Research Associate II

Vital Research

Research Associate II managing multi-sector research and evaluation projects at Vital Research. Leveraging qualitative and quantitative methods for actionable insights in health equity and community well-being.

Posted 6/8/2026full-timeLos Angeles • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $77,000 - $85,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead Research and Evaluation Projects
Manage multiple research and evaluation projects from planning through final deliverables
Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and project partners
Coordinate project timelines, budgets, communications, and deliverables
Ensure research activities meet quality standards and project objectives
Support business development efforts, including proposal writing and client relationship management
Conduct Mixed-Methods Research
Design and implement surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other data collection activities
Support participant recruitment and stakeholder engagement efforts, including outreach to diverse and hard-to-reach populations
Manage, clean, and organize quantitative and qualitative datasets
Maintain data integrity, confidentiality, and compliance with research protocols
Analyze Data and Communicate Findings
Conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative analyses using appropriate methodologies
Develop charts, dashboards, visualizations, and other tools to support data interpretations
Prepare reports, presentations, literature reviews, and client-facing deliverables
Translate complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Contribute to Team Success
Mentor junior staff and support team development
Supervise field staff, consultants, and project team members as needed
Contribute to proposal development, business development initiatives, and client relationship management
Participate in professional development, conferences, publications, and knowledge-sharing activities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master’s degree in a social science field (e.g., education, gerontology, public health, sociology, psychology, or a related discipline)
4+ years of post-graduate experience in research and/or evaluation experience
Expertise in mixed-methods research, including survey design, qualitative research, and large-scale data analysis
Proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, R, Stata, and survey platforms
Strong project management and client-facing consulting experience
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings to varied audiences
Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and independently manage workflows across multiple projects
Flexible, adaptable, and committed to equity, community-based research, and impact-driven work
Experience with Medicaid programs, public health, or Health & Human Services research strongly preferred
Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision
Flexible vacation and work hours
401(k) after one year
EAP
Annual professional development stipend

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

mixed-methods researchsurvey designqualitative researchlarge-scale data analysisstatistical softwareSPSSSASRStatadata visualization

Soft Skills

project managementclient relationship managementwritten communicationverbal communicationpresentation skillsmultitaskingprioritizationflexibilityadaptabilitymentoring

Certifications

Master’s degree in social science