Associate, Transformative Change - Disputes, Claims & Investigations

At Stout, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations in all we do – we call it Relentless Excellence ®. Both our client service and culture are second to none, stemming from our firmwide embrace of our core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and being Great communicators. Sound like a place you can grow and succeed? Read on to learn more about an exciting opportunity to join our team.

Stout's Transformative Change practice combines financial and data analysis, research, strategy, and operational experience to help clients achieve sustainable change in complex environments. The practice helps clients meet financial objectives, implement strategic initiatives, address compliance requirements, and evaluate impact.

Engagements may focus on designing, implementing, and improving programs, policies, and operational processes for clients, including government entities and nonprofit organizations. We work with nonprofit legal organizations, pro bono counsel, government entities, and court-appointed monitors on matters involving housing, education, disability rights, public benefits, immigration, family and child rights, and related civil rights and system reform issues.

As an Associate, you will take ownership of defined workstreams and contribute substantive analysis throughout an engagement.  You will coordinate closely with senior team members, data analysts, and call center representatives, and engage directly with client personnel across executive leadership, legal, compliance, program offices, management, field operations, as well as court-appointed monitors, community organizations, legal services providers, and elected officials' offices. The work requires careful judgment, strong documentation, and a consistent focus on accuracy.

Core Contributions

▪  Own defined workstreams across expert support, compliance monitoring, implementation consulting, and call center operations.

▪  Integrate quantitative data, stakeholder perspectives, and financial or programmatic analysis into findings and recommendations.

▪  Help design monitoring frameworks, compliance measures, KPIs and reporting processes that document progress and identify areas requiring action.

▪  Prepare clear, well-supported analyses and visualizations for clients, courts, parties, and other stakeholders.

▪  Coordinate day-to-day execution, review junior team members work, and raise risks or dependencies early.

▪  Develop reports from initial planning and research through drafting, revision, and final delivery.

You will manage defined portions of engagements and produce analysis that is accurate, traceable, and ready for senior review. Responsibilities may include:

• Manages project activities from planning through execution, including coordinating timelines, tracking deliverables, facilitating communication across stakeholders, and ensuring work progresses on schedule and aligns with project goals.
• Supports the development and implementation of call center operations by coordinating workflows, establishing processes, supporting staffing and training efforts, and ensuring service delivery aligns with project and client goals. Builds operational workflows within CRM platforms such as Zendesk, including intake forms, data fields, automation, routing, and reporting.
• Collect, validate, and analyze internal and external data. Identify limitations and document assumptions, sources, and methods in clear workpapers.
• Perform quantitative analysis, including KPI calculations, summarize statistics, trend analysis, outlier review, and dashboard development in Excel, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Conduct qualitative research through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and document review. Code and synthesize findings into memoranda, reports, and monitoring materials.
• Support the drafting and refinement of standard operating procedures, intake criteria, case prioritization tiers, escalation protocols, and quality assurance plans, and revise them through client review and approval cycles.
• Prepare presentations, memoranda, reports, exhibits, and other client deliverables that meet Stout standards for clarity, accuracy, and defensibility.
• Review analyses and deliverables prepared by junior team members, provide clear feedback, and confirm that source support, calculations, formatting, and documentation are complete.
• Maintain organized case files, version control, quality-control checklists, and source records. Support cite-checking, scheduling, and project coordination when needed.
• Handle sensitive case materials, personally identifiable information, and privileged communications with discretion and in accordance with data governance and engagement requirements.
• Collaborate with attorneys, data scientists, program monitors, subject-matter experts, and client teams to produce integrated work product.

We value sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, coachability, and a commitment to careful, defensible work. Successful candidates typically bring:

• A bachelor's degree in business, economics, public policy, statistics, data analytics, sociology, political science, social work, law, or a related field.
• Strong academic performance. A GPA of 3.5 or above.
• At least two years of relevant experience in management consulting, economic consulting, public-sector or nonprofit consulting, project management, or program implementation and service operations.
• Experience independently leading workstreams; planning workflow, tracking progress, using project management software, resolving complex problems as they arise and escalating where necessary, and evaluating areas for continuous improvement.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, data joins,  formulas, and model development. Experience with Tableau or Power BI is preferred. Experience with Zendesk is highly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex analysis to legal, government, and community stakeholder audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage concurrent workstreams under court filing schedules, monitoring cycles, and other fixed deadlines.
• Independent, solution-oriented thinking and the judgment to ask focused questions when scope, timing, or expectations require clarification.
• Discretion when handling sensitive information, including personally identifiable information.
• Interest in civil rights, public interest litigation, systems change, and the use of data to support accountability and reform.
• Experience using AI tools responsibly to improve research, data analysis, documentation, or workflow efficiency.
• Experience with qualitative methods such as interview coding, thematic analysis, or survey design is a plus.
• Reading or speaking proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Eligibility to work in the United States without employer sponsorship at the time of hire and in the future.
• Ability to pass a background check. Engagements may involve access to sensitive government systems or data.

Success in this role depends on technical capability, reliable execution, and a collaborative approach. You will be expected to:

• Adapt to changing client needs, litigation schedules, and court or external-imposed deadlines without losing control of details or documentation.
• Bring structure, creativity, and analytical discipline to complex or ambiguous questions.
• Work effectively with teammates and engagement leaders while incorporating perspectives from different professional and community backgrounds.
• Communicate with clients and stakeholders in a professional, clear, and respectful manner.
• Hold a neutral, independent posture while working alongside client staff daily, including when the analysis documents where the client's performance does not meet the required standards.
• Demonstrate Stout values through accountability, responsiveness, strong relationships, teamwork, and effective communication.
• Deliver Relentless Excellence® in client service and internal collaboration.
• Approach routine and complex tasks with the same commitment to accuracy. In this work, the details matter.

This role is based in Stout's New York office. A hybrid schedule is available with a minimum of two in-office days per week. Occasional travel is required for client meetings, site visits, and engagement-related fieldwork.

Why Stout?
At Stout, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.
We foster a culture of inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success. Our leadership is committed to inclusion and belonging across the organization and in the communities we serve.
We invest in professional growth through ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback, ensuring our employees are supported in achieving their career goals.
Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.
Learn more about our benefits and commitment to your success.

https://www.stout.com/en/careers/benefits

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

Stout is an Equal Employment Opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of valid job requirements, qualifications and merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. 

Stout is required by applicable state and local laws to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The range for this role considers several factors including but not limited to prior work and industry experience, education level, and unique skills. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.