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Assistant/Associate/Full Specialist – UCB Labor Center - Inst. for Research on Labor and Employment (Qualifications Updated)

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Position description

The UC Berkeley Labor Center, at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), UC Berkeley, has openings for two full-time policy analysts. Founded in 1964, the UC Berkeley Labor Center works on the most pressing economic challenges affecting working families in California and communities across the country. The Labor Center provides timely, policy-relevant research on labor and employment issues for policymakers and stakeholders, and conducts training for a new and diverse generation of worker leaders and students.

The policy analysts will conduct policy-relevant research on labor and employment issues as well as provide technical assistance to stakeholders on public policies in California and across the country. The positions will work with public datasets sets to carry out quantitative analyses on selected issues related to low-wage work, with increasing responsibilities at the higher ranks.

These positions offer an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-impact, high-visibility organization and to work with a nationally-recognized team of researchers, policy analysts, and academics.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting quantitative research, including statistical analyses drawing on government datasets, academic research and industry trade data;
• Contributing to multiple teams within the Labor Center, conducting academic and policy-related research relevant to working families, including mixed-methods projects that incorporate qualitative fieldwork;
• Providing technical assistance to stakeholders, policy makers, media and internal staff on issues related to low-wage work, labor standards, and other labor and employment topics;
• Providing data support, statistical expertise, and instruction supervision to internal staff working on quantitative analysis;
• Coordinating research with academic researchers on other UC Campuses;
• Contributing to research reports and policy briefs, and drafting op-eds and public testimony;
• Contributing to funding proposals for research projects. Additional responsibilities at the Full Specialist rank:
• Serving as lead author on research and policy reports
• Overseeing large research projects
• Supervising graduate student research assistants and junior staff
• Helping to secure research grants and serving as a PI on grants Basic qualifications required at time of application:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field.

Additional qualifications (required by start date):
• Strong quantitative skills and experience in using large government datasets such as the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey;
• Experience conducting labor market analyses of wages and other job quality outcomes, the role of race, gender and immigration status, and firm and industry dynamics;

• A strong grounding in labor standards policies in the US;
• Strong writing skills, geared toward policy research reports;
• Experience working with academic researchers and stakeholders such as unions, worker centers, faith-based organizations, accountable development advocates, and others;
• Ability to work independently and creatively;
• Ability to program in STATA

Preferred qualifications for Assistant Specialist:
• Master's degree or equivalent degree in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field.

Preferred qualifications for Associate Specialist:
• Master's degree or equivalent degree in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field, plus 5 years relevant experience in research and/or policy analysis.

Preferred qualifications for Full Specialist:
• Master’s degree or higher in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field plus ten years relevant experience in research and policy analysis;
• A substantial record of publishing, including serving as lead author on research and policy reports.

Positions will be full-time; salary will be commensurate with experience. Expected start date is May 2017.

To apply, please upload your most recently updated Curriculum Vitae (required), a cover letter (required), one writing sample (required) and contact information for 3 references (required)
to: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF01189 . Letters of reference are not required at this time. We will seek your permission before contacting your references.

All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html) prior to submitting their letters.

This position will remain open until filled. Please address any inquiries to Kathleen Parsons at kparsons@berkeley.edu.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy,
see http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • One Writing Sample

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Job location

Berkeley, CA