emerging trends, and opportunities for investment or policy change.

• Apply data visualization and storytelling principles to communicate research findings and recommendations effectively to leadership, Board members, policymakers, funders, employers, community partners, and other technical and nontechnical audiences.

• Partner with subject matter experts and departments across the agency to understand programmatic, operational, and community context; clarify research questions and information needs; and ensure findings are appropriately interpreted and validated.
• Serve as a research and evidence resource to R&D and organizational leadership by conducting targeted research, identifying evidence gaps, testing assumptions, and providing analyses and briefing materials that support strategic and operational decisions.

• Help build and strengthen the agency's research function by developing repeatable workflows, templates, standards, documentation, and research practices; independently navigating new or ambiguous assignments and documenting approaches for future use.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in research, social sciences, public policy, public administration, business, education, public health, or a related field (or equivalent education and relevant experience).
• 3-5 years' experience conducting applied research or evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, or other stakeholder research.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Abilities

• • Strong data literacy and ability to analyze, synthesize, and appropriately interpret information from multiple sources.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with
  demonstrated ability to translate research and data into clear reports, presentations, data sheets, and narratives for varied audiences.
  • Experience coordinating projects, gathering requirements, and managing stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Strong critical thinking, organization, initiative, and judgment, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in evolving environments where processes may need to be developed, standardized, or improved.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and ability to use agency technology, including research, survey, project management, communication, collaboration, and other tools necessary to work efficiently, effectively, and independently.
  Experience in child care, human services, nonprofit, public-sector, education, workforce, or community-based environments.

• Experience with program evaluation, community-based research, needs assessments, impact research, or applied policy research.

• Knowledge of research ethics, data privacy, and responsible data use.

• Sound judgment in evaluating research quality, methodology, assumptions, limitations, and sensitive information.

• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, build structure where it does not yet exist, and describe successful approaches into clear, repeatable workflows and practices.
• Ability to work shifts as assigned.

Physical Factors:

• Works in an office setting. Work is primarily sedentary; but may also work outdoors at field sites on an incidental basis and requires light physical effort; may require greater physical effort on an incidental basis

• Requires the ability to pull files weighing up to 10 pounds and carry files weighing up to 20 pounds daily

• Possess visual capability and digital dexterity to operate a computer and other standard office equipment

• Ability to make precise visual distinctions when proofreading documents and reviewing information on a computer screen.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervision: None