Berkeley Policy Associates is a 100% employee-owned research firm specializing in program evaluation and public policy research. Our primary research areas include education, workforce development, welfare, disability, public safety, and criminal justice.

In recent years, our education portfolio has grown substantially. We specialize in designing and conducting large-scale random assignment evaluations of education interventions. In these evaluations we are responsible for program implementation research, teacher and classroom assessment, and analysis of student-level outcomes. In response to our continued growth in this area we are looking for a Senior Research Analyst with extensive expertise in education policy research, especially as it pertains to the instruction of English language learners.

The Position:
Senior Research Analysts provide substantive and managerial leadership to BPA research projects. Senior Research Analysts are responsible for conceptualizing project tasks and managing project staff, budgets, timelines, deliverables, and client relations. They are expected to perform a wide variety of research tasks, including designing research projects and data collection instruments, conducting interviews, focus groups, and other qualitative data collection efforts, planning and supervising data collection activities by junior staff, creating analysis plans, and designing and writing research reports. Senior Research Analysts also contribute to site recruitment, data acquisition, data management, and analysis.

Writing and communicating research findings are a critical part of the Senior Research Analyst's responsibilities and excellent communication skills are expected of anyone in this position. In addition to writing reports and report chapters, Senior Research Analysts must be able to effectively present their research findings in charts, tables, and PowerPoint presentations.

Usually, Senior Research Analysts work on two to three projects simultaneously, and are responsible for managing their time on each of these effectively and efficiently. Senior Research Analysts are expected to work productively with little or no supervision and to work constructively with other staff on a project team, to contribute ideas, and to represent the company in a professional manner in interactions with outside individuals and organizations.

In addition to project-specific work, Senior Research Analysts actively participate in marketing efforts: using personal and professional networks to pursue potential new work, managing proposal efforts, and contributing substantially to the content and design of proposals.

Qualifications:

Required

• Advanced degree (M.A., Ph.D., Ed.D.) or equivalent in education, public policy analysis, public administration, economics, sociology, or a related discipline
• At least three years of experience conducting qualitative or ethnographic research in education
  
• At least two years of experience managing or directing research projects
  
• At least two years of experience with English language learners (either working directly in an educational setting or conducting research), and understanding of relevant issues and current trends in ELL education
  
• Evidence of outstanding written and oral communication skills.
  
• Ability to travel overnight, nationally and internationally, and work extra time when needed to meet deadlines
  

Preferred

• Doctoral degree
• Experience with teacher education/professional development programs
  
• General understanding of statistical methods and/or experience analyzing quantitative data
  
• Evidence of a scholarly research agenda focused on improving educational outcomes (including publications and/or presentations)
  
• Experience with proposal/grant development and writing
  
• Experience with developing and mentoring junior staff
  
• Fluency in a language other than English
  

Other Information:
BPA has a casual work environment with flexible work hours. We have competitive salaries and provide excellent health, dental, retirement, and other benefits. All staff members participate in our employee ownership program.

To Apply:
Resumes and cover letters should be emailed to Frances Laskey, Director of Human Resources, at frances@bpacal.com. Please include three references. Candidates who are invited to visit BPA for interviews will be asked to make a research presentation to BPA staff.

Berkeley Policy Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified minority candidates and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.