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 one-year term-limited appointment and renewal is dependent on continued grant funding.
- The Ford School is committed to providing a positive and inclusive work environment, including flexible work opportunities. This position will generally be expected to work remotely. However, the selected candidate must be available to attend in-person meetings with the center's directors as needed.
Job Summary
The Better Government Lab (BGL) is looking for a part-time (20 hours) Research Manager to join the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. This position will focus on two core areas 1) working with BGL faculty to understand, systematize, and translate research findings from the field and those generated by BGL into actionable changes in policies and practices for interested states. This includes representing BGL at conferences, in meetings with government officials, and building a portfolio of partnerships that generate policy impact. It also may include the writing and editing of peer reviewed journal articles and analysis of qualitative data. And 2) work with BGL faculty to support administrative tasks required to keep the organization running smoothly including project management, communication of research to broader communities through media, social media, conferences, and events, as well as supporting the start-up of projects with BGL faculty and other staff. You will report to Professor Donald Moynihan.
The Better Government Lab is a joint research center of Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy and the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. By bridging the nation's capital with America's heartland, we transform credible evidence into real-world solutions through rigorous research with the federal, state, and local governments. BGL focuses on how government innovations can reduce administrative burdens and increase access to the U.S. social safety net. There is clear evidence that safety net programs, such as SNAP, WIC, or TANF improve people's food security, health and economic mobility. Administrative burdens, however, prevent many eligible people from receiving essential help. Our value-added is to offer high quality evaluation skills paired with deep knowledge of civic tech, administrative burdens, and the safety net to governments to improve access to these critical programs.
The Ford School is one of the nation's foremost policy schools, housed at one of the world's great public universities. We are a community dedicated to the public good. We inspire and prepare leaders grounded in service, conduct transformational research, and collaborate on evidence-based policymaking to take on our communities' and our world's most pressing challenges. To learn more about the Ford School, read About Us.
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*
- Research Dissemination and Project Management 40%
- Plan and help support all phases of research projects with particular focus on translating research findings into actionable changes to policy and practices for government and civic technology partners.
- Manage deliverables in collaboration with project staff and BGL Executive Director.
- Communications and Dissemination 40%
- Draft memos, presentations, briefs, and reports summarizing research findings
- Assist in creating and maintaining web-based resources
- Produce BGL research summaries products for dissemination such as the BGL monthly newsletter
- Work with graphic designers and printers to produce and distribute reports
- Present findings and write and edit research summaries and academic papers for peer review.
- Qualitative Data Analysis 10%
- Perform interviews, data cleaning, and coding on qualitative data sets
- Prepare analysis results for memos, spreadsheets, presentations, and academic papers.
- BGL administration and event coordination 10%
- Support the creation of grant reporting documents with the BGL Executive Director.
- Manage events including RSVPs, registrations, room reservations
- Coordinate reservations, travel and lodging arrangements, where needed.
- Develop agendas, promotional, and meeting materials.
Required Qualifications*
- Master's degree in public policy or information systems, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 5+ years of professional experience working with government and / or nonprofit organizations in the safety net space.
- Excellent writing and editing skills - both for grant proposals and peer-reviewed journal articles - ability to digest and synthesize research on administrative burdens in safety-net programs for policymaker and policy implementer audiences, especially using lived experience supporting individuals accessing these systems.
- Advanced knowledge of, and demonstrated experience in qualitative research.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
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 Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.