Research Associate - Institute on Aging : Job Details

IOA is on the forefront of revolutionary healthcare models, reshaping the way people can age in place. Our innovative models transform lives, enhance communities, and save healthcare systems millions of dollars. Rather than focusing on archaic outdated design, we strive to consistently question the status-quo and create new and more innovative ways to help aging adults and adults with disabilities maintain their quality of life. With over 23 programs, we offer multiple ways to aid seniors maintain their health, well-being, independence and participation in the community, fulfilling our mission.

We are in the process of building a research program to explore critical questions related to older adult services, with the goal of informing practice, driving innovation, and improving outcomes. The Research Associate will play a key role in this initiative, providing hands-on analytic support and contributing to the design and execution of research projects. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a growing research function within a mission-driven, innovative organization. Note: This position is grant-funded and contingent upon continued funding, which is currently expected to last for one year. While our goal is always to retain strong team members beyond the grant period, continued employment is not guaranteed.

Core Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of research projects focused on aging services, innovative care models, and older adult outcomes
• Clean, manage, and analyze quantitative data using appropriate statistical methods
• Conduct and analyze qualitative research
• Summarize and interpret findings, preparing clear tables, figures, and written summaries for internal and external audiences
• Assist with writing and editing research briefs, presentations, and peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Stay current on relevant literature and best practices to inform research design and contextualize findings

Collaboration & Capacity-Building

• Work closely with program and leadership teams to identify priority research questions and ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Help build internal capacity for data-driven decision making by sharing insights and recommending actionable improvements
• Support partnerships with academic, community, and healthcare stakeholders as needed

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure accuracy, rigor, and ethical integrity in all analyses and research activities
• Maintain documentation of analytic procedures and adhere to IRB and data privacy requirements

Qualifications

• Masters degree preferred in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Services Research, Social Work, Gerontology, or a related field; exceptional candidates with a bachelors degree and relevant experience will be considered
• At least 1 year of experience in quantitative data analysis, with preference for candidates trained in epidemiology or biostatistics
• Experience in qualitative research approaches
• Proficiency with statistical software such as R, SAS, Stata, or SPSS. R preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex findings clearly to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated interest in aging, healthcare innovation, or health equity
• Familiarity with IRB processes and human subjects research ethics preferred

Key Attributes

• Mission-driven and passionate about improving the lives of older adults
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving skills
• Collaborative, curious, and eager to learn and contribute to a growing team
• Capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic environment

Compensation: Range: $70,000-$85,000/annual. This rate is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, client needs, education and other factors. This range does not include any additional equity, benefits, or other non-monetary compensation which may be included.

Institute on Aging reserves the right to revise job descriptions or work hours as required. Institute on Aging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Institute on Aging is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment and providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants without regard to age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neuro-diversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.