Policy Research Assistant- Temporary

Job Description Summary:

The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center is a policy research group at the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University under the direction of Dr. Cynthia Osborne. The Policy Impact Center aims to be the go-to resource for actionable evidence for state policy leaders as they develop and implement the most effective policies that ensure children get off to a strong start and thrive. Visit the Policy Impact Center at pn3policy.org for more information on our work.

For Summer 2024, the Policy Impact Center a temporary Policy Research Assistant to support the work of the Policy Team, which:

• Tracks the progress states are making toward building a more effective and equitable system of care (e.g., see the 2023 Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap ) and shares with the field what policies states are implementing, the goals they have, and the challenges they are facing; and
• Analyzes existing research to determine the strength of the evidence and implications for policy (e.g., see the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Clearinghouse ) and promoting equity (through equity-focused policy evidence reviews ) .

General Notes:

This position reports functionally and administratively to staff within the Policy Team. Applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment to continue to build a strong and equitable prenatal-to-3 system of care.

Terms of employment:

• Temporary Summer 2024 appointment: May 16, 2024 to August 15, 2024, flexible start and end dates may be considered
• 20 to 30 hours per week
• Pay rate is hourly
• This role could be a great opportunity for a student seeking a paid internship (please indicate interest on cover letter and follow up on requirements will be necessary)
• Independent use of program data must be approved by Policy Impact Center Executive Director, Dr. Cynthia Osborne.

The primary responsibilities of the position include:

Policy Research Assistants will:

• Gain valuable research and policy skills working closely with experienced researchers;
• Provide research support, including collecting and synthesizing rigorous policy and program research, tracking legislative, administrative, and implementation progress for policies and programs, and assisting with primary and secondary data collection;
• Assist with policy data analysis (highly skilled data analysts should inquire about Data GRA positions);
• Contribute to writing policy briefs, evidence reviews, blogs, and research reports;
• Attend and take quality notes at relevant webinars, meetings, and events; and
Provide other support as needed.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Required/Essential qualifications:

• Educational experience in a related field (e.g., public policy, public administration, education policy, public health, social work, sociology, etc.);
• Independent and reliable worker;
• Excellent writing skills – ability to clearly synthesize research and communicate to different audiences;
• Strong analytic and organizational skills;
• Exceptional project management and time management skills;

• Strict attention to detail;
• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written); and
Adhere to the rules/norms of academic integrity regarding citations, attribution of work, and summarizing the work of others.

Preferred Skills:

• Interest and/or relevant experience in early childhood policy in one of the following areas: child and parent heath, economic and family supports, early care and learning;
Interest and/or relevant experience in state policy (e.g., tracking legislative progress, understanding policy implementation) and/or policy research (e.g., understanding of strong research methodologies).

Writing Exercise Requirement:

As part of the selection process, competitive candidates will be asked to complete a 2-hour writing exercise before the interview phase of the recruitment process. This test will assess your ability to think critically and write clearly and concisely about statistics and/or policy issues relevant to our work. To complete the exercise, candidates will need access to a computer with word processing software and the Internet. This assessment was designed for recruitment purposes only.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.