Program Insights Analyst & Researcher

The Organization:  Merit America

The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs, driving an average wage gain of $24k three months or more after completing the program. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near-term wage gains for our learners. 

Role Overview

The Program Insights Analyst & Researcher will play a pivotal role in advancing Merit America's mission by driving strategic program improvements and enhancing the learner experience through informed decision-making. As a key member of the Program Leadership team, this position is essential for developing and refining program strategies by understanding business needs, gathering insights, and recommending actionable solutions.

In this role, you will leverage data to optimize program outcomes, assess career track performance, and effectively monitor organizational OKRs. Key responsibilities include collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Data Team, to ensure data quality and relevance while avoiding duplication of efforts. The Program Insights Analyst & Researcher will lead the development and delivery of insightful data reports, maintain data integrity, and generate actionable insights that enhance the learner journey from recruitment through job placement. While this is an individual contributor role, it involves extensive collaboration across functions to drive strategic analysis and address data needs. 

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this exempt position requires cross-functional collaboration with teams across the organization to drive data-informed improvements and achieve strategic goals.

Interested in learning more?  We will be hosting an info session on Wednesday, June 11th at 2:15pm EST.  Click here to RSVP.

Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Program Insights Analyst & Researcher  will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Insights & Strategy (25%):

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research (e.g., interviews, surveys, focus groups) on program experience, including survey design and administration, to surface user needs, inform program strategy,  and identify areas for program improvement.
• Analyze program performance and learner feedback, translating findings into strategic recommendations aligned with organizational goals.
• Present insights to stakeholders, using data storytelling to drive alignment and action across teams, effectively translating complex technical concepts into compelling narratives for both technical and non-technical audiences..
• Bridge communication between Program and Data Teams, providing context to ensure data initiatives support program strategies.

Strategic Analysis & Planning (25%):

• Map and assess attrition across the learner journey, identifying targeted improvement areas for experimentation.
• Develop internal Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to track outcomes, learner trends, and progress toward key objectives.
• Perform competitive benchmarking and labor market analysis to inform program innovation and strategic positioning, providing analytical support for key initiatives while developing data-informed strategic recommendations..
• Support the creation and refinement of KPIs, ensuring metrics accurately reflect program goals and support decision-making.

Program Evaluation & Improvement (25%):

• Regularly share updates with Program Leadership on overall program effectiveness, using data and feedback to identify and prioritize improvements.
• Ensure program data is accurate and actionable, integrating it into regular performance tracking workflows while analyzing outcomes to recommend evidence-based improvements.
• Collaborate with the Data Team to interpret evaluation outputs, addressing gaps or inconsistencies to strengthen delivery.
• Lead sessions introducing dashboards and tools, fostering data fluency and enabling informed decisions across teams.

Data Management & Reporting (25%):

• Serve as the primary liaison with the Data Team on all program data needs, resolving discrepancies and aligning requests with established tools and processes.
• Support the development of evaluation dashboards and reports, ensuring they are user-friendly and relevant for program stakeholders.
• Train staff on dashboard and report usage, enabling data-informed planning and continuous improvement.
• Participate in routine data syncs, staying current on data definitions and contributing to the evolution of reporting infrastructure.

Skills and Competencies

We recognize that individuals from marginalized backgrounds, including women, people of color, and those with disabilities, are often less likely to apply when they don’t meet 100% of the job qualifications. Don’t let that be the reason you miss out on this opportunity! We want to emphasize that your unique skills, experiences, and perspectives are valuable, and we encourage you to apply if you can demonstrate many of the skills and competencies. Below are the skills that are relevant for thriving in this role:

Must Haves:

• Proven expertise in data analysis and visualization, using tools and techniques to translate complex data into actionable, strategic insights for program improvement.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a track record of aligning business needs with data to deliver effective solutions and translating ambiguous business questions into clear data-driven insights.
• Excellent communicator, capable of distilling complex findings into clear, compelling insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including in presentations and high-stakes discussions.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, especially between Data and Program teams, to ensure alignment, consistency, and quality of outputs while building stakeholder buy-in for data-driven changes and improvements.
• Experience with experimental design, including setting up and analyzing A/B tests to evaluate program initiatives.
• Skilled in both strategic thinking and practical execution, managing long-term goals alongside daily tasks.
• Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family-sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low-wage workers
• Demonstrated history of embodying our values, which inform our work and drive our organization's culture
• Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for our collective work in making a positive impact on the community we support, true to our value of Win & Lose Together
• Committed to continuous learning and growth in understanding and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with Hex or other BI tools
• Experience with Qualtrics, Google Forms, or other survey tools, including survey design and administration
• Experience with SQL

Other Logistics

• This position is full-time: 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
• Location: Remote
• Salary: $110,210.00
• Priority Application Deadline: Sunday, June 22nd

We take care of our employees by providing the following perks and benefits: 

• 4-day work week (Fridays are an operating day if there is a holiday closure during the week)
• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% Paid Employee Only Coverage)
• Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account
• Dependent care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit
• Education & personal development reimbursement
• Catalog of courses for professional learning and development
• Short and long-term disability
• Unlimited vacation (after a 90-day introductory period)
• Paid Parental Leave and Adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment)
• 11 federally recognized holidays
• 1 week office closure in July (week of July 4th)
• 2 week holiday office closure in December/January
• 401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution
• Wellness Benefits/Wellness Resources
• Discount perks at work program
• Phone/technology stipend
• Home office setup stipend
• Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in-person, and/or regional meetups

*Eligibility for some benefits may vary based on employment status, full-time or part-time. Eligibility will be outlined during the hiring process.

Remote Work & Sponsorship

Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the 50 U.S. states & the District of Columbia (international work abroad, including the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other islands are excluded). In addition, Merit America doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain workspaces that are fully inclusive. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

Still excited about our work?  You can learn more about our work in this video we made with our founding partner, Google.

Fair Chance Ordinance

Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. Employment under the ordinance includes part-time work, seasonal work, contract work, contingent work, work on commission, and work through the services of a temporary or employment agency.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.