Research Assistant (Family and Financial Well-Being) (R&D)

About Urban Institute:

The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work. From advancing well-being to fostering shared prosperity, leaders across sectors are working every day to create brighter futures for all people and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered evidence and solutions that drive meaningful change, and this remains our charge today.

Our Mission

To drive impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions.

Our Values

Collaboration, Fairness Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

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

The Opportunity:

The Family and Financial Well-Being Division seeks a research assistant (Step 1/ Research track) with a strong interest in household finance and the social safety net to join the Financial Well-Being practice area.  The research assistant will primarily support quantitative research projects that contribute to a future where households are able to meet their basic living needs, manage their finances, build resiliency to financial shocks, and pursue economic opportunities to thrive. Past research projects have focused on topics such as assessing the effects of benefits cliffs, asset limits, and work requirements on safety net programs and analyzing the effects of the national and local regulations on borrowers' access to credit. Our team has strong relationships with key decisionmakers – including federal and local policymakers, regulatory agencies, financial service providers, community leaders, consumer advocates, and foundations – and a strong reputation for rigorous, non-partisan, and fact-based research.

What You'll Do:

• Contribute analytical assistance to research projects that leverage survey data, such as the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

• Use Stata to assist research projects that leverage administrative data, such as Urban's anonymized credit bureau panel data.

• Assist with qualitative research projects that involve interviews or focus groups by contributing to research protocols, scheduling interviews, and documenting responses.

• Summarize findings and present data effectively in multiple formats, including contributing to briefs, blog posts, articles, and presentations for a variety of stakeholder audiences.

• Support senior staff by planning and developing talking points, background memos, PowerPoint presentations, and other materials to share with practitioners, policymakers, and other external audiences.

• Support with project and practice area operations and management tasks, such as scheduling, budgeting, engagement tracking, and general project management.

Who You Are:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a bachelor's degree in a field related to economics, statistics, or public policy.

• Have coding experience with Stata (required) and R (preferred).

• Have prior research experience through school coursework or internships. 

• Have strong interest in policy solutions related to financial well-being and the safety net.

• Be interested in a position that requires highly detailed work and project management.

• Be detailed-oriented and self-motivated with the ability to work on multiple priorities, work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, and communicate effectively. 

• Have excellent organization, analytical, and communication skills.

• Show proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Prior experience with Python, SAS, NVivo, generative AI, is a plus.

• DC-based candidates are preferred.

Applications must include all of the following:

• Resume

• Cover letter

• Undergraduate transcript (can be unofficial copy)

The recruitment process for the selected candidates is as follows:

• Phone screen

• Panel interview(s), if selected to proceed

• Review of coding or writing samples

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. We are committed to working in a manner defined by our mission and values.

Urban's greatest asset is our people.

The target salary range for this position is Min $52,000 - Mid $58,500- Max $65,000 and median $53,963.90. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal comparisons. 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. 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.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@urban.org. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.