Research and Evaluation Manager (Temporary - 2 Years)

DESC•Seattle, WA

1d•$105,443 - $119,299•Remote

About The Position

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness. As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness. The DESC Research and Evaluation Manager will oversee a new body of activities to study DESC’s work and organization for the purposes of gaining insight, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and translating results for a variety of audiences. The activities will range from developing DESC’s research and evaluation opportunities and priorities, conducting analyses using existing data at DESC, designing and implementing studies at DESC, and coordinating with external researchers and data providers on projects of varying scope. The person in this role will interact with numerous DESC staff, including organizational leaders, administrative staff, program managers, and direct service staff. This role will develop this new body of work for DESC in coordination with an oversight committee, though they will need to be able to work independently without frequent direction from their supervisor.

Requirements

A doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science, or a master's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of relevant full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization
Coursework in epidemiology, population health, biostatistics, economic analysis, or public policy analysis and evaluation
Certification in training on the protection of human subjects in research
Knowledge of social services and/or healthcare delivery systems
Proficiency with quantitative and qualitative data management and analysis
Experience developing and contributing to publications such as evaluation reports and scientific journal articles
Experience navigating and complex datasets and data collection systems
Experience querying data using SQL, or the ability to quickly learn
Proficiency with R, SPSS, or other statistical software
Comfortability working in fast-paced environments, with minimal supervision
Any other combination of skills and experience that gives you the ability to do the job.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with data visualization software
Familiarity with or professional connection to local area research centers, institutes, or labs is strongly preferred.
Past research experience in addiction medicine, behavioral health, public health, poverty/economics, and/or working with populations experiencing homelessness with human subjects

Responsibilities

Lead or collaborate on formulation of and modifications to DESC’s research and evaluation agenda
Conceive and develop a range of research questions and evaluation projects applicable to DESC’s research and evaluation agenda
Design studies using scientifically rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis methods
Maintain familiarity with previously completed and current research projects at DESC
Maintain familiarity with research and evaluation literature relevant to different aspects of DESC’s work
Learn about and observe the full range of DESC’s work, identifying data most helpful or needed to ensure robust performance measurement and to be able to answer key research questions
Independently conduct data analysis projects, pulling data from DESC's client information system(s) using established reports and by writing SQL queries
Recruit and collaborate with external research partners on DESC evaluation projects
Review and assess research proposals and requests submitted to DESC by external parties including students, research institutions, and others
Serve as primary liaison at DESC for external researchers
Develop, submit, and monitor human subjects review materials, as appropriate
Produce data visualization through charts, graphs, figures, and tables
Write reports for a range of audiences including internal leaders, managers, and staff, community and national partners, the general public, and scientific journals
Participate in local, regional, and national meetings, as requested
Other duties as assigned