Research Associate

Position Summary

About the California Budget & Policy Center

At the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center), we are dedicated to a vision of a more equitable California. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization specializing in research and analysis, our mission is to advance public policies that tangibly improve the lives of Californians, especially those who have been historically denied the opportunity to share in the state’s prosperity. Our focus is on illuminating inequities in budget choices and public policies that disproportionately affect low and middle-income households, women, immigrants, American Indians, Asian, Black, Latinx, Pacific Islander Californians, and other communities of color, as well as individuals with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community. By identifying policy pathways that expand economic opportunities, we strive to promote well-being and dignity for all Californians.

The Budget Center is deeply committed to advancing equity and inclusion, both in the policies we advocate for and within our organizational culture. We value the lived experiences and diverse perspectives of our staff, recognizing that these insights are crucial to achieving our goals. Our work is grounded in values of community engagement, integrity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We endeavor to shift power and resources towards Californians who have been systemically excluded, ensuring that our policies are not only equitable but also anti-racist.

About the Role

The Research Associate is a  valued member of the Budget Center’s growing team that supports the advancement of our strategic agenda through research and analysis, helps author innovative reports, and interacts with local, state, and national partners. Furthermore, the Research Associate will be a core part of the Budget Center’s Budget Power Project (BPP) initiative, helping to advance BPP-related research and supporting coordination efforts with BPP partners.

The Research Associate reports to the Senior Policy Fellow.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research & Analysis:

• Collect and analyze state and local data.
• Prepare charts and graphics for use in publications and presentations.
• Assist in the preparation and writing of publications.
• Track state and federal legislation and budget actions.

Technical Assistance & Presentations:

• Participate in public education and outreach activities.
• Respond to requests for information from stakeholder groups and policymakers.

Organizational Activities:

• Contribute to the Budget Center’s Race & Gender Equity work through participation on internal committees and through other opportunities.
• Assist with development of the Budget Center’s annual policy conference (Policy Insights).

Budget Power Project Support:

• Support the analyst team with responding to BPP technical assistance requests, including gathering information and data on local issues.
• Work with BPP partners to coordinate responses to technical assistance requests from BPP partners.
• Support the analyst team with Budget Center BPP webinars and presentations

Qualifications

To effectively perform this role, an individual must be capable of performing each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Qualifications include:

• Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial equity, preferably with experience embodying these values in equity-centered research, analysis, and technical assistance.
• Dedicated to the goals and mission of the Budget Center, with a strong interest in conducting research and partnering with advocates to advance policy priorities.
• Ability to effectively communicate (both written and verbal communication) complex information and concepts in a clear and concise manner to diverse audiences.
• Self-motivation, ability to work independently, and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to coordinate tasks and track progress.
• Ability to work in a team setting and successfully coordinate with others to advance tasks.
• Facility with numbers, including the use of spreadsheets, and attention to detail. Experience with administrative datasets and Census data preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products and the Google Suite. Familiarity with data visualization platforms (such as Data Wrapper) preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or a high school diploma with four years of relevant experience is required. A Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, urban planning, or related degree is preferred.

We understand that not every individual will possess every characteristic listed in our qualifications. However, if you believe in your ability to excel in this role and feel a strong alignment with our organization’s values and mission, we encourage you to apply. Our team values diverse experiences and perspectives and is committed to providing a supportive environment where talents can flourish. Even if you don’t meet every criterion, but feel that this is the right fit for you, we would love to hear from you.

Physical and Location Requirements

The Budget Center strives to work with each staff member to provide flexible schedules and accommodate personal obligations in pursuit of creating and maintaining a strong work-life balance and well-being. We provide telework/remote work, in-person/in-office, and hybrid work arrangements.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer and using a computer and mouse.
• Occasional travel is required (work travel is fully reimbursable).
• This role is primarily remote, but candidates should be based in a location allowing for occasional in-person attendance at our Sacramento office. While we don’t specify a strict distance requirement, it’s important that candidates can comfortably travel to the office for initial weekly visits for onboarding and twice a month as they settle into the role. Ideal candidates will reside in the Greater Sacramento region or a location that supports manageable travel to Sacramento, such as the Bay Area, Chico, or Tahoe regions.

Compensation and Benefits

This is an hourly non-exempt position with an annualized salary of $60,000 – $78,293. The salary will be determined by considering various factors, including skills, relevant experience, and educational background. Alongside these factors, we are committed to maintaining pay equity and will consider the internal equity among our existing team in formulating any final offer. It’s important to note that the specified range represents the complete salary band for this position. Typically, offers are not made at the top half of the range to allow for future salary growth. Benefits include:

• Excellent health insurance and dental and vision coverage (100% coverage of premiums for the employee; 90% coverage of premiums for dependents);
• Retirement benefits include a 403b plan and an annual SEP-IRA retirement contribution of at least 5% of salary (most recently set at 10% of salary); participation in the 403b plan is not required to receive an employer retirement contribution;
• Annual paid leave benefits include:
  • 12 vacation days,
  • 12 sick days,
  • 10 holidays,
  • 4 personal days,
• Yearly evaluation of additional time off benefits during summer (half-day Fridays) and winter (late December office closure);
• Flexible work arrangements that support alternative schedules and both in-person and remote work;
• 16 weeks of family leave for parents or caregivers;
• FSAs for health, childcare, and transportation costs;
• Annual stipends to cover home office, transportation, and well-being expenses; and,
• Annual allocations for professional development.

No calls, please. Please submit the following using this link:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• A brief equity statement addressing how your personal and professional experiences demonstrate your embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion (see /https://calbudgetcenter.org/app/uploads/2024/01/Candidate-Equity-Statement-2024.pdf for information on preparing an equity statement)