EdTrust-West is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the California education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust-West improves racial equity in education, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners, especially those experiencing poverty, will thrive.

EdTrust-West seeks a Research & Data Analyst to join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

The Analyst will help produce research that highlights trends and inequities in public education, with a focus on transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. The analyst will develop research briefs, data tools, presentations, and other communications that will advance, promote, and elevate the organization’s key education priorities. The work will focus on using large data sets to create compelling narratives about the current state of access, accountability, affordability, and success for students of color and students from low-income families, and it will emphasize Quality Assurance checks to ensure the accuracy of the data.

EdTrust-West is the California-based office of EdTrust headquartered in Washington D.C. EdTrust-West is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust-West improves equity in education from transitional kindergarten through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

This role, available immediately, is based in our Oakland, California office and is eligible for telework for up to 3 days per week. The Research & Data Analyst reports to the Director of P-16 Research.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The responsibilities and objectives for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct sophisticated analyses - using publicly available data - that examine socioeconomic and race-based patterns in opportunity and success
• Support the development and analysis of equity metrics that assess how committed institutions and states are to access, accountability, affordability, and success
• Engage in extensive Quality Assurance measures to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data we analyze and report
• Assist with the redesign, improvement, and annual update of tools and resources for students, policymakers, and institutional leaders that provide information related to student success, accessibility, and affordability
• Support the organization's efforts to leverage data and current research to inform policy design and practice, including assisting with the development of tools and processes to aid advocacy for closure of equity gaps in TK-12 public education
• Package research and data for lay audiences and funders in EdTrust-West presentations, briefs/reports, webtools, blogs, grant applications, and the website
• Build and cultivate external partnerships with policymakers, researchers, and advocates to advance and refine EdTrust-West policy priorities
• Respond to ad-hoc inquiries about data and research from staff, as well as work with the TK-12 policy team to respond to policymakers, advocates, the media, and the public

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity with a focus on racial equity
• Dedication in contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment
• Commitment to “Walking the Talk,” which means operating with – and being willing to continuously develop – the cultural competence and humility necessary to make sure the values in our external-facing work are also present in our internal systems and processes
• A passion for pursuing equity and issues that affect low-income students and students of color
• Demonstrated capacity to set priorities; work on multiple detail-oriented tasks, often on a time-sensitive basis; and work effectively both individually and as part of a team
• Advanced knowledge and experience in Excel and software for statistical analysis
• Demonstrated ability to manage and manipulate quantitative data and conduct descriptive analyses
• Interest in understanding federal and state policy contexts that affect public education, from TK- 12th grade, and thoughts about how to improve these policies through appropriate policy levers
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and in a variety of formats, including the ability to write accurate and compelling narratives to frame and communicate key findings of analysis (briefs, blogs, infographics, slide decks, etc.)
• Nice to have but not required: Spanish speaking skills and/or experience translating content from English to Spanish

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in education or related field, such as economics, statistics, computer science, or mathematics.
• Demonstrated ability to produce quantitative and qualitative research analyses that address key issues in education with a keen emphasis on equity and closing gaps in opportunity and outcomes