Graduate Research and Policy Fellow

Summary of Position:

The Graduate Research and Policy Fellow(s) will support the work of After School Matters’ Research and Policy department during the 2025 – 2026 academic year. This role is designed for current graduate-level students in social sciences and is a powerful opportunity to contribute to rigorous research & evaluation to support evidence-based programs, legislation, and organization advancement of After School Matters.

This role involves working 24 hours/week during the school year, with the potential option to start in the summer or work through the following summer (depending on ASM’s needs and applicant’s schedule).

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide project-based support to key initiatives of the Research and Policy Department, including YPQA/I, teen surveys and interviews, teen demographic and performance data, to help inform understanding of and better serve Chicago teens
• Collect, analyze and interpret secondary data, including quality control checks and data reviews, as well as support the creation of data visualizations and infographics.
• Conduct literature reviews and support the development of analytic & policy briefs and reports while ensuring the integrity of research used by the organization.
• Collaborate with other members of the Research and Policy Department to provide technical assistance to other teams/departments, including (but not limited to) Programs, Communications, Advancement, Operations, etc.
• Contribute to collective advocacy campaigns in partnership with various local and state coalitions and organizations.
• Track and analyze policy developments at the city and state levels
• Support annual efforts to protect public funding through regular budget advocacy communications
• The role will also involve administrative and miscellaneous tasks as assigned
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical, oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of access and utilization of scholarly research.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically as part of a team and within broad coalitions
• Skill in Microsoft Office applications required, especially Excel
• Experience using statistical software (e.g., STATA, SPSS) to conduct data analysis preferred
• Experience or knowledge of social services or supportive programming preferred, but not required
• Experience working with data visualization tools such as Tableau and infographics preferred, but not required
• Experience working in political or grassroots advocacy campaigns preferred, but not required
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) language skills preferred, but not required
  
  

Qualifications:

• Cover letter and writing sample are required with application
• Chicago-based graduate student working towards a Master’s degree in the social sciences
• Committed to the organizational mission to provide Chicago public high school teens opportunities to explore and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Committed to a workplace that values different backgrounds and life experiences and allows everyone to bring their authentic self to work. Builds equity into structure, systems, and processes for our employees and the teens we serve
  
  

Compensation:

• $20 / hour
  
  

Additional Requirements:

Staff are required to provide proof of COVID-19 Vaccination or have an approved medical or sincerely held religious beliefs exemption prior to starting employment. If a medical or sincerely held religious belief exemption is approved, weekly Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing is required part of any reasonable accommodation.

EEO:

After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.

Organizational Summary:

After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond.

Thirty years later, now known as After School Matters, our program has engaged more than 350,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens. No other organization offers programs to high school students at the scale and quality that we do.

We offer paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including three ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park.

Currently, After School Matters' annual operating budget is approximately $35M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization.

For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

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