Senior Research Associate

Position Description

NVF Project Name: Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI)

Position:Senior Research Associate

Location: Washington D.C. (remote option available)

Status: Exempt; full-time or part-time

Reports to: Chief of Staff/President

Position Summary: APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE FRIDAY, MAY 3RD.

PNPI’s senior research associate will manage the organization’s data tool(s); create resources and provide content for congressional, community, and online events and courses; manage current content and create new content; and represent the organization in external meetings.

The pay range for the senior research associate is $85,000-$120,000. Please note that PNPI does not typically hire at the top of the salary range. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors, including but not limited to education, and years of direct experience with higher education issues and/or federal policymaking. The position includes a comprehensive benefits package with employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, a 6% employer match on 401k contributions, pre-tax transportation benefits, and paid holidays, vacation, sick, and volunteer time off.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

  • Manage the PNPI Explorer, PNPI’s higher education data tool, while supporting the development of new data tools (e.g., idea generation, proposal writing);
  • Create resources and provide content support for congressional and community-facing events (including content-centered primers, memos, and reading lists);
  • Manage existing content libraries and create new content (e.g., primers, factsheets, reading lists);
  • Co-lead the development and updating of PNPI’s virtual course library;
  • Represent the organization in external meetings and conduct external outreach;
  • Special project assistance as needed.

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

  • Working knowledge of a wide range of postsecondary issues.
  • Excellent research and writing skills.
  • Familiarity and experience with postsecondary data sets housed in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), NCES’ Datalab, the Office of Federal Student Aid’s Data Center, and the College Scorecard.
  • Experience with Stata and Tableau.
  • Strong analytical skills.
  • Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Exceptionally organized and task-oriented.
  • Extensive knowledge of Google applications.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • 4 years of relevant work experience.

Valued and Non-Essential Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

  • Interest in higher education issues and higher education policy.
  • Experience with curriculum development/designing professional development for adults.
  • Experience with program evaluation.
  • Degree in education, higher education or public policy preferred.

Attributes

  • Strong communicator.
  • Extremely well-organized and detail-oriented.
  • Professional demeanor and sound judgment.
  • Strong people skills.
  • Willingness to “pitch in” to get things done.
  • Ability to work on tight deadlines and keep cool under pressure.
  • Discrete.

How to Apply

Resume and cover letter summarizing your interests and qualifications to: pnpi@pnpi.org. No phone calls, please. Please state “Senior Associate of Research: PNPI” in the e-mail subject line.

PNPI Careers

PNPI provides professional development to current and prospective policymakers who work on federal higher education issues. PNPI is an independent 501(c)(3) charity that is a 509(a)(3) supporting organization of the New Venture Fund. PNPI’s work supports NVF’s mission to achieve a healthier, more equitable world through a range of innovative projects spanning diverse issues, including global health, conservation, public policy, disaster recovery, education, and the arts.

The New Venture Fund is recruiting individuals to work for NVF and further its mission by serving as dedicated staff of PNPI. The New Venture Fund and PNPI are committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. The New Venture Fund’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify

PNPI participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.