OVERVIEW
Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights (OI), is seeking applicants for a Data Scientist.
Opportunity Insights (OI) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute focused on improving economic opportunity. Founded in 2018, Opportunity Insight has become a nationally- and internationally- recognized leader in the science of economic mobility and in the use of large administrative data to understand and address inequality. Opportunity Insights has published seminal work on national trends in upward mobility; racial disparities; the role of neighborhoods, social capital, and higher education in upward mobility; the use of private-sector data to understand disparate impacts in the recent economic recession and recovery; and new methods to estimate program impacts. To complement this research, Opportunity Insights has developed data resources including the Opportunity Atlas, the Social Capital Atlas, and the Economic Tracker to support evidence-based policy and practice. To date, OI’s work has shaped policy discussions at the national and local level, with nearly a dozen of its studies covered on the front pages of major media outlets, such as the New York Times, The Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and have been widely cited in policy discussions, including the President’s State of the Union address.
The Data Scientist will have two responsibilities. The first is to conduct economic and statistical analysis to support evidence-based investments and cost-benefit evaluation to promote economic mobility. The person in this role will design and implement statistical and econometric models to estimate program impacts, develop financial models of returns to program investments, and conduct cost-benefit and impact analyses. The second objective is to translate findings from these analyses and other ongoing research at Opportunity Insights into actionable insights for external stakeholders and the broader public, ranging from policymakers to students participating in OI’s new data science courses. Both sets of activities will be conducted in collaboration with other current members of the Opportunity Insights team.
Term: This is a two-year term position with a strong possibility of renewal.
Location: The position is located in Cambridge, MA, with the possibility of hybrid work arrangements.
Compensation and Benefits: Harvard’s salary grades and ranges can be found here. This position is classified at level 59. We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website here to learn more about Harvard’s benefits package.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The individual taking on this role will be responsible for the following:
Policy Evaluation and Financial Modeling
- Lead efforts to acquire, clean, and manage large administrative and program datasets.
- Design and conduct econometric studies assessing the effectiveness of public policies, social programs, and other mobility-related interventions.
- Apply causal inference methods including matching estimators, quasi-experimental designs, and other techniques.
- Model financial returns from alternative portfolios of investments, including expected returns and risk assessment.
- Ensure methodological rigor and transparency in all analyses.
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Tool Development
- Conduct cost-benefit analyses (CBA) to estimate returns of programs.
- Quantify direct and indirect economic and social benefits.
- Develop a calculator to estimate cost savings and impacts of state and federal tax revenues.
- Integrate findings into dashboards, reports, and visualizations for internal decision-makers and external partners.
Teaching and Mentoring
- Support OI initiatives to teach data science and OI research to high school and college students.
- Supervise and collaborate with junior analysts and predoctoral research assistants as needed.
- Provide technical guidance on modeling, interpretation, and quality assurance.
- Contribute to internal capacity building and knowledge-sharing across teams.
Communication of Results
- Produce technical reports summarizing results for relevant internal and external stakeholders.
- Help prepare non-technical policy briefs, reports, and presentations summarizing key findings, uncertainties, and implications.
- Represent the organization in briefings, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.
REQUIREMENTS
Background/experience
- Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, or related field.
- Minimum 2 years of professional experience in applied econometric analysis, preferably in policy evaluation, government, or academic settings.
Specific job skills and Competencies
Expertise in:
- Causal inference and econometric modeling
- Analysis of big data
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Quantitative impact evaluation and forecasting
- Writing technical and non-technical economics papers
- Programming languages such as R, Stata, Python, and SAS
Proven ability to translate technical results into actionable policy insights.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to non-technical audiences.
Experience and interest in working in collaborative settings with other team members.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply through Harvard’s online portal. To be considered for this position, a cover letter and resume/CV must be submitted. A skills assessment may be required as part of the interview process.
Should you have questions, please contact hiring@opportunityinsights.org.
EEO/NON-DISCRIMINATION COMMITMENT STATEMENT
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.
To apply, visit https://us.smrtr.io/5phYD. (See posting for details.)