Data & Policy Fellow

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How to Apply

  • A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should be included in the same document as your resume and should specifically address your interest in this position and highlight related skills and experience.
  • This is a two-year term-limited appointment.
  • The Ford School is committed to providing a positive and inclusive work environment. This includes providing employees with flexible work opportunities. This position follows a hybrid schedule. 4 days/week will be largely remote, but the position will require regular travel (1 day/week) to U-M's Ann Arbor campus.
     

Summary

The University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab, a joint research center between the Ford School and the Institute for Social Research, envisions a world where partner-driven research drives positive social change. Our mission is to inform public policy decisions by analyzing data and evaluating programs to help our partners answer their most pressing questions. For more information, please visit us at www.youthpolicylab.umich.edu.  


As part of a partnership with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education and Potential (MILEAP), the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the Ballmer Group, the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab seeks a highly qualified candidate to join our team as a Michigan Data & Policy Fellow focused on advancing post-secondary educational outcomes and labor market outcomes for adult learners. You will begin in Summer 2024 and will be embedded within the Office of Sixty by 30 (60x30), located within MILEAP. 


Fellows will gain exposure to policymakers and program administrators across the State of Michigan, as well as direct mentorship and support from U-M faculty researchers. You will also participate in professional conferences, national trainings, and networking events, as available and applicable. This position is a two-year, time-limited fellowship. You will jointly report to the Director of the Office of Sixty by 30 as well as the YPL Director of Strategic Partnerships. You will also work closely with YPL faculty co-directors and the YPL Managing Director to coordinate work in MiLEAP with other YPL priorities and projects.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

  • Generous time off
  • A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
  • Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Long-term disability coverage
  • Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
  • Paid parental leave
     

Responsibilities*

  • Project Development:
    • During the first 3 to 6 months, the fellow will work closely with their supervisors at YPL and MILEAP/60x30  as well as other key partners  to refine and focus the specific projects the fellow will pursue.
  • Project Management: 
    • Plan and manage all phases of projects undertaken in partnership with the State of Michigan
    • Research best practices, conduct literature and landscape reviews, adhere to timelines, gather and analyze data, coordinate the work of others, and ensure completion of project deliverables. 
  • Agency Relations: 
    • Serve as key liaison between MILEAP and other state agencies; build and maintain relationships with both internal and external partners to achieve strategic project goals.
  • Data Analysis: 
    • Help obtain relevant administrative data to support analyses 
    • Analyze longitudinal data, create indices and other summary variables, and perform both basic and complex social science statistical analysis
  • Data Visualization:
    • Interpret and visualize data for non-technical and policymaking audiences.
    • Incorporate the use of data and research into programmatic and policy decision-making within state government
  • Findings Dissemination:
    • Draft memos, presentations, briefs, and reports
    • Create and maintain web-based resources
    • Produce and distribute reports, present findings and public events
       

Required Qualifications*

  • Graduate-level degree in public policy, education, public health, social work, political science, economics or a relevant social science discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Familiarity with post-secondary education policies and programs, labor market outcomes, and other related policy areas, including knowledge of relevant legislation and awareness of state/federal funding sources.
  • Familiarity with local/state/federal policymaking processes, funding mechanisms, and social program delivery.
  • Strong written communication skills with specific experience in writing for a public and/or public-sector audience and synthesizing academic research and quantitative data into coherent and policy-relevant messages.
  • Knowledge of social science research methods and concepts; understanding of program evaluation concepts and practices.
  • Strong statistical analysis skills; experience translating statistical analyses for non-technical audiences.
  • Commitment to principles of social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more information on the University's commitment to these principles, please visit: https://diversity.umich.edu/
     

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.