Employment

We’re well-staffed with well staff

PRA provides a variety of employment opportunities in various fields related to behavioral health systems change, including research, technical assistance, logistics, and communications. Our company culture is rooted in life-work integration, and we are proud to offer competitive salaries, rich benefits, and a positive work environment. Some of our employee perks include:

Employer-subsidized healthcare
Generous vacation time
Tuition reimbursements
Student loan subsidy
Retirement benefits
Day of Reflection opportunity
Frequent traveler benefits
Wellness reimbursements
Charitable giving matches

By fostering a culture of wellness and inclusion, we’ve created a diverse community of colleagues. PRA is committed to ensuring equity and respect for all persons, eliminating discrimination in all forms, and creating a work environment that is inclusive of all cultures, viewpoints, and experiences. We strive to create a work environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully to PRA’s success. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a recipient of the Times Union “Top Workplace” award in 2013 and 2018.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or Veteran status.

Please note: Policy Research employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and be able to show proof of their vaccination status.

View our Year in Review to learn more about what it is like to work at PRA.

VIEW JOB LISTINGS

Data Scientist—Research & Evaluation

Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) is seeking a full-time Data Scientist to provide statistical expertise, direction, and data analysis support for projects focused on mental health diversion programs and understanding outcomes and pathways for adults within the criminal legal system who are found incompetent to stand trial.

The candidate for this position will have significant expertise in data analysis and visualization with complex data. A successful candidate will also have experience and expertise in mental health and/or behavioral health and the criminal legal system. The candidate will have a track record of leading and contributing to large-scale research and evaluation projects using complex longitudinal, time-ordered, and administrative data from multiple sources. The ideal candidate will have experience with complex data from jails, courts, hospitals, and other behavioral health and criminal legal system services and programs. The successful candidate will be an integral part of a team that is evaluating mental health diversion programs. The candidate for this position reports to the Director of Research and Evaluation and will collaborate with senior and junior research staff.

This position is remote, with occasional trips (at least twice per year) to PRA’s offices in Albany, NY, required.

Specific responsibilities will include:

Identifying analytic approaches to best meet research and evaluation goals
Using experience in statistical inference and information retrieval to apply the best methods and models to draw inferences from the data
Leading and contributing to aspects of the data analysis lifecycle: modeling, ETL, cleaning, missing data analysis, imputation, exploration, model selection/fitting, and implementation
Maintaining large data sets, including merging files, restructuring and recoding variables, assigning labels and values, checking for and resolving errors, and creating codebooks
Communicating technical issues and proposing solutions with the principal investigators and other team members
Technical and scholarly writing and presentations
Working closely and collaboratively with PRA principal investigators and research assistants to carry out project deliverables

Qualifications

Advanced degree in data science, biostatistics, or a related field
Experience and knowledge in behavioral health and/or the criminal legal system
Experience with complex longitudinal, timer-ordered, and/or administrative data
Experience using data analysis software; experience with R & SAS is highly preferred
Previous research project management experience is desired
Experience contributing to data visualization and translation of research findings for academic, policy, and community audiences
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, research creativity, and ability to work within timelines to accomplish multiple tasks and deliverables
Some travel required

Salary Range: $70,000 – $125,000, commensurate with experience

To be considered for this position, candidates must complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/OXwMrOfQ and send a cover letter (indicating position title) and a resume or CV via email to jobs@prainc.com (preferred), fax to (518) 439-7612, or by mail at Policy Research Associates, Inc., 345 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054.

Salary and level of position are commensurate with experience. This position is a full-time, immediate opening with a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision care, 401k and employer-contributed retirement, student loan assistance, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, and casual work attire. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, a recipient of the Times Union “Top Workplace” award, and an American Heart Association Silver Level Recognition award winner for Workplace Health Achievement.

We are committed to building a diverse, representative, and inclusive team. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.

PRA, a leader in the behavioral health and human services field for over 35 years, is a small woman-owned business located in the Albany, NY, area. Funded by federal and state agencies, national organizations, and foundations, PRA conducts research and evaluation; provides technical assistance and training; and plans and facilitates major conferences, meetings, and other knowledge-transfer activities in the behavioral health field. PRA is known for its expertise on behavioral health issues related to juvenile and criminal justice; services for children, adolescents, and their families; recovery supports; service members and veterans; homelessness and housing; and violence.

Administrative/Operations Specialist

Background

A women-owned small business and Times Union Best Workplace, Policy Research Associates (PRA) is seeking to fill the position of Administrative/Operations Specialist. PRA is a dedicated group of employees working hard to improve the systems that serve individuals with behavioral health needs. We are looking for someone to further our mission to create positive social change by becoming an integral part of supporting the good work being done at PRA.

About the Position

PRA seeks a candidate interested in settling in and making a long-term commitment to facilitating the business operations of an organization dedicated to improving the lives of others. Reporting to the Director of Administration, the Administrative/Operations Specialist will perform tasks essential to the smooth operation of our business. You will gain substantive insight as you deliver high-quality support to various team leads across the Administration Area. As the face of PRA, this is your opportunity to contribute to an award-winning corporate culture that our employees praise and that we are so proud to have nurtured.

This position will be a mix of remote and office-based work, candidates local to PRA’s Troy, NY-based offices are preferred.

A Sample of Your Responsibilities

No one day will look the same as another! While you will have the opportunity to master recurring tasks, you will also be an essential part of all aspects of the day-to-day operations. In this role, you will:

Work closely with the Director of Administration to improve workflow and ensure adequate coverage for getting the work done at PRA.
Support various Administration Area team leads (human resources, communications, logistics, etc.).
Assist with social media posts and create information blasts about employee benefits and corporate culture.
Play an integral role in onboarding new hires and supporting existing staff.
Manage PRA’s calendar of meetings and events.

About You

You are a technology whiz! Excellent computer skills with a keen interest in keeping up with the latest technologies, specifically Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, and Office 365. Knowledge of Microsoft Flow and/or SharePoint is a plus.
You are a go-getter! You are organized, yet flexible. You enjoy working on multiple tasks yet are focused enough to complete the job. You are comfortable connecting employees across the organization, yet value confidentiality when appropriate.
Details matter! Whether it is for a piece you are writing or an expense report you are reviewing, the detail matter. Things must add up, all essential pieces must be present, and presentation is everything!
You want your job to be 100% rewarding! Work takes up much space, so it must be fulfilling. We are looking for someone just as interested as we are in working for a company doing good things with a great group of people.

Qualifications:

Previous administrative/office experience
ability to work with all levels of management
Proficiency in the MS Office suite (i.e., Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) is required
Knowledge of and ability to use innovative media/technology is desired, including virtual meeting technology (e.g., WebEx, Zoom, MS Teams, etc.)
Excellent writing and oral communication skills required
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to take initiative, work within timelines and accomplish multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment

Ability to work independently.

Familiar with maintaining confidential information
Local position. Travel will be required to local office.

Position is a full-time, immediate opening with competitive salary range ($45,000-$55,000) and excellent benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision care, 401k and employer-contributed retirement, student loan assistance, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, and casual work attire.

Interested candidates must complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/A1MGdFvM AND send cover letter (indicating position title) and resume to Policy Research Associates, Inc., via email to jobs@prainc.com or fax to (518) 439-7612. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, a recipient of the Times Union “Top Workplace” award, an Albany Business Review “Healthiest Employer” and an American Heart Association Silver Level Recognition award winner for Workplace Health Achievement.

Communications Consultants

Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) is seeking to expand its pool of Communications Consultants in several key areas, including proofreading, editing, formatting, and layout for a wide range of materials to support a variety of projects related to enhancing behavioral health outcomes for individuals and communities.

A leader in the behavioral health and human services field for nearly 35 years, PRA is a Women-Owned Small Business funded by federal and state agencies, national organizations, and foundations. PRA conducts research, evaluation, and policy analysis and provides technical assistance and training in the behavioral health field. PRA is known for its expertise on behavioral health issues related to juvenile and criminal justice; services for children, adolescents, and their families; recovery supports; service members and Veterans; homelessness and housing; and violence.

Editing consultants will be tasked with proofreading site visit reports and publications (10–50-page documents) within the domains of suicide prevention plans for Veterans and homelessness prevention and income supports. Proofreading expectations include adhering to federal and project style guides, correcting grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors; confirming the accuracy of acronyms and agency and speaker names; and simplifying language for readability and adherence to plain language standards. Editors are expected to have familiarity with track changes and Chicago style.
Formatting and layout consultants will be tasked with formatting PowerPoints in preparation for conferences and academies and/or laying out fact sheets and issue briefs. Slide formatting expectations include light proofreading of slides (spelling, capitalization, punctuation), breaking up text-heavy content to multiple slides, ensuring used acronyms are spelled out, and adjusting provided content to adhere to slide template design (including layout and colorization). Layout expectations include formatting provided Word documents into designated project InDesign templates, applying character and paragraph styles, providing alt-text for used images, sourcing Creative Commons Zero images, and developing appropriate supplementary graphics. Familiarity with parent pages, object export options, and character and paragraph styles are essential.

Knowledge and/or significant interest in any of the following fields a plus: behavioral health issues; juvenile or criminal justice; homelessness; housing or disability services/benefits; service members and veterans; and wellness.

To be considered for Communications Consultant work, candidates must complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/AlPIhtuw and send a cover letter (indicating position title), and resume to Policy Research Associates, Inc., 345 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054, email to jobs@prainc.com (preferred) or fax to (518) 439-7612. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.

Bookkeeping Consultants

Description

Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) is seeking to expand its pool of Administrative Consultants in several key areas, including bookkeeping, to support a variety of projects related to enhancing behavioral health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Successful Bookkeeper candidates will work on a consulting basis with a small accounting team. JAMIS Prime accounting/government contracting software experience is required. The primary responsibilities may include entering vendor invoices, producing customer bills, reconciling accounts, and other special accounting projects.

Requirements

Minimum of one year experience, two years preferred;
Knowledge of accounting principles and practices and administrative procedures;
Computer proficiency in JAMIS Prime accounting/government contracting software and Microsoft applications with strong working knowledge of Excel a must;
High school diploma required; Associate degree in an Accounting or relevant degree program preferred;
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work within timelines; and
Excellent communication skills.

To be considered, candidates must complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/HmEYt5HC and send a cover letter (indicating position title) and resume to Policy Research Associates, 345 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054, fax to 518-439-7612 or email to jobs@prainc.com. People of color, LGBTQ+ people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.

Internship

Background

Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA), a leader in the behavioral health and human services field for over 25 years, is a small business located in Delmar, NY. Funded by federal and state agencies, national organizations, and foundations, PRA conducts research and evaluation; provides technical assistance and training; and plans and facilitates major conferences, meetings, and other knowledge-transfer activities in the behavioral health field. PRA is known for its expertise on behavioral health issues related to juvenile and criminal justice; co-occurring substance use disorders; services for children, adolescents, and their families; recovery supports; service members and veterans; homelessness and housing; and violence.

Description of the Internship

PRA is always interested in hearing from qualified candidates interested in pursuing an internship. The internships typically involve various project tasks in several topical areas, including criminal justice, juvenile justice, recovery supports, and operations. High-level supervision/mentorship is provided for these internships.

Requirements

Undergraduate or graduate level student in a relevant policy or public health oriented degree program (e.g., sociology, psychology, criminal justice, public health, public policy);
Some experience, knowledge and/or significant interest in behavioral health issues, recovery supports, criminal justice, and/or juvenile justice;
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work within timelines; and
Excellent writing skills.

If interested please complete a brief survey at https://pra.typeform.com/to/wNXaDDmU and send a cover letter (indicating position title) and resume to Policy Research Associates, 345 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054, fax to 518-439-7612 or email to jobs@prainc.com.

PRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and was selected the Times Union #1 “Top Workplace” for 2018.