Research Associate, Center for Presidential Transition
INTRODUCTION
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We believe that our future and our democracy depend on our ability to solve big problems—and that we need an effective federal government to do so. For more than 20 years, we have helped make this vision a reality, helping our government—the public institution most fundamental to our democracy—address current and future challenges.
Our staff is diverse in experience and perspective, but at our core, we share a lot of the same traits. We are mission-driven, creative, collaborative, optimistic and inclusive. Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by our values:
- Passion for public service and our work toward a more effective government
- People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration, inclusion and respect
- Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results
- Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible
We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Partnership for Public Service is seeking a research and analysis associate to support the Center for Presidential Transition. The Center for Presidential Transition is intended to ensure a peaceful and effective transfer of power between presidential administrations, maximize a new or second-term administration’s capacity to manage government challenges and prepare senior appointees to lead effectively. This position will play a key role in collecting, managing and analyzing political appointment datasets, including the political appointments tracker the Partnership produces with The Washington Post, developing research insights and policy recommendations on leadership appointment trends, conducting interviews and synthesizing historical information on the conduct of presidential transitions.
Beyond the Center for Presidential Transition, this position may participate in research related to inspiring the next generation of public service careers, helping the government identify ways to adopt emerging technologies and identifying strategies for a more effective and accountable government, among others.
A well-qualified candidate will have research experience grounded in social science, will possess strong writing, organizational and time management skills, a high attention to detail and will have proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and major data analysis platforms. In addition, candidates should be able to navigate ambiguity and work independently, as well as on a team, in a fast-paced environment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data, interpret statistics and draft findings.
- Clearly communicate the results of analytical work to non-technical audiences, including the media.
- Draft summaries, case studies, issue briefs, blog posts and other content.
- Support research projects by scheduling and conducting meetings and interviews that will elicit relevant information from federal agency or private-sector representatives, recording findings and helping keep projects on track and on schedule.
- Participate in in-person research interviews to inform Center resources, reports and recommendations.
- Work with other Partnership teams to translate analytic findings into action, helping to develop content for legislative briefings and our broader organizational programming.
- Assist the Research, Evaluation and Modernizing Government team – and the Partnership more generally – on all aspects of our work; candidate may also work on projects outside of the Research, Analysis, and Evaluation team.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data in a reliable manner.
- Strong eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to sound methodology.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple projects and work efficiently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and able to provide logical next steps towards action items.
- A can-do attitude and willingness to pitch in.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven track record collaborating on projects in a team environment.
- Ability to translate and synthesize complex concepts and data into easy-to-understand, compelling messages.
- Natural curiosity to solve problems and gain expertise on government and presidential appointment issues.
- Ability to remain scrupulously nonpartisan in advancing the Center for Presidential Transition’s work.
- Demonstrated passion for and commitment to public service and an interest in the mission of the Partnership.
REQUIRED/PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree a plus) in public policy, public administration, economics, political science, international relations, economics, sociology, statistics, data science or equivalent professional work or military experience.
- One to two years of professional work experience.
- Experience analyzing quantitative (survey, administrative) data required; experience with qualitative (interview transcripts, historical or secondary documents) data analysis a plus.
- Understanding of data architecture and database management a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel required; experience with R, Python, SPSS,SAS, QDA or Dedoose a plus.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY/REPORTING STRUCTURE
This position will report to a manager or senior manager on the Research, Evaluation and Modernizing Government team.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a hybrid (remote + office) environment in Washington, DC. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer and scanner.
POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK
This is a full-time position with regular work hours Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend activities may be required. Please note that Partnership allows flexibility in work schedules.
TRAVEL
If travel occurs, it is usually during the business day. Very little out of the area and/or overnight travel will be required.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The starting salary range is between $50K and $52K. The Partnership offers a compensation package that includes a competitive salary; medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; long- and short-term disability insurance; a 401(k) program with a 4 percent employer match; opportunities for training and development; 15 days of annual leave per year, 10 days of sick leave per year, plus all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving off; and use of an on-site exercise facility.
AAP/EEO STATEMENT
The Partnership strives to be an inclusive organization that fosters learning, collaboration and respect. We actively recruit for diversity in our workplace, believing that a range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences contributes to our mission of revitalizing government. The Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.
VACCINATION POLICY
All Partnership employees, regardless of position or physical location, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as a condition of employment. For new employees, a simple unnotarized copy of the official vaccination card or a notarized COVID-19 Vaccination Form attesting to full vaccination must be provided to human resources within two weeks after the start date.
If you believe you qualify for an exception from the requirements of this policy, for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs, you must provide a letter (on letterhead) from your doctor or clergy to the Vice President of Human Resources. The Partnership will explore potential reasonable accommodations for you that would not cause undue hardship to the Partnership. However, such reasonable accommodations are not required and cannot be guaranteed.