Senior Researcher

Veteran Firm Seeking a Senior Researcher for Onsite Assignment in Washington, DC

My name is Stephen Hrutka, and I lead a Veteran-owned consulting firm in Washington, DC, focused on strategic sourcing, supply chain, and IT Staffing.

We want to fill a Senior Researcher role for the DHS - Office of Information Systems in the DC Government.

The ideal candidate has a Master’s Degree in a relevant field (statistics, social science, public policy) and 3 years of experience in data management and quantitative analysis, with advanced proficiency in MS Excel (including macros and pivot tables) and expertise in big-data software such as STATA, R, SAS, GIS, Tableau, etc.

If you’re interested, I'll gladly provide more details about the role and further discuss your qualifications.

Thanks,

Stephen M Hrutka

Principal Consultant

www.hruckus.com

Executive Summary: HRUCKUS seeks to hire a researcher with 3 years of experience gathering data, conducting evaluations, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, synthesizing data, prototyping, and testing solutions. The role includes planning and facilitating co-creation workshops with various stakeholder groups.

Position Description: Washington, DC, stands out as a leader in urban innovation, having secured a significant grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to establish a dedicated Innovation Team (i-Team). The i-Team focuses on improving systems and driving digital transformation through data analytics, human-centered design, and emerging technologies. With a strong commitment to public service, the i-Team partners with intergovernmental and community stakeholders to develop agile solutions that enhance the District's ability to serve its residents.

The Senior Researcher will help drive this transformation by gathering insights, conducting research, and facilitating co-creation workshops. This role requires leading problem scoping, quantitative and qualitative research, ideation, and guiding prototyping and testing efforts.

The Role: The Senior Researcher will play a key role in transforming urban governance by driving data-based decision-making and challenging conventional assumptions. The role requires deep experience with data analysis tools and methods, including visualizations. The Senior Researcher will be expected to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical colleagues, ensuring that data insights translate into tangible improvements for the community.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Leading structured, in-depth analysis.
• Collaborating with diverse stakeholders to ensure inclusive engagement.
• Facilitating the creation of innovative solutions to address urban challenges.

Responsibilities:

Data Collection & Analysis:

• Collect, organize, analyze, and present data supporting the Innovation Team's initiatives.
• Employ quantitative methods and software to analyze diverse datasets, trends, and comparative data.

Data Management & Documentation:

• Establish practices for the collection, documentation, and storage of data.
• Develop robust metrics and frameworks to evaluate project effectiveness and impact.

Collaborative Work:

• Partner with team members, community organizations, and intergovernmental stakeholders to ensure diverse perspectives inform every project stage.

Data-Driven Decision Making:

• Champion the use of data to drive decisions within the Innovation Team.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative analysis into actionable insights.

Data Visualization:

• Produce compelling data visualizations that help stakeholders understand complex concepts.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build relationships with data providers and stakeholders across city agencies and private-sector partners to enhance data availability and integration.

Requirements:

• Strong commitment to public service with a desire to positively impact residents.
• 3 years of experience managing data and conducting quantitative analysis.
• Proficiency in quantitative and statistical analysis techniques.
• Expertise in developing key performance indicators to measure project impact.
• Advanced MS Excel skills, including macros and pivot tables.
• Proficiency with big-data software like STATA, R, SAS, GIS, Tableau, etc.
• Experience with data visualizations and effectively communicating complex concepts to various audiences.
• Detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and able to give/receive constructive feedback.
• A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., statistics, social science, public policy) is preferred.
• Government experience is a plus.
• Project management experience (e.g., scoping, scheduling, stakeholder communication) is a plus.

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Collaborative Thought Partner: Experience working with diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions.
• Data Evaluation: Proven ability to collect and analyze data to inform decision-making and measure outcomes.
• Project Management: Experience managing complex projects to ensure timely and on-budget delivery.

Minimum Education/Certification Requirements: Master’s degree in a relevant field (statistics, social science, public policy, etc.)

The target annual salary is $78,000 - $84,000.

Skills Matrix:

Skill/ Required /Desired/ Years of Experience

3 years of relevant experience managing data and conducting quantitative analysis./ Required/ 3

Advanced-level MS Excel skills, including the use of macros, pivot tables, and other advanced functions./ Required/ 3

Highly proficient with big-data software such as STATA, R, SAS, GIS software, Tableau, etc./ Required/ 3

3 yrs. analyzing info and statistical data to prepare reports and studies for professional use./ Required/ 3

Experience producing data visualizations./ Required/ 3

Strong ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences and stakeholders. / Required/ 3

Attentiveness to detail, deadline-oriented, and the ability to give and receive constructive criticism./ Required/ 3

Demonstrated ability to collect, interpret, and apply data effectively to inform decisions, drive insights, and measure outcomes./ Required/ 3

Experience with government./ Desired/ 1

Familiarity with coordinating complex projects—scoping, scheduling, and stakeholder communication—to ensure timely, on-budget delivery./ Desired/ 1

Comfortable actively seeking opportunities to co-create and share insights with team members, community organizations, and stakeholders./ Required/ 3

DC Residency./ Highly desired

Masters Degree./ Required