Director of Research and Learning Partnerships for the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)

Georgetown University•Lexington, MA

4d•$80,429 - $157,239•Hybrid

About The Position

The Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues fosters cross-disciplinary research and dialogue on critical and emerging issues affecting children and youth worldwide. We convene researchers, policymakers, practitioners, faith leaders, and young people to promote evidence-based, innovative, and solutions-oriented approaches to support children and youth in situations of adversity. Values: Committed to creating opportunities that center children and youth; Grounded in the lived experiences of children and youth, their families, and communities; Responsive to current needs and useful to actors working in a variety of contexts and capacities to meet them; Evidence-informed and solutions-oriented; and Building effective bridges between young people and stakeholders involved in practice, policy, and research. Approach: Convene: Facilitate interdisciplinary and intergenerational engagement and collaboration on critical and emerging issues affecting children and youth around the world. Facilitate research, policy analysis, and implementation science: Strengthen our field by bridging gaps between research, policy, practice, and the lived experience of children and youth in situations of adversity. Learn from the front line: Partner with innovators working at community, national, regional, and global levels. Train: Equip the next generation of global leaders to prioritize the experiences, well-being, and agency of children and youth around the world by building curricular and career pathways that promote child- and youth-centered approaches in research, policy, and practice. The Director of Research and Learning Partnerships (the Director) will help lead the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and support the Executive Director (ED) in fostering cross-disciplinary research and dialogue on critical and emerging issues affecting children and youth worldwide, with a particular focus on children in adversity and pathways to resilience. The Director will work closely with the ED to build strategic partnerships; advance research and educational initiatives; develop high-impact events and learning opportunities; and support thought-leadership that brings together policy, practice, research, and the lived experiences of children and young people. The Director will help increase awareness and recognition of the Collaborative as an incubator of ideas, conversations, and leadership to promote evidence-based, innovative, and solutions-oriented approaches to support children and youth in situations of adversity. Vision and Strategic Leadership: The Director of Research and Learning Partnerships will help shape and implement the Collaborative’s strategy, developing activities that advance the Collaborative’s mission, values, and impact. Specifically, the Director will oversee the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary research and learning agenda and build research and learning partnerships with faculty and staff from other Georgetown University programs and departments, as well as external stakeholders. Academic and Research Program Development: The Director of Research and Learning Partnerships will advance curricular content on children and youth at Georgetown, and increase opportunities for student and faculty engagement and learning. The Director will advance the Collaborative’s efforts to offer university-wide credit and non-credit learning opportunities for graduate students, undergraduate students, and other stakeholders. In addition, the Director will work to advance a new Minor or Certificate Program in Children’s Issues. The Director will also support implementation and further development of a Student Fellows Program and Global Fellows Program, and help the Collaborative bring in scholar-practitioners whose research interests and profiles contribute to the Collaborative’s mission. The Director will also provide overarching management, quality assurance, and ensure the strategic coherence of papers and reports published by the Collaborative, contributing to sector-wide knowledge sharing and learning. Fundraising and Donor Engagement: The Director of Research and Learning Partnerships will maintain and build relationships with current and prospective donors. The Director will support donor prospecting, grant writing, donor engagement, and reporting, in collaboration with the Executive Director.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of research and program management experience in child protection, child development, child rights, social services, or a related field.
Demonstrated inclusive leadership skills and a track record of building partnerships that advance the well-being of children, youth, and families globally.
Experience designing, leading, or contributing to multidisciplinary research agendas, including overseeing the development of papers, reports, or other research products.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience writing for academic, policy, and general audiences.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a complex, multi-faceted environment.
Experience working with vendors and partners from a variety of international backgrounds.
Proven skills in time management, organization, and communication.
Ability to exercise discretion and maintain composure under pressure.
Proactive, team-spirited disposition, with the ability to consult with others and make independent decisions.
Collaborative work style, with openness to feedback and adaptability to evolving priorities.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, international development, psychology, social work, or education).
Experience in a higher-education setting, including curriculum development, teaching, or managing student fellowship or mentorship programs.
Experience with donor engagement, grant writing, or fundraising, ideally in an academic or nonprofit context.
Familiarity with Georgetown University or similar academic institutions' research and administrative structures.
Publication record or other demonstrated contributions to the field of children's issues, child rights, or global child welfare.

Responsibilities

Help lead the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and support the Executive Director (ED) in fostering cross-disciplinary research and dialogue on critical and emerging issues affecting children and youth worldwide, with a particular focus on children in adversity and pathways to resilience.
Work closely with the ED to build strategic partnerships; advance research and educational initiatives; develop high-impact events and learning opportunities; and support thought-leadership that brings together policy, practice, research, and the lived experiences of children and young people.
Help increase awareness and recognition of the Collaborative as an incubator of ideas, conversations, and leadership to promote evidence-based, innovative, and solutions-oriented approaches to support children and youth in situations of adversity.
Help shape and implement the Collaborative’s strategy, developing activities that advance the Collaborative’s mission, values, and impact.
Oversee the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary research and learning agenda and build research and learning partnerships with faculty and staff from other Georgetown University programs and departments, as well as external stakeholders.
Advance curricular content on children and youth at Georgetown, and increase opportunities for student and faculty engagement and learning.
Advance the Collaborative’s efforts to offer university-wide credit and non-credit learning opportunities for graduate students, undergraduate students, and other stakeholders.
Work to advance a new Minor or Certificate Program in Children’s Issues.
Support implementation and further development of a Student Fellows Program and Global Fellows Program, and help the Collaborative bring in scholar-practitioners whose research interests and profiles contribute to the Collaborative’s mission.
Provide overarching management, quality assurance, and ensure the strategic coherence of papers and reports published by the Collaborative, contributing to sector-wide knowledge sharing and learning.
Maintain and build relationships with current and prospective donors.
Support donor prospecting, grant writing, donor engagement, and reporting, in collaboration with the Executive Director.