The Florida Legislature
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Job Title

Graduate Research Assistant – Academic Year 2023 (OPPAGA)

General Summary

The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) is a research unit of the Florida Legislature that conducts studies of Florida agencies and programs to assist the Legislature in its policy and budget deliberations. OPPAGA’s academic year graduate research assistant position provides a compensated, hands-on learning experience for 25 hours per week.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Responsibilities include the following:

• Working in a team environment with professional legislative analysts to complete research projects
• Collecting, analyzing and interpreting data
• Conducting interviews with state agency staff, stakeholders, and other information resources
• Conducting surveys or focus groups, or using other qualitative research methods

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants with the following knowledge, skills, and experience.

• Graduate degree course work in qualitative or quantitative analysis and research fields, such as public administration, public policy, business administration, economics, demography, statistics, finance, education, social work, planning, accounting, and the social sciences
• Understanding of principles of governmental organization, budgeting, and accountability
• Understanding of research methods, descriptive and inferential statistics, and financial analysis
• Experience using Microsoft Excel and SPSS or similar statistical packages
• Experience as an effective contributor to a work team
• Interest in pursuing a career in government policy analysis and program evaluation

Rate of Pay

$15.00/hour

Employment Description

The academic year graduate research assistant position lasts throughout the academic year, 25 hours per week. The pay rate is $15.00 per hour. The program provides an opportunity to work in a state legislative office with a highly qualified, multidisciplinary staff that includes public administrators, social scientists, MBA graduates, attorneys, and others. Travel expenses incurred by interns in the conduct of an approved OPPAGA project will be reimbursed as allowed by s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for consideration is May 15, 2023 or until the position is filled.

Submission of Application

To apply, submit the following.

1. Legislative application
2. Resume or curriculum vitae
3. Cover letter that details graduate school status, expected graduation date, and a brief description of the research topics and methods used for at least two team or individual graduate-level research projects that the applicant completed
4. Transcript(s) of all graduate and undergraduate credits (unofficial copies are acceptable for review)

Application materials can be submitted to apply@oppaga.fl.gov or mailed to the address below. For questions, contact Jim Clark at (850) 717-0519.

111 West Madison, Suite 312
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1475

Applications are available through the Florida Legislature's web site Online Sunshine and in Room 701 of the Claude Pepper Building.

Accommodation for Disability

If an accommodation is needed for a disability, please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803.