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. One position will be a senior position (Full Specialist) focusing generally on low-wage work and a diverse set of policies that affect working families and communities of color. The Associate Specialist will work with public datasets sets to carry out quantitative analyses on selected issues related to low-wage work.
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 for the Full Specialist:
• 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


Qualifications required at time of application:
• Master's degree or equivalent in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field, plus 5 years relevant experience in research and/or policy analysis.


Additional qualifications (required by start date):
• Strong quantitative skills and experience in using large government datasets such as the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, the Survey of Income and Program Participation and the Medical Expenditure Panel 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, SAS and/or Python;


Preferred qualifications for Full Specialist:
• Ten years relevant experience in research and policy analysis;
• Master’s degree or higher in statistics, economics, sociology, industrial relations or a related field.
• 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 January 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.

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