Senior Research Associate

About us

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations. Our staff have the opportunity to work with colleagues and supervisors across projects and with different types of expertise. We are seeking new team members with enthusiasm to shape the future of state and local policy.   

Our goals for diversity and inclusion

We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff and board members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.

Who we are looking for

We are hiring a Senior Research Associate to work on multiple projects, with key responsibilities in leading the collection, management, and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.

This is an excellent opportunity for a civic-minded professional interested in a public policy environment. ISLG’s research projects span government policymaking in New York City and nationally, and cover a number of areas including criminal justice, racial equity, infrastructure and transportation, government operations, and finance. In particular, the Senior Research Associate may work on multiple research projects being implemented across ISLG. One of these is the NYPD Reform Initiative. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, all jurisdictions in New York State were directed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of policing practices and procedures and put together a police reform plan for addressing inherent biases in these practices and procedures. In collaboration with stakeholders and the community, New York City developed the New York City Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Plan. The NYPD Reform Initiative addresses several of the proposed initiatives included in the Plan.

In addition to this project, the Senior Research Associate may also develop and manage projects that aim to advance the Safety and Justice (SJC) Challenge research agenda. Launched in 2015 by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the SJC is a multi-year, nationwide effort to inspire local criminal justice reform and change the way communities think about and use jails. Since its inception, the SJC has relied heavily on data to develop reform strategies and assess progress toward initiative goals. This wealth of data presents a unique opportunity to understand the factors, circumstances, and practices that drive jail populations and the disparities that exist across the criminal legal system. To support these efforts, ISLG manages a consortium of organizations prequalified to bid on research projects that support the goals and objectives of the initiative.

With these projects in mind, the Senior Research Associate will work on a range of tasks which may include but are not limited to:

Research and analysis

• Leading quantitative analysis, carrying out descriptive and/or multivariate statistical analysis, running diagnostic and/or sensitivity analyses, analyzing publicly available datasets, drafting survey instruments
• Conducting interviews and focus groups, drafting and/or overseeing the administration of surveys; conducting case record reviews
• Developing, tracking, and interpreting performance metrics, including their policy and practice implications
• Conducting qualitative analysis, including content analysis and development of themes
• Carrying out policy and practice reviews
• Synthesizing and interpreting findings for a broad audience

Using analysis to inform policy and practice

• Designing and creating reports, dashboards, and other types of data visualization for practitioners and policy audiences
• Providing technical assistance to government and community partners
• Crafting policy and practice recommendations from research findings

Project, relationship, and grants management

• Managing project timelines, processes, staffing, and deliverables
• Working closely with government partners and other project collaborators on all aspects of the work
• Performing administrative duties to support grants management including contracting and invoicing

Project development

• Scoping potential research projects
• Managing proposal review processes
• Contributing to proposal development for the Research Department 

Data management

• Cleaning, coding, merging, and preparing administrative data files for analysis using statistical or general programming (e.g., Python, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA, or similar)
• Transcribing and coding qualitative interview and focus group data
• Developing codebooks, coding schemes, file specifications, and other technical resource documents

Our office is located in New York City and the position will be housed there over the long-term, however, work will be remote through the immediate term.

We would love to hear from you if:

• You have an advanced degree in research, public policy, criminal justice/criminology, sociology, urban planning, or other related fields
• You have 7 or more years of related professional experience with a M.A. (4 or more years with a Ph.D.)
• You have experience designing and/or conceptualizing research projects
• You have experience leading projects, including managing work plans, timelines, staffing, and collaborating with external partners
• You have experience building and managing relationships with partners in research, policy, government, community, and philanthropy
• You can translate analytical and research findings into policy and practice recommendations
• You are proficient with at least one statistical software package or language (e.g., Python, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA, or similar)
• You have experience collecting and working with administrative data, particularly data from government agencies (experience with criminal justice data a plus)
• You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments
• You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously
• You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail
• You have excellent writing skills
• You are flexible

This is a full-time position in New York City with a salary range of $75,000-$110,000 and excellent benefits, including:

• Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance
• Paid vacation and personal days
• Paid sick leave
• CUNY tuition reimbursement program
• Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs
• Family/parental leave
• Life insurance
• A retirement plan with employer contribution.

Our staff also benefit from:

• A positive work/life balance
• Opportunities for advancement within the organization
• Engagement with the broader CUNY network
• Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policymaking expertise

How to Apply

To apply for please visit https://www.rfcuny.org/careers/postings?pvnID=VB-2203-004641. You will need to submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae or resume. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act/Protected Veterans Status/ E-Verify Employer