About Urban Institute:

At the Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. As a nonprofit focusing on social and economic policy, our researchers and policy entrepreneurs open minds, shape decisions, and identify transformative solutions to the most pressing issues of our time.

Our Mission

To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.

Our Values

Collaboration, Equity, Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

The Opportunity:

Central to Urban’s mission is fostering a truly inclusive community that ensures ongoing relevance to a changing world. The Urban Institute is seeking a research assistant to support the SPARK Collaborative and other projects within the Building America’s Workforce team. This position can be in person or fully remote.

The SPARK Collaborative:

The Student-Parent Action through Research Knowledge (SPARK) Collaborative is a program within Urban’s Building America’s Workforce initiative in the Income and Benefits Policy Center. The SPARK Collaborative promotes practice, policy, and systems change and for pregnant and parenting students, through partnership and shared learning across stakeholders—including pregnant and parenting students themselves, schools and colleges, school and college systems, nonprofit organizations, philanthropies, community-based partners, government agencies, and others who support their efforts.

The Building America’s Workforce team:

Work plays a crucial role in helping people achieve economic security, mobility, and a sense of purpose. Urban Institute researchers are analyzing changing labor markets and employers’ needs to identify effective strategies for educating, training, and retaining workers. We document workers’ obstacles to financial stability to help employers and policymakers build a more equitable and resilient labor market where workers and employers can thrive. Our bodies of work include Apprenticeship, Technology and the Future of Learning, Job Quality and Workplace Standards, Education Pathways for Student Parents and Young Parents, Education and Career Pathways for Youth, and Employer Practices.

What You’ll Do:

• Engage in a variety of research and analytic assignments related to programs, policies, and approaches, especially related to supporting pregnant people and parents pursuing education pathways.

• Support project management, qualitative data collection, quantitative data analysis, literature reviews, and proposal and project development.

• Support Institutional Review Board submissions and operational processes (e.g., setting up subgrant and consulting agreements, tracking timelines and budgets, and supporting staffing strategy) for project work.

• Support the development of opportunities for Skills and Training Action Research (STAR) Fellows, who are current or recent students with lived expertise around going to school while parenting

• Support the development of collaborative networks with external partners and stakeholders in the student-parent space

• Work closely with senior researchers and contribute to research reports and briefs, blogs, briefings, and peer-reviewed publications.

• Summarize findings and present data, results, and insights effectively in multiple formats.

• Join team planning and coordination meetings for the SPARK Collaborative and a portfolio of projects related to supporting pregnant and parenting students, including with external partners.

• Carry out other project and program-related work.

Who You Are:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess the knowledge and skills usually associated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics, Public Policy, Mathematics, Statistics, Sociology, Political Science, or related social science fields.

• Possess specialized knowledge about issues and opportunities related to pregnant and parenting college students.

• Exhibit excellent research/analysis and critical thinking skills.

• Demonstrate an ability and willingness to write for internal and external audiences, communicate verbally, work with a team, think critically to solve problems, and manage time effectively.

• Be detail-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to work on multiple priorities and to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Demonstrate the initiative to suggest improvements or innovations on tasks and project development.

• Show a strong willingness to learn, adapt and suggest improvements.

• Understand and demonstrate respectful approaches to engaging and communicating with individuals of differing backgrounds.

• Employ strengths-based perspectives when talking about particular groups or particular contexts.

• Be able to travel periodically to participate in research activities, meetings, conferences, and other convenings across the United States as necessary to fulfill project needs.

• Preferred:

• Have experience with supporting and/or conducting qualitative interviews.

• Have experience with using qualitative coding software, such as NVivo, Asana, MAXQDA, etc.

• Be familiar with social safety net programs that parenting students interact with (e.g., cash assistance), issues affecting parenting students in California, and/or issues around student-parent data collection.

• Have experience with supporting interns or other emerging professionals—especially those with lived expertise as parenting students—as they contribute to research projects and receive support in their career and leadership development.

• Be familiar with key players in the policy and funding ecosystem that supports education pathways for parents.

• We value lived (and ongoing) experience and expertise, and we encourage candidates with personal familiarity with parenting while in school to apply.

What You’ll Experience:

No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. And whether you call the Washington, DC area or elsewhere home, you can expect to be part of a welcoming and hybrid workplace. We are committed to cultivating a community and working in a manner defined by collaboration, equity, inclusivity, independence, and integrity.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The salary range for this position is Min $50,000 – Mid $ 57,557 – Max $ 65,113. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal equity. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package. Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The Urban Institute has formally recognized the Urban Institute Employees’ Union, which is part of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). Urban management and the Union work together in good faith and are motivated by a shared commitment to this institution. This position is included in the Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law. The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Women/Disabilities/Veterans.