Research Analyst

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

 

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

 

About the Position 

JFF’s Research, Evaluation, & Analytics (REA) team works to create a future where evidence-driven programs and policies empower individuals, transform education and workforce systems, and ensure that everyone has access to quality jobs and meaningful career pathway. Through our Evaluation Services, Research to Advance the Field, and Labor Market Information Analytics, the REA team provides insights that shed light on the development, implementation, and impact of programs and policies that support inclusive and equitable economic advancement for all. Whether through internally or externally facing projects, our efforts are aimed at understanding what works for whom, with a focus on young adults, immigrants, and people who are Black, Latinx, or Indigenous, this group includes people without a four-year degree, people of color and women of all backgrounds with a four-year degree, and people with criminal records. , We now seek to accelerate and expand JFF’s research capacity to strengthen our services and deepen the impact of our work.

Reporting to the Research Director II, the Research Analyst will contribute to the coordination, collection, and analysis of data to support the organization's mission in advancing economic advancement and attainment of quality jobs. The position will include collaboration with JFF’s Business Units and REA staff, as well as external partners to provide data-based insights that inform and enhance our work, as well as the broader ecosystems in which we work. This is an exciting opportunity for an analytical and strategic researcher, who is skilled in both qualitative and quantitative methods, and is eager to impact programs and projects in workforce development and education. 

   

What You'll Do  

Guide research and evaluation projects to success through effective and timely execution of research and evaluation activities 

• Conduct primary and secondary research to identify and analyze best practices on matters related to workforce development, apprenticeships, adult learners, community college program design, career advancement, employer engagement and the needs of people with disabilities  
• Contribute to research design and planning, including systematic reviews of evidence  
• Develop data collection systems to conduct quantitative data analysis including cleaning large and longitudinal datasets; hypothesis testing; and multivariate Anova or regression analysis 
• Support and contribute to data collection activities, including surveys and focus groups; follow data security and privacy protection procedures set by manager to support external partners including external program staff and external learners   
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to support JFF projects including research on Labor Market Information, job openings and skill requirements 
• Utilize statistical analysis tools such as Excel, Stata or R to analyze and summarize findings 
• Support report writing and data visualizations for research dissemination and program improvement 
• Utilize tools to develop graphics for clear and creative presentation of findings to a variety of audiences 
• Monitor and actively manage work plans in Asana in collaboration with Project Managers to support timelines and deliverables, for research/evaluation projects using clear, systemic and sequential approaches 

Collaborate with JFF’s Business Units to respond to project needs and external partner/funder requests 

• Prepare written summaries, memos, presentations, and other tools and visualizations of data/analysis to answer key research questions; act as a contributing author for research and evaluation reports/other products  
• Utilize survey platforms to collect data (such as Alchmer, Qualtrics, Survey Monkey) and integrate for data visualization using tools such as Domo to create dashboards for external partners 
• Communicate effectively with JFF Business Unit colleagues and external partners regarding activities and outcomes of assigned projects and research analysis 
    

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You have experience conducting research and evaluation efforts within the education, workforce, economic development, and/or other social impact setting through both qualitative and quantitative methods (New hires at the Manager level at JFF typically bring 3-5 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions) 
• You are a strategic and analytical researcher, experienced at working both collaboratively and independently to achieve project goals, and are accustomed to balancing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously 

• You have demonstrated success collecting, cleaning, managing, and analyzing quantitative data and are familiar with statistical software (i.e., Stata, Excel); experience with data visualization tools is a plus (i.e., Domo, Tableau, PowerBI)  
• You are adept at analyzing qualitative data, coding and analyzing themes for findings  
• You have experience developing effective relationships with your colleagues and external stakeholders in order to collaborate successfully on projects, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own  
• You have experience contributing to research projects that include collaborating with internal and external partners  
• You seek out opportunities to find new ways of doing things, make meaningful contributions, and support your team and organization’s mission   
• You possess strong interpersonal, active listening, and communication skills to support others in a way that promotes psychological safety 
• You set ambitious and achievable goals and manage your time effectively to consistently deliver high-quality outputs and fulfill commitments that align with your organization’s strategic goals 
• You demonstrate awareness of your performance, impact, and of those around you with respect to the cultural context of your organization 
• You take ownership of your projects by keeping yourself and others focused and accountable to the work, deadlines, and intended outcomes 
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    
• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF 

 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $68,000 – $80,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Manager salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

 

To Apply  

We are accepting applications through July 8, 2024, by 5pm EST. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the week of July 15, 2024. 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.  

 

 

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