Senior Researcher- Human Services (Remote Eligible)

About Mathematica:

Mathematica applies expertise at the intersection of data, methods, policy, and practice to improve well-being around the world. We collaborate closely with public- and private-sector partners to translate big questions into deep insights that improve programs, refine strategies, and enhance understanding using data science and analytics. Our work yields actionable information to guide decisions in wide-ranging policy areas, from health, education, early childhood, and family support to nutrition, employment, disability, and international development.

Mathematica offers our employees competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, as well as the advantages of being 100 percent employee owned. As an employee stock owner, you will experience financial benefits of ESOP holdings that have increased in tandem with the company’s growth and financial strength. You will also be part of an independent, employee-owned firm that is able to define and further our mission, enhance our quality and accountability, and steadily grow our financial strength.

Read more about our benefits here: Benefits at a Glance.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Mathematica is seeking senior researchers to join our Human Services department. We are especially interested in candidates with substantial expertise in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and employment and training programs that help parents and other adults in families with low incomes obtain and sustain employment. We also seek candidates with demonstrated expertise developing and using performance measures to monitor program implementation, service delivery, participant engagement, and outcomes and to support accountability and continuous improvement.

We are looking for people who are excited to solve complex policy and programmatic challenges in ways that are evidence- and data-driven, and who can agilely adapt to an evolving policy and technology landscape. This position leads and supports project teams within the department and across the company in the planning and execution of projects for clients such as, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state and local agencies, and Foundations and nonprofits. This role is primarily focused on programs designed to improve outcomes for children and families. Although TANF, employment programs for families with low incomes, and performance measurement are priority areas for this search, we will also consider candidates with substantive expertise in family strengthening, economic mobility, early childhood, child welfare, and related topics.

The role includes leading, conducting, and advising research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities. This may include leading, designing, and implementing program evaluations and other research studies; overseeing or providing technical assistance focused on evaluation, performance measurement, and program improvement to organizations serving families, youth, and adults; advising clients on strategy and policy; and linking and using data to answer complex policy-relevant questions. The role also includes identifying proactive business development opportunities and responding to federal and non-federal requests for proposals.

The type of work we do includes activities such as:

• Evaluating TANF policies, programs, and pilots and providing technical assistance to federal, state, and local agencies implementing TANF and related employment and training initiatives.
• Building evidence on effective strategies to help parents and other adults in families with low incomes obtain and sustain employment, increase earnings, advance in careers, and achieve greater economic stability.
• Developing, refining, validating, and using performance measures to assess program implementation, service delivery, participant engagement, employment and earnings outcomes, and continuous improvement.
• Designing studies and evaluating outcomes for programs that are focused on improving children, youth, couples, and families well-being and stability.
• Providing evaluation technical assistance to help grantees maintain high-quality impact and descriptive study designs and develop clear, and specific performance measures.
• Conducting systematic reviews to determine the effectiveness of programs across areas such as home visiting, education, and teen pregnancy prevention.
• Designing and implementing studies of early care and education, including Head Start and Child Care.
• Enhancing and supporting the data analytic capacity of state child welfare and Medicaid agencies to improve the delivery of services.

Duties may include:

• Leading multidisciplinary teams to implement research and evaluation studies and conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses.
• Engaging in proactive business development and responding to requests for proposals from a range of federal and other clients, particularly for work related to TANF, employment and training, economic mobility, and performance measurement.
• Overseeing and conducting monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including developing performance measurement frameworks and using performance data to support accountability and program improvement; and providing leadership, support, and mentorship in the successful completion of tasks.
• Leading technical assistance to TANF agencies and other programs serving families with low incomes to build evaluation capacity; develop and use clear, feasible, and meaningful performance measures; use data; support continuous quality improvement; and engage in rapid-cycle evaluation.
• Learning and applying new methods, tools, and technologies, including AI-enabled tools, data visualization platforms, and emerging analytic approaches.
• Designing rigorous mixed-methods evaluations, including primary and secondary data collection.
• Assessing the strength of study designs and summarizing large and diverse sets of existing research through systematic evidence reviews and meta-analyses.
• Applying innovative research approaches and advanced statistical methods to answer policy-relevant questions.
• Working with data scientists to link and analyze administrative data, including data used to calculate performance measures and monitor service delivery and outcomes.
• Guiding program staff and policymakers in the use of evidence to make decisions about program selection and adaptation.
• Synthesizing and presenting data in accessible formats for a variety of audiences, including writing briefs, reports, blogs, and articles; and developing interactive data dashboard and visualizations.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or Masters with equivalent experience in public policy, social work, sociology, psychology, education, economics, statistics, data science/data analytics, demography, or a related field and at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Substantive expertise in one or more human services policy areas. Candidates with experience in TANF and/or employment and training programs serving families with low incomes will be prioritized.
• Experience developing and using performance measures or performance measurement frameworks, including defining indicators, assessing data quality and feasibility, monitoring implementation and outcomes, and translating results into actionable information for program leaders.
• Experience leading research and evaluation activities; mentoring staff; and delegating and supporting project workflows.
• Candidates with evidence of strong quantitative research skills will be prioritized. This includes experience with research design and analysis of primary, secondary, administrative, or survey data; current knowledge of the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse evidence standards; mixed-methods experience is also valued.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate complex research methods and findings for a practitioner and policy audience.
• Willingness to learn and apply new techniques or technology, including AI.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and contribute flexibly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience directly providing evaluation technical assistance to federal grant recipients.
• Experience with, or knowledge of, large-scale federal and/or other administrative data sets.

A cover letter, CV, and writing sample or job market paper must be submitted at the time of application via our online application system.

This position offers an anticipated base salary of $125,000-$160,000.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

At Mathematica, we understand the importance of building relationships with colleagues. If you’re not located near one of our offices but would like opportunities to meet up with co-workers, we offer coworking spaces where available. Ask your Talent Acquisition partner for more information about this opportunity and whether it’s an option in your area.

Any offer of employment will be contingent upon passing a background check. Various federal agencies with whom we contract require that staff successfully undergo security clearance as a condition of working on the project. If you are assigned to such a project, you will be required to obtain the requisite security clearance. Additionally, if you participate in or complete the application process and are denied, Mathematica may choose to terminate your employment.

We take pride in our employees and in their commitment to excellence. We encourage staff to collaborate in developing creative solutions to difficult problems and to share the responsibility and enjoyment of carrying out complex projects. This collegial spirit has helped us earn our reputation for innovative and high-quality work.