Research Analyst, Economic & Public Policy Research (Hadley, MA)
The Economic & Public Policy Research group (EPPR) conducts a range of customized economic and demographic data analysis and policy studies on topics of interest to policymakers in government, business, and academia. Workforce, housing, infrastructure, local and regional economic development, industry ecosystems, demographic and socioeconomic trends, population estimates and projections, and economic impact are frequent themes of EPPR’s policy-related work.
Research Analysts contribute to project implementation working under the direction of experienced UMDI research professionals. Research Analysts’ work focuses heavily on activities related to data collection, analysis, and reporting of findings. The position may entail writing duties and some independent project tasks.
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Grantee Specialist, New England Region Head Start (home-based)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Regional Head Start business unit provides training, consultation and other technical assistance to Head Start grantees throughout the six New England states. This training, consulting and technical assistance supports Head Start programs in their continuous improvement of comprehensive services to low-income children and families from birth to age five, with special focus on helping preschoolers develop the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in school. The UMDI Regional Head Start group also supports Head Start programs’ work with families to help them understand and meet their children’s educational, health, nutritional, dental and social emotional needs. Head Start federally funded programs are operated throughout the United States through grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies.
Grantee Specialists provide training, consultation and technical assistance to Head Start grantees on program, fiscal management and governance issues. Grantee Specialists work at the direction of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Office.
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Career Specialist, Housing Navigator, MassHire Greater Brockton Career Center (Brockton, MA)
The MassHire Greater Brockton Career Center is a non-profit One-Stop Career Center that is managed by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) and is overseen under charter with the MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board. The MassHire Greater Brockton Career Center is located in downtown Brockton and provides employment and training services to businesses and job seekers.
The Career Specialist provides intensive direct services to qualified job seekers through job counseling, workshop instruction, networking, and coordination of outside services to ensure job seekers are prepared to meet the needs of area businesses and are able to find employment in local demand industries. The Career Specialist’s primary duty is the performance of work directly related to the business of serving MassHire customers, specifically acting as adviser and counselor in matters relating to their job search, access and eligibility to Federal Title 1 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services, and Unemployment Benefits. The focus is on ensuring that job seekers have information, training, and skills required to meet the demands of area businesses and to facilitate job-seeker access to local employment opportunities.
The Career Specialist works as part of a team to develop and foster opportunities for individuals at all levels of skill and experience. They provide career services that motivate, support, and empower customers. Career Specialists perform their work as a part of an integrated, multi-agency team; required to cross train with partnering agencies in order to ensure customers have the broadest possible access to necessary resources. This position must fulfill robust data entry and reporting requirements on program activities, meeting the standards of U.S. Department of Labor validation review.
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Customer Relations Specialist, MassHire Greater Brockton Career Center (Brockton, MA)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) is a public service, outreach, and economic development unit of the University of Massachusetts, providing government, business, and non-profit organizations with effective solutions in the areas of research, organizational development, training, and technical assistance through its 9 distinct business units. UMDI has a budget of approximately $23 million per year and employs approximately 130 full-time professional employees, and 50 part-time, seasonal, and graduate student employees.
MHGBCC is a non-profit One-Stop Career Center that is managed by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) and is overseen under charter with the MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board (GBWB). MHGBCC is located in downtown Brockton and provides employment and training services to job seekers and employers.
This MHGBCC Customer Relations Specialist is a key member of the Job Seeker Services Team, with the primary responsibility of initial customer assessment and direction of subsequent work flow. The Customer Relations Specialist functions as a communications hub for the office, and assists with the coordination of staff schedules. This position is a pivotal member of a highly integrated team, and has an important role in ensuring customers are directed to the appropriate next steps in their Career Center experience.
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Academic Director, Temporary/Hourly Professional, UMass Civic Initiative (Amherst, MA)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Civic Initiative (CI) business unit is dedicated to promoting democracy through education in both the U.S. and abroad. Select groups of students, scholars, and professionals from around the world come to the UMass Amherst campus and travel to other regional sites for various short term exchange programs. Programs are designed for attendees to improve their leadership skills, increase their subject knowledge, and learn about U.S. culture. Programs are based on engaging participants through active learning, integrating classroom readings, lectures, and discussions with community-based, collaborative projects that offer practical, real-life experience.
The Academic Director (AD) is responsible for creating and implementing unified academic curriculum consistent with program requirements and commitments contained in the grant award, and as expected by the funding agency. With direction from the CI Director, the AD is responsible for the academic, administrative and organizational direction of the program. The position requires that the AD manage day-to-day functions of the program in collaboration with the CI team and with the assistance of CI program mentors. The AD is expected to be present and engaged in academic content with the participants throughout the course of the program. The AD is responsible for bringing different program components into a unified context for participants and addressing any content confusion.
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Mentor, Civic Initiative - Hourly (Amherst, MA - Non-UMass undergraduates)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Civic Initiative (CI) business unit is dedicated to promoting democracy through education in both the U.S. and abroad. Select groups of students, scholars, and professionals from around the world come to the UMass Amherst campus and travel to other regional sites for various short term exchange programs. Programs are designed for attendees to improve their leadership skills, increase their subject knowledge, and learn about U.S. culture. Programs are based on engaging participants through active learning, integrating classroom readings, lectures, and discussions with community-based, collaborative projects that offer practical, real-life experience.
Mentors at UMDI CI provide administrative and organizational assistance to the Civic programs, assisting with the day-to-day functions. This will include, but not be limited to, supporting the academic director and program manager with administrative tasks and communication, and assisting with planning and organizing the schedule for each day. Mentors will have a unique opportunity to host small and large group sessions on social, cultural, and academic issues. In addition to facilitating participants’ programming (virtual and/or in-person) and creating a positive environment for the participants, mentors are expected to be present and engaged with the participants during small group and project activity. The mentors provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about American culture, norms, and discuss program content areas in an informal setting; similarly, mentors are able to learn about the participant’s home countries. This cross-cultural exchange represents an important aspect of the CI’s mission, by developing more substantive connections and understandings of different cultures, norms, and values.
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Mentor, UMass Civic Initiative - Hourly (Amherst, MA - UMass undergraduate applicants only)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Civic Initiative (CI) business unit is dedicated to promoting democracy through education in both the U.S. and abroad. Select groups of students, scholars, and professionals from around the world come to the UMass Amherst campus and travel to other regional sites for various short-term exchange programs. Programs are designed for attendees to improve their leadership skills, increase their subject knowledge, and learn about U.S. culture. Programs are based on engaging participants through active learning, integrating classroom readings, lectures, and discussions with community-based, collaborative projects that offer practical, real-life experience.
Mentors at UMDI CI provide administrative and organizational assistance to the Civic programs, assisting with the day-to-day functions. This will include, but not be limited to, supporting the academic director and program manager with administrative tasks and communication, and assisting with planning and organizing the schedule for each day. Mentors will have a unique opportunity to host small and large group sessions on social, cultural, and academic issues. In addition to facilitating participants’ programming (virtual and/or in-person) and creating a positive environment for the participants, mentors are expected to be present and engaged with the participants during small group and project activities. The mentors provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about American culture, norms, and discuss program content areas in an informal setting; similarly, mentors are able to learn about the participant’s home countries. This cross-cultural exchange represents an important aspect of the CI’s mission, by developing more substantive connections and understandings of different cultures, norms, and values.
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Project Support Specialist, Nonprofit Funding & Fiscal Solutions (Hadley, MA) (UMass Amherst undergraduate applicants only)
Nonprofit Funding & Fiscal Solutions (NFFS) is one of ten UMDI business units. NFFS is committed to helping organizations and partnerships grow, adapt, and transform to meet the urgent needs of a changing world. While focusing on big ideas, deep thinking, and constant learning, our staff and consultants are experienced subject-matter experts and leaders in project management, community engagement, planning and evaluation, communications, fund development, and nonprofit sustainability. We are deeply committed to building networks among the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and among individuals of diverse economic and educational backgrounds. NFFS values its clients as visionaries, leaders, and experts in their respective fields.
- Healthy Relationships, funded by the MA Department of Public Health
- Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan, funded by the MA Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
The NFFS Project Support Specialist will assist with a wide range of project-related support tasks, in particular related to Healthy Relationships and the MA Farmland Action Plan. Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to: project-specific coordination and communication with UMDI staff/consultants, organizational partners, clients, and funders; meeting facilitation; and various administrative tasks.
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Senior Research Manager, Applied Research and Program Evaluation (Boston OR Shrewsbury, MA OR Hadley, MA)
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Applied Research and Program Evaluation (ARPE) group partners with organizations across multiple sectors to develop and implement utilization-focused studies that address public health, human services, and educational policies and initiatives. Our philosophy reflects a rigorous but practical orientation, believing that research is most meaningful when findings can be applied to public benefit. We also believe that evaluative work is a key driver in advancing equity and strive to utilize culturally responsive and equitable evaluation practices in all of our work. To this end, we are actively working to engage a diverse team of researchers that is reflective of the communities served by the programs we study.
Senior Research Managers work with the unit director and other members of the unit management team (Senior Research Managers and Research Managers) to design studies, develop project scopes, budgets and project work plans. They are responsible for ensuring that the overall quality of work produced on their projects is professional and consistent with UMDI standards. In addition, they foster collaborative relationships with clients, provide ongoing supervision and mentoring to project staff, engage in business development, and support efforts to improve overall organizational capacity.
Senior Research Managers are expected to possess a solid foundation in research methods, strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, and the ability to independently manage projects and effectively lead a research team. Senior Research Managers will have demonstrated experience developing and implementing research projects, making significant contributions to business development, supervising and mentoring staff, and developing and fostering strong client relationships.
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Senior Research Analyst, Applied Research and Program Evaluation (Boston, MA)
The Applied Research and Program Evaluation group partners with organizations across multiple sectors to develop and implement utilization-focused studies that address public health, human services, and educational policies and initiatives. Our philosophy reflects a rigorous but practical orientation, believing that research is most meaningful when findings can be applied to public benefit. We also believe that evaluative work is a key driver in advancing equity and strive to utilize culturally responsive and equitable evaluation practices in all of our work. To this end, we are actively working to engage a diverse team of researchers that is reflective of the communities served by the programs we study.
Senior Research Analysts will have proven experience implementing research projects in a professional setting, as well as maintaining positive client relationships. They should be skilled in developing appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, as well as providing technical supervision to Research Analysts and student Research Assistants assigned to their projects. Typically, Senior Research Analysts work collaboratively under the direction of a Research Manager, Senior Research Manager, and/or the business unit’s Director.
ARPE Senior Research Analysts support the work of their business unit through project management assistance, conducting literature reviews, and implementing data collection and analysis plans. The position may entail significant writing duties and some independent project and task management. Specifics of the role may vary depending on the needs of the project(s) to which they are assigned.
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Real Property Facilities Analyst (New York City, NY), Head Start National Center on Program Management & Fiscal Operations
The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI), has been tasked to: (a) help increase capacity for the Office of Head Start (OHS) Regional Offices (RO) in the determination, tracking, and management of the federal interest in Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) grantee facilities nationwide; and (b) provide technical assistance in the funding of safe and healthy facilities for HS children through the Real Property Facilities Initiative (RPFI). The Real Properties Facilities Analyst (RPFA) will work with Regional Office federal staff in the creation of processes that will enhance their capacity to manage facility actions and enhance systems across the twelve OHS regions. Since services are provided nationwide some travel is required for this position. The RPFA will be located at the assigned Regional Office and be responsible for coordinating Regional facilities technical assistance activities and supporting the development of training processes, materials and resources within the scope of the RPFI. The RPFA will interface and communicate regularly with federal staff, UMDI, Community Development Institute (CDI) and the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (NC/PMFO) management staff. Primary direction for day-to-day activities will be provided by the position’s immediate supervisor. Guidance and direction for RPFI project objectives and deliverables will be provided by the RPFI Leadership Team.
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UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
