Research Analyst

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY  
EVC seeks a candidate for the position of Research Analyst working under the supervision of the Director of Quantitative Research. The role involves providing coding, analytical, and data management support for research projects focused on voter registration, including for randomized controlled trials and pilot programs studying innovative new VR tactics. The Research Analyst will also help manage data for EVC’s digital VR programs.

The Research Analyst role is a full-time, benefits eligible position, but is a temporary role from June - November 2026 with possible extension depending on funding. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN YOUR ROLE  
Monitor and address quality issues in research 
Design and implement procedures for discovering and resolving quality issues in research, such as improper data formatting, missing data, data entry mistakes, or failed data syncs
Monitor incoming data to proactively identify potential errors in implementation of research protocols for randomized controlled experiments
Write advanced SQL queries to investigate data quality and experimental protocol errors
Support tracking and responding to research quality flags and mistakes in experiment implementation
Communicate with internal and external staff to alert them to potential issues or when more information is needed to clarify research concerns 

Track and move data between systems
Support the evaluation and piloting of new tools and platforms, particularly digital ad tools, by independently learning about and becoming proficient in the data functionalities and data transfer & transformation requirements for each new tool
Manage the flow of research and digital data between tools and databases, by either loading flat files or scoping out requirements that EVC’s data engineering team can use in creating ongoing data pipelines 
Provide a technical perspective to help the Research Department evaluate new tools based on whether a new tool’s data capabilities and outputs are compatible with existing systems and meet long-term analytical needs 

Clean, transform, and analyze data
Clean and standardize data in preparation for research reports that include descriptive analyses and statistical modeling, 
Perform descriptive analysis of data from pilot programs and surveys
Analyze digital program data to generate actionable insights
Contribute to dashboards, memos, and presentations by building summary statistics tables, creating data visualizations, and writing up key outcome metrics/results

Support the development of a tidy codebase and reproducible research process 
Document processes and data cleaning steps taken
Build on prior codebase which is primarily written in R and SQL, with some Python 
Use git and Github to integrate new code into existing Research Department systems
Create reusable code and functions where possible to streamline future data cleaning and analysis work, such as through contributions to EVC’s internal R package 

CORE COMPETENCIES  
Growth mindset: Demonstrated ability to take and receive feedback professionally and gracefully from peers, staff, and supervisors.
Relentlessly goal-oriented: Enjoys working toward and achieving ambitious goals; willing to overcome any obstacle to meet goals with a proven track record of creating and managing comprehensive strategic goals.
Cultural competency: Able to build relationships and collaborate with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders across multiple lines of identity difference.
Remains focused on problem-solving while balancing multiple priorities within a constantly evolving political environment: Demonstrated ability to stay focused on finding solutions amidst shifting priorities in the dynamic political landscape.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

Required Qualifications
High level of proficiency in using SQL to monitor, transform, and analyze complex data 
Minimum of 2 years of work experience using R (preferred) or Python to perform data cleaning tasks on messy real-world datasets
Experience in managing data workflows across multiple tools or platforms
Experience writing and editing clear, clean code, and a willingness to use version control systems like git and Github
Meticulous attention to detail for catching data quality issues
Communication skills for conveying technical concepts to non-technical audiences
Interest in being a member of a diverse, multidisciplinary team

Helpful, But Not Required
A successful candidate will most likely have some, but not all of these skills:
Experience working with voter file data and/or data from civic engagement/campaign field programs
Knowledge of both R and Python
Experience contributing to software packages, either R packages or in other languages
Familiarity with randomized controlled trials, either through work experience or coursework in statistics
Experience analyzing data from digital programs 
Experience using digital advertising tools and/or digital organizing tools
Familiarity with Jira
Experience with Google’s Looker Data Studio
Experience using Docker, Bash, and AWS for cloud computing and orchestrating parallel workloads

PERFORMANCE METRICS & REVIEW SCHEDULE
Your first review will be 90 days after your start date, then a six-month check-in and a
development review annually for the duration of your employment. If the results of a
reviews are unsatisfactory, more frequent reviews may be scheduled to monitor improvements. If assigned improvement goals are not reached, a warning schedule may be implemented including the possibility of termination. 

BENEFITS AND CULTURE  
We offer flexible remote work and a generous benefits package, including:

 Flexible Paid Time Off
 100% cost coverage of employee health benefit premiums
 Dedicated weekly “Flex Day”
 401K with an automatic employer contribution regardless of employee contribution level
 $1000/yr toward Professional Development
 Free virtual therapy
 Stipend for ergonomic office setups
 Generous extended medical and personal leave

All employees must be eligible to work lawfully within the United States upon the commencement of employment. The organization does not sponsor visa applications for prospective or current staff.

This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild CWA.

VACCINE REQUIREMENT
Under applicable legal guidance, an employer like VRP may require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID19. The CDC has advised that vaccines are one of the most effective tools to protect employee health and prevent disease. The CDC further strongly recommends that all individuals eligible to receive a booster shot promptly do so. VRP requires all employees to be “fully vaccinated” with their vaccines against COVID19.

”Fully vaccinated” means a person has received all recommended COVID19 vaccines.