RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Commitment: Full-time

Location: Massachusetts-based hybrid position. Our team meets for an in person work day near

Boston once a month. This position requires in person client meetings in the Boston area.

Compensation: $67,000 benefits

MXM Research Group is a research and evaluation firm that specializes in design, strategy, and

evaluation for social impact. Founded in 2014, we support mission-driven organizations to co-create

solutions with the communities they serve by facilitating planning, data management and

organizational learning through evaluation. We approach our work with a racial and gender equity

lens, and are committed to ongoing learning and practice of culturally responsive and equitable

evaluation. Our current projects span community health, youth development, migration, education,

climate justice, and financial inclusion. Visit our website for more information:

mxmresearchgroup.com.

We are seeking a full-time Research Associate to join our growing team. The Associate will

coordinate and support multiple projects with our clients in the social and environmental sectors.

They will also support business and product development activities in collaboration with MXM team

members, clients, and consultants.

The Associate will bring their experience implementing and reporting on social or environmental

science research or program evaluation projects. A successful candidate will be well-versed in mixed

methods research and thrive in a fast-paced but intentional team environment.

The Research Associate must reside in Massachusetts. Most work will be conducted remotely with

occasional on-site client engagement in Boston and surrounding areas and monthly in-person MXM

team meetings. Beyond the monthly meeting, the team typically gathers for two additional optional

in-person work days each month. The preferred start date for this position is August 2024.

Responsibilities

Technical research and evaluation

Contribute to learning and evaluation projects, landscape analyses, and research projects using mixed

methods approaches.

● Coordinate ongoing measurement, evaluation, and learning activities for a portfolio of clients.

● Develop data collection instruments, develop and implement data collection plans (eg,

manage survey deployment; conduct key informant interviews, focus groups, and listening

sessions)

● Develop data analysis plans and perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis to address

our clients’ research and evaluation questions.

● Write and develop reporting products and presentations.

● Support organizational learning and reflection through virtual and in-person meetings,

workshops, and trainings involving clients, community members, and other partners.

● Recommend new or emerging evaluation approaches that strengthen our team’s culturally

responsive and equitable evaluation practice.

● Conduct literature reviews and environmental scans.

MXM infrastructure and team coordination

● Support business development activities through proposal development activities and writing.

● Contribute to product and training development activities, including ideation, design,

prototyping, and testing.

● Contribute to firm marketing and communication efforts, including writing blog posts and

contributing social media content.

● Participate in regular reflective team practice.

Qualifications

● Experience designing or implementing research or evaluation projects as part of a degree

program or in a professional or volunteer setting. This may include:

○ A Master’s degree in the social sciences, evaluation, statistics, economics, public

policy, public health, geography, environmental science, education, or other related

field; or

○ Two or more years of relevant experience with a foundation, non-profit, research and

evaluation firm, and/or government agency or contractor

● Demonstrated research or evaluation skills that have resulted in new insights or actions for programs/organizations in the social and/or environmental sectors, including:

○ Survey development and administration, data cleaning, and analysis

○ Quantitative data analysis using statistical software programs (e.g., R)

○ Qualitative data collection and analysis using coding software (e.g., Dedoose)

● Experience and domain knowledge on climate and health, sustainability, environmental justice,

and related topics (e.g., vulnerability and exposure, justice and policy, adaptation and

resilience) preferred

● Developed perspective related to racial and gender equity

● Excellent writing and verbal communication skills

● Demonstrated ability to summarize complex information for lay audiences

● Data visualization and report design skills

● Strong communicator who is responsive to feedback, collaborative, and a team player

● Ability to quickly learn and adapt to multiple information systems and technologies

● Ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects and adhere to deadlines

● Ability to work productively in a web-based team environment

● Committed to delivering high quality work products

● Intermediate or advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and/or

Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms)

● Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Cape Verdean Creole would be a

plus

There are many ways candidates can demonstrate the qualifications above, including participation in

degree programs, work experience in the social or environmental sector, and/or lived experience

related to the issues we work on (e.g., racial and gender equity, migration, economic inequality). We

expect candidates to understand several aspects of the social or environmental sectors and to need

only minimal training to start contributing to research and evaluation projects.

Additional skills and competencies that are important for this

role:

Continuous learner. Proactively asks for feedback from teammates and supervisors. Asks thoughtful

questions that deepen project work. Identifies one's own knowledge/skill gaps and engages in

self-study or seeks out trainings to close those gaps.

Humility. Demonstrates cultural humility and acknowledges systemic oppressions that shape the

world; willing to grow in own understanding of these constructs and allow lessons learned to influence

professional practice. Applies this to interactions with collaborators and data gathering.

Creative, flexible and resourceful problem solver. Learns quickly and demonstrates ability to apply

new information with proficiency. Anticipates needs or challenges and proactively offers solutions. Has

a strong sense of ownership over tasks; plans ahead and holds a high bar for excellence even when

things are hectic.

Analytical. Systematically structures and processes qualitative and quantitative data to tell a story with

the data and draw insightful conclusions.

Attention to detail. Is thorough and does not let important details slip through the cracks. Aims to

leave things better than you found them. Notices and fixes errors that others might overlook. When

mistakes happen, addresses them quickly and looks for ways to prevent similar errors.

Compensation

This is a full-time salaried position. The starting salary for this position is $67,000. Benefits

include health, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, and support for professional development.

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.

Application

All candidates must submit a resume, sample of data visualization or report design, and answer

several application questions.

Apply Here: https://mxmresearchgroup.com/jobs-opportunities

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Application

closes on July 19, 2024 or earlier if the position has been filled.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet

every single qualification. MXM Research Group is an equal opportunity employer and is committed

to ensuring an equitable and inclusive work environment. If you’re excited about this role but your

past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage

you to apply anyway. People of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, and people with

other marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Questions? Email hello@mxmresearchgroup.com