Careers

Staff Positions:

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) is hiring! Join a diverse interdisciplinary research team within the PPC that engages in a variety of research and consultation activities involving private and public sector partners. More details below.

Student Assistants:

Many of the PPC's projects include graduate research assistantships or undergraduate research opportunities. Graduate students and undergraduates assist with research and other project activities. Graduate students often work with the faculty and project directors to present and publish the research.

Past students have gone on to work in industries such as social science research, law, federal government services, threat assessment, clinical psychology, public policy, international development, economics, and nonprofit management. We are always looking for talented and motivated students to work with our collaborative team of researchers, so contact the office if you would like to work with us.

 

 

Research Manager or Senior Research Manager

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center links policy with research, process, and practice. Center researchers team with policymakers and other stakeholders to actively inform public policy by bringing expertise in strategic consulting and planning, communications, data collection and analysis, evaluation, events and seminars, facilitation, grant writing, project management, research, and surveys. The Center focuses on translational research and obtains grants and contracts to fund this research.

Research Manager – Under very limited supervision, the Research Manager will design, coordinate, facilitate, implement, and evaluate a wide variety of projects. The Research Manager will coordinate all aspects of project administration from project design and development to final reporting including: assisting in identifying and pursuing funding to support projects; coordinating and monitoring all aspects of research (including identifying, recruiting and/or hiring consultants for portions of the work, as well as undertaking research directly); facilitating and coordinating the work of project committees and subcommittees, and acting as the primary point of contact for project design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting; collecting and analyzing data; researching and reviewing existing reports and literature; developing scopes of work, timelines, and research plans for various projects; synthesizing research, research reports, and recommendations; and writing reports and presenting findings for on-going grant and contract funded projects that impact state and local policy, and will have national implications.

Senior Research Manager – The Senior Research Manager will work independently to design, coordinate, facilitate, implement, and evaluate a wide variety of projects. The Senior Research Manager will coordinate all aspects of project administration from project design and development to final reporting including: identifying and pursuing funding to support projects; coordinating and monitoring all aspects of research (including identifying, recruiting and/or hiring consultants for portions of the work, as well as undertaking research directly); facilitating and coordinating the work of project committees and subcommittees, and acting as the primary point of contact for project design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting; collecting and analyzing data; researching and reviewing existing reports and literature; developing scopes of work, timelines, and research plans for various projects; synthesizing research, research reports, and recommendations; and writing reports and presenting findings for on-going grant and contract funded projects that impact state and local policy, and will have national implications.

Applicants will be required to submit a resume, cover letter, list of references, and writing sample as four (4) separate documents in MS Word or PDF format. Review of applications will begin December 7, 2023.

Apply Today

The University of Nebraska is an EO/AA employer. See www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

Research Specialist I or II

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) is seeking a Research Specialist I or II to assist with current and future funded projects. The Research Specialist position is open to applicants who have a bachelor’s degree plus one (1) year of experience researching and presenting policy reports. Knowledge of and experience with community and statewide public policy issues. Outstanding verbal, interpersonal, planning, and writing skills required; the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with national, state, and local policymakers and stakeholders; the ability to multitask and perform assigned tasked quickly and accurately.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s Degree and/or equivalent experience/education; quantitative experience in the social sciences is preferred. Experience cleaning, organizing, and managing data is preferred. Program evaluation experience is preferred. Experience working with policy makers and other stakeholders, problem solving and decision making, working independently with minimal supervision, keeping supervisor and internal team members informed, and providing excellent customer relations; the ability to translate academic research to accessible quality policy reports; the ability to quickly master a range of content areas; excellent written communication and analytic skills; the ability to coordinate a wide variety of projects; the ability and flexibility to perform other tasks as assigned. Knowledge of behavioral health, public participation processes, and/or social sciences applied research is also preferred.

Applicants will be required to submit a resume, cover letter, list of references, and writing sample as four (4) separate documents in MS Word or PDF format. Review of applications will begin December 15, 2023.

APPLY NOW

The University of Nebraska is an EO/AA employer. See www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.