Director, Economic Research (Economist) (Washington, DC / Hybrid)

Work. Serve. Thrive.

Imagine a place where your talent can make a meaningful difference in peoples' lives. Working at Feeding America is a uniquely rewarding experience in which our employees work together as vital parts of a much larger mission. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results.

Feeding America is the nation's largest charity and the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Learn more about Feeding Americahere.

This position is based out of Feeding America's Washington, DC office. At Feeding America, we believe in offering a flexible work environment. Employees can be in the office an average of 2 days a week (when not travelling for work) and work from home on other days. Employees also have access to a 30-day "work anywhere" program during the course of each calendar year that can be combined with PTO and/or holidays.

The Opportunity

The Director, Economic Research (Economist) will lead and conduct policy-relevant economic research within the Feeding America national organization, advancing the organization's mission and strategy through rigorous, high-impact analysis. The Economist independently designs and executes complex studies using advanced statistical and econometric methods, collaborates across departments, and communicates findings to diverse audiences-including partner food banks, policymakers and academic stakeholders.

Compensation

Here at FeedingAmerica national organization,equity is central to our mission andis an integral part of our compensation policies and structures. Historically, systemic racism and sexism in all aspects of our society, including compensation practices, has led to pay inequities that negatively impact people of color, women, and especially women of color. These practices include basing salary offers on previous compensation and negotiating salary offers. As such, we maintain transparent salary ranges and clearly defined practices for how our team, including new hire salary offers, moves through these ranges. You can expect us to offer the best salary up front based on these clearly defined pay practices with little room for negotiation. The salary range listed below represents the starting to mid-point salaries for positions and comparable roles at this level at our organization and candidates should expect to be offered a salary near the starting point of the range that is listed on the job posting. We make exceptions for highly experienced (multiple years of at-level experience) new hires in accordance with our pay practices. Once hired, employees have the opportunity to progress through salary ranges via regular merit increases and step promotions.

Salary Range: $134,000 - $139,000 Based on Experience

Responsibilities:

• Designs, implements, and leads advanced quantitative economic research (e.g., econometric modeling, simulation, forecasting, policy evaluation) on topics such as food insecurity, charitable and federal nutrition programs and the economic and societal impacts of key social determinants of health (e.g., food insecurity) and food assistance programs.
• Leads research projects from conception through data collection and management, analysis, interpretation and dissemination (e.g., reports, presentations, publications, policy briefs) in partnership with the Vice President of Research & Insights.
• Develops and oversees research processes that reflect the highest professional and ethical standards-ensuring transparency in methods, rigor in execution and responsible use of data to inform decisions at all levels, including resource allocation and strategic direction.
• Mentors and trains staff, peers and contractors in quantitative methods and builds internal capacity for rigorous and innovative economic research.
• Establishes and maintains strategic relationships with key academic researchers, institutions, donors, government agencies and nonprofit partners to advance Feeding America's research agenda and strengthen analytical approaches, methodologies and capabilities-particularly those that deepen understanding of the links between food security and the nation's economic wellbeing. This includes active participation in the Technical Advisory Group and other priority collaborations.
• Leverages advanced analytic and economic expertise to analyze Feeding America's unique, proprietary datasets-including a national administrative pantry intake database spanning 7+ million individuals and 45 million visits across 78 food banks and 4,000+ sites-to generate novel, policy-relevant insights into charitable food participation and system dynamics, with strong potential for peer-reviewed publications and public-facing research.
• Contributes to and leads the writing and review of research publications, datasets and documentation; ensures adherence to scientific integrity and data credibility standards.
• Collaborates with colleagues and external-facing departments across FANO to ensure methodological accuracy and the integrity of data used in organizational communications and decision-making.
• Represents Feeding America as a subject matter expert on food insecurity and related economic issues, including in national forums, government briefings, academic conferences and media engagements.
• Stays current with relevant literature, methodological innovations and policy developments; proactively identifies emerging research questions and opportunities that advance the organization's mission.
• Explores opportunities to integrate AI, generative AI, machine learning and programming tools to prepare and analyze complex data, and augment traditional econometric approaches (e.g., natural language processing, predictive modeling, large-scale data classification).Applies these tools to identify emerging trends and hidden patterns in large administrative, survey and unstructured datasets to enhance the quality, efficiency and policy relevance of FANO research.
• Oversees select administrative functions within the Research & Neighbor Insights team, including budgeting, planning, contract development, billing, confidentiality and data ownership protocols, and monitors progress toward deliverables.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional experience in policy-relevant economic or social science research (e.g., food security, food/nutrition assistance, applied economics).
• Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative economic methods (econometrics, simulation modeling, forecasting, policy evaluation, impact analysis) and the ability to translate complex economic findings into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Advanced skills in data management and analysis using software such as R, SPSS, Stata, SAS, etc.
• Proven experience designing and managing complex, large-scale research projects using diverse methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, primary and secondary data, quasi-experimental designs, program and policy evaluation).
• Preferred Experience:
• Applied research or policy analysis related to food insecurity, charitable food assistance, federal nutrition programs including food insecurity measurement and national government datasets.
• Experience influencing program or policy decisions through research.
• Familiarity with the charitable food system and issues affecting low-income communities.

• Fosters an Enterprise Mindset
• Fosters an Open and Supportive Environment
• Leads with Accountability
• Collaborates Internally and Externally
• Focuses on People and Teams
• Manages Organization and Business Complexity
• Communicates with Impact and Influence