Research Analyst III

Optimal Solutions Group LLC ("Optimal") has multiple openings for Research Analyst III who will work on a dynamic project team to apply rigorous analytic methods to primary, administrative, and secondary data to evaluate the impacts of program participation and the factors that contribute to program effectiveness. The Research Analyst III will assist with project management, data collection, analysis, and report writing. This position requires analysts that can work independently but also function effectively as a member of the project team and closely with junior and senior researchers.

Optimal is a policy research and data analytics firm that conducts studies and provides technical assistance on entrepreneurship and innovation, education, workforce development, economic development, health care, and related subjects. Our mission is to provide decision makers with rigorous and timely insights that enable our clients to improve public well-being. Optimal is located in the Discovery District at the University of Maryland, approximately 10 miles from Washington, DC. For more information see www.OptimalSolutionsGroup.com.

The following projects illustrate the type of work we currently have under way:

• Working with the chief evaluation officers at the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to evaluate the effectiveness of business assistance and coaching programs.
• Produce analytical reports and software tools for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the U.S. Department of Education using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), local education agency standardized tests, and contextual data from federal government statistical agencies and primary data sources.
• Evaluation and provide technical assistance to Heathy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programs.
• Conduct completed performance evaluations, cost-benefit, and cost-effectiveness analyses, growth diagnostics, trade analyses for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and other international donors.
• Conduct quasi-experimental design (QED) and randomized control trials (RCTs) on a broad range of policy topics in the domain of housing, health, and community development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Provide support to the U.S. Department of Labor in conducting evidence-based research across a wide-range of topics, i.e., worker safety, workforce development, occupational issues, retirement security).

Depending on projects and interests, duties might include:

• Assist senior researchers in developing analysis plans, extracting, assembling, processing and manipulating data using R, STATA, Python or similar software packages.
• Assist senior researchers in developing survey instruments and conducting analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Collaborating with senior researchers in implementing web-based surveys, conducting focus groups, and in-depth interviews.
• Assist senior researchers in drafting reports and presenting findings and disseminating information to policy, practitioner, and researcher audiences.
• Chart project expenditures again project internal control systems to ensure project scope, budget and deliverables.

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in Economics, Data Science, Public Policy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, Social Work or related discipline.
• Strong analytical and quantitative ability
• Problem solving skills and experience using large datasets
• Statistics and programming experience with statistical and/or data science packages (i.e., R, STATA, Python)
• Effectively communicate problems and results, orally and in writing.
• Work independently and as a member of a team.

To Apply: Please send your resume with a cover letter and writing sample with RAIII in the subject line.