Research and Evaluation Associate

Research and Evaluation Associate (Part-Time)

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund (Fresh Air) has been a leading youth development organization providing transformative opportunities for children and young adults from New York City's underserved communities. Rooted in the belief that access to nature and outdoor experiences can change lives, Fresh Air connects young people to the outdoors while providing opportunities for personal growth, leadership development and exploration. Through free summer camp and year-round leadership development, educational enrichment and career exploration programs, Fresh Air helps young people develop the skills, confidence and connections they need to thrive.

Serving more than 1.8 million children throughout its history, Fresh Air remains committed to expanding access to life-changing experiences that empower young people to reach their full potential. At Fresh Air, employees are driven by purpose, collaboration and a shared commitment to creating opportunities that help young people succeed.

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Research and Evaluation Associate to provide part-time analytical, data-management and reporting support across The Fresh Air Fund’s summer and school-year programs. The Associate will help manage recurring evaluation workflows-- from survey administration and data preparation through routine analysis, visualization and reporting-- and will contribute to emerging work related to participant retention, alumni-data infrastructure and long-term impact measurement.

This is a part-time “at-will” associate position reporting to the Director of Research and Evaluation. The Associate will work within established R&E methods and protocols, allowing the Director to focus on evaluation strategy, research design, interpretation, organizational learning and decision support. This is a part-time “at-will” position for the period October through December, with the potential for extension based on organizational needs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate recurring survey administration and data-processing workflows across summer and school-year programs, including schedules, files, status tracking and follow-up.
• Prepare survey instruments, data structures and trackers; monitor response rates, missing information and other data-quality indicators.
• Process electronic and paper-based survey and observation data, including data entry or oversight of data entry during peak periods.
• Clean, match, merge, code and organize quantitative and qualitative data, completing systematic quality-control checks and documenting any issues.
• Conduct routine descriptive analyses, pre/post comparisons, subgroup summaries and qualitative coding using methods established with the Director of Research and Evaluation.
• Develop clear tables, charts, dashboards, presentation slides and routine program reports, including annual school-year and summer reporting and strategic-plan measurement.
• Support inventories of current measures, historical records and alumni reachability, and help document participant-to-alumni matching and data-stewardship workflows with R&E and IS&T.
• Provide research and production support for evidence reviews, measure scans, feasibility assessments and bounded analyses related to long-term outcomes.
• Maintain organized files, data dictionaries, codebooks, process documentation and quality-control checklists, and track R&E project milestones and review cycles.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle participant, alumni and staff information in accordance with applicable privacy, security, consent and data-use requirements.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Relevant education, training or professional experience in psychology, sociology, education, public policy, public health, statistics, data analytics, or related fields. A college degree is not required.
• At least two years of relevant experience supporting research, evaluation, data analysis, program learning or a comparable applied function.
• Experience cleaning, organizing, analyzing and quality-checking quantitative data using Microsoft Excel or comparable tools.
• Experience working with survey data and summarizing findings accurately for nontechnical audiences.
• Experience with qualitative coding, pre/post survey matching, dashboard development or longitudinal datasets is preferred.
• Proficiency with Tableau or another data-visualization platform and strong PowerPoint production skills is preferred; familiarity with SurveyMonkey, Salesforce or statistical software is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, organization and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple recurring workflows and meet deadlines.
• Strong written communication and sound judgment regarding data quality, confidentiality and the appropriate use of evidence.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues who have varied levels of experience with data and evaluation.
• Experience with youth development, camps, out-of-school-time programs, education or nonprofit organizations is preferred.
• Commitment to The Fresh Air Fund’s mission and to youth development and equity.
• As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, The Fresh Air Fund requires all employees to meet applicable vaccination requirements in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. As new public health issues arise, The Fresh Air Fund may require additional vaccinations. Proof of vaccination or an approved exemption will be required as a condition of employment, if applicable.

Advantages and Learning Opportunities

• Gain hands-on experience across the full evaluation cycle, including survey administration, data management, analysis, visualization and reporting.
• Contribute to meaningful evidence and learning that support youth development and program improvement.
• Build experience with retention, longitudinal data and emerging long-term impact measurement work.
• Flexible part-time schedule, coordinated with the supervisor and adjusted as needed during defined peak evaluation periods.

This role will primarily be in the NYC Office and in NYC, with occasional remote work.

Hours per Week: Approximately 20-25hours/week, from October through December

Compensation: $18-20/hour

Employment Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt, “at-will”

Benefits: None

Application Instructions: To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter. We are hiring on a rolling basis and encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible. No calls or recruiters, please.

The Fresh Air Fund is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in its work and on its staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations and communities to apply.