Research Analyst at ECOnorthwest

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ECOnorthwest is a public policy consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Seattle, Bend, Denver, and Los Angeles. For 50 years, policymakers and business leaders have trusted ECOnorthwest to inform the complex issues that shape communities. ECOnorthwest has worked with a diverse range of over 2,000 public, private, non-profit, and foundation clients in the United States and around the world to craft effective and feasible solutions.

To answer the complex questions of our time, we integrate economic analysis with complementary disciplines to provide a more complete understanding of how policy choices affect peoples’ lives.

Overall purpose of the position

Research Analysts are responsible for performing research on various assigned projects, in collaboration with others. Research Analysts are an important part of a project team. They prepare sections of technical reports, summaries, and qualitative and quantitative analyses, as needed, under the supervision of Associates, Project Managers, and Project Directors. They may bring specialized skills, such as spatial analysis or statistical analysis.

This position is expected to maintain a billable hours ratio of 85% after 5 months.

Essential functions of the position

Under the guidance of an Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director:

• Conducts research, in accordance with standard methods and research best practices.
• Identifies and organizes data and sources of information that are appropriate to assigned tasks.
• Summarizes information into clear and understandable tables and charts.
• Balances billable project work, along with culture-building and thought leadership, as outlined in ECO’s Billable Hours and Revenue Expectations 2024.
• Ensures that data and information is thoroughly documented with appropriate sources and assumptions.
• Conducts interviews as part of research, as directed by an Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director.
• Completes work within project timeline and budget as provided by the Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director.
• Proactively reports concerns and progress to the Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director on a weekly basis, unless more or less frequent reporting is requested.
• Manages their time based on the deadlines of each project they are working on, coordinating with the Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director when there are competing deadlines.
• Requests a time budget for tasks and alerts Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director when work will exceed the time budget they were given.
• Discusses findings with other staff to evaluate validity of findings and explore implications; raises any concerns about how a research process addresses issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or any other concerns or issues with research alignment with ECOnorthwest’s mission and statement of research integrity.
• Prepares sections of reports or memorandum under direction from Associate, Project Manager, or Project Director, including inserting tables and charts and writing narrative.
• Assists in developing presentations, as needed.
• Related duties, as assigned.
• Knowledge of and ability to appropriately apply principles of research, including interviews, documentation and analysis of data, documentation of analysis, understanding and application of relevant theory, and use of database, spreadsheet, and statistical software.
• Ability to write clearly about technical information.
• Ability to learn and adapt new principles.
• For staff with spatial analysis responsibilities, ability to produce clear and accurate maps.
• Ability to understand appropriate use of data sources and their limitations, including how they may over- or under-represent specific populations.
• Ability to understand and help with formulating a research question.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Ability to incorporate existing knowledge into projects.

Project and team management skills

• Ability to meet deadlines and produce quality analysis in the form of tables, charts, and narrative.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully…