Research Associate - Start Early

Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

The Research Associate largely assists with research and evaluation activities, including study implementation (e.g., assisting with IRB/gathering data agreements; data collection), data cleaning and management, basic data analyses, and data sharing (e.g., visuals, reports, presentations). Experience in conducting community needs assessments is preferred. This position also largely assists with facilitating Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) and Continuous Quality Improvements (CQI) efforts for internal and external audiences, including developing Theories of Change (TOCs), logic models, literature reviews, and toolkits. This position also assists with project management and administrative duties.

Reporting to the VP of Research and Evaluation, you will:

• Assist with research/evaluation study design and implementation; as well as IRB, study recruitment, and consent processes.

• Collect quantitative (e.g., survey) and qualitative data (e.g., interviews, focus groups). Clean and manage data on appropriate management systems.

• Conduct basic-level quantitative (e.g. descriptive statistics, t-tests, regression, HLM) and qualitative analyses using common statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, SAS).
• Assist with data sharing and reporting (e.g., visuals, reports, presentations).
• Assist the facilitation of research-practice/policy partnership (RPP) routines, as well as data use for continuous quality improvement efforts. This includes the development of logic models, theories of change, literature reviews, toolkits or other written products for internal and external audiences.
• Assist with research project and team operational support (e.g., scheduling, note taking, meeting agenda development, contracts, invoices, and payments).

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Child Development, Human Development & Family Studies, Education, or other data/social science field.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in research/evaluation between degrees or after degrees. Experience specifically within the field of ECE is preferred.
• Deep commitment in advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practice.
• Effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with customers and gain their trust and respect.
• Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!

Base Annual Salary: $67,125 - $72,000

We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.