Senior Research Associate/Principal Associate, Technical Assistance, Income Security and Economic Mobility

Do you get excited about using evidence to improve outcomes for families?

Do you aspire to provide technical assistance aimed at improving the lives of individuals, children, and families?

Do you like working on collaborative teams to drive social change?

 

The Team

MEF Associates is a well-established social policy research and technical assistance organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, children, and families through rigorous research and high-quality technical assistance.

We have worked at all levels of government and with various non-profits focused on bettering policy and programs related to workforce development, income security, child and family well-being, child care, and early education. Our team combines diverse work experiences and expertise to deliver meaningful, data-driven solutions.

The Culture

Our staff come to MEF because of our ability to make a difference through technical assistance and research we provide to programs and agencies. Each of us brings a unique perspective, diversity of approach, and uncompromising commitment to excellence. We believe that what we do improves the effectiveness and efficiency of public policy and programs. Through this work, we realize our mission to support organizations in their efforts to help individuals, children, and families who use social programs to thrive. We strive to use inclusive research and technical methods that promote successful collaboration with the programs and communities with whom we work.

We value a diverse workforce and the benefits that come from research and technical assistance being conducted by individuals with varied backgrounds and life experiences. As a relatively small firm, we value close collaboration and a supportive work culture. We are committed to the growth and professional development of our staff.

The Opportunity

We are seeking to hire a Principal Associate or Senior Research Associate for our Income Security and Economic Mobility Domain who can lead major projects within our technical assistance portfolio. That portfolio currently includes providing technical assistance and arranging peer-based support for TANF, workforce, early childhood, fatherhood, and child support programs. An aspect of this technical assistance is to provide support to programs involved in research and evaluation activities. The Principal or Senior Associate may also contribute to technical assistance or research projects in other areas in which we work—which have included food assistance, public housing, financial capability, and programs serving refugees and related populations. The role represents a unique opportunity to join a growing business and to work on and lead a wide variety of large-scale policy technical assistance and research and evaluation efforts.

While responsibilities can vary by project, the work you do could encompass the following responsibilities:

• Serving as project director or manager for ongoing technical assistance work
• Developing and designing technical assistance projects
• Overseeing the development of TA products, tools, and resources (e.g., webinars, podcasts, toolkits)
• Providing subject matter expertise in substantive areas such as TANF, workforce development, and related other human services
• Familiarity and comfort with translating research findings into practice
• Facilitating diverse active engagement convenings, workgroups, and learning communities
• Monitoring project budget and deliverables, ensuring work is conducted within budget and on time
• Supervising staff and managing project teams
• Authoring reports, proposals, and presentations
• Representing the firm in interactions with clients and partner organizations
• Contributing to business development, staffing, and client management
• Identifying new business opportunities and taking leadership in proposal writing and budgeting

While our team has varied backgrounds filled with valuable experiences, we look for a consistent set of things that we believe contribute to success. They include:

• Prior experience delivering technical assistance to federal, state, and local government agencies and their partners
• Past experience working with one or more public benefit programs such as TANF, SNAP, child support or child care
• Experience directing projects and effective project management skills
• Experience managing and mentoring staff
• Demonstrated excellence in writing and verbal communication
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Relationship-driven, effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• For the Principal Associate position, experience as a leader and manager in an organization conducting technical assistance projects

MEF is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, people with disabilities, and veterans to apply. Legal work authorization is required.

This role includes work to be performed primarily in an office environment. It typically includes frequent phone/audio communication and/or video conferencing usage and extensive computer, keyboard, and mouse use. It requires the ability to travel domestically by airplane on occasion. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MEF Associates has offices in both Alexandria, VA and Seattle, WA. This position can also be remote.

Follow this link to apply for the position.

Compensation and benefits: The salary range for the Senior Associate position is $100k to $150k, and the salary range for the Principal Associate position is $140k to $225k. Actual salary amounts are dependent on candidates' alignment with our needs and their education level and prior work experience. We do not typically make offers for new hires at the top end of these ranges. MEF offers comprehensive benefits.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

As a federal requirement, the law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We must ask applicants if they have a disability or have ever had one. This is voluntary, confidential, and any answer (or lack thereof) will not affect hiring decisions. For more details on this requirement, please see: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/self-id-forms

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Last updated on Sep 21, 2024