Research Associate II (Part-Time)

University of Denver•Denver, CO

3d•Remote

About The Position

Throughout its 75-year history, the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) has administered numerous externally-funded projects serving children and families. The Butler Institute for Families (Butler), established in 1994, is affiliated with GSSW and is nationally recognized for our leadership and collaborative work at the national, state, and local level in evaluation, research, and technical assistance aimed at improving the quality of child-, youth-, and family-serving systems. We bring together researchers, practitioners, public and private service system experts, and community members to: engage in program evaluation and research; examine outcomes; and provide technical assistance and training to program administrators, direct service providers, and community leaders. Currently, Butler conducts business in four primary content areas: child welfare, early childhood systems, tribal child welfare, and behavioral health. These content areas operate within a Research-to-Practice framework that promotes the use, adoption, adaptation, replication, and scaling of research and/or evaluation knowledge, and the integration of this knowledge in practice. In addition to the benefits offered by the University of Denver (see here for more details: https://www.du.edu/jobs/), Butler offers the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of people committed to using research and evaluation to inform practice and practice to inform research and evaluation. We also offer professional development and job growth opportunities, flexible schedules, and the opportunity to work remotely. Butler intentionally partners with family and child serving agencies to create healing, positive systemic change and daily inclusive actions that reflect equity. Position Summary This position will support several grant-funded evaluation projects, frequently serving as project lead with minimal oversight. The Research Associate has significant research experience working with different communities. This position requires experience designing and conducting evaluation projects using culturally-based methodologies such as qualitative, participatory, and story-telling approaches. Research Associates are responsible for supporting and occasionally leading research design activities, overseeing data collection and management activities, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, report writing and dissemination, and collaboration with funders, community partners, providers, and interest holders. This position may contribute to developing proposals and grants. This position usually supervises and mentors Research Assistants. This is a grant-funded position, and while Butler often has new projects that can replace a project that ends, Butler cannot guarantee positions after the end of grant-funding.

Requirements

Masters degree in human services or other relevant field, or degree in progress
4-6 years of experience working in program evaluation or social sciences research, including evaluation planning, design, data collection, data management, and data analysis
Experience working in Tribal communities and/or communities of color
Experience analyzing quantitative data, including descriptive and inferential statistics
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports, presentations, and grant applications, as well as coordinating and communicating with project team and multiple professional and lay interest holders.
Advanced analytic skills, including statistical analysis and interpretation.
Broad array of research and presentation skills, including data collection and management, statistical analysis (including proficiency in SPSS and/or other statistical analysis packages), proficiency with Microsoft Excel, and web-based survey design.
Project management skills with multiple interest holders and tasks involved.
Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership accountable to deadlines.
Ability to prioritize competing timelines and project deliverables.
Knowledge of child-, youth-, and family-serving systems.
Ability to facilitate constructive interpersonal interaction and teamwork.
Strong critical thinking and solution-building skills.
Ability to work with members of inclusive cultures and communities with respect and humility.

Nice To Haves

6 or more years’ experience in program evaluation or social sciences research, including evaluation planning, design, data collection, data management, and analysis
Experience with data visualization software (such as Tableau and Excel)
Experience independently leading the design and administration of web-based surveys
Experience supporting the creation of logic models and/or theories of change
Extensive experience analyzing qualitative data, including interviews, focus groups, document reviews, and open-ended written feedback
Experience working with grant-funded projects in government, nonprofit, or university settings
One or more years’ experience supervising staff, students or others.
Biliterate in English and Spanish, with experience supporting translation and review of translated materials for project work as needed.

Responsibilities

Provide project management including establishing project timelines and ensuring timelines are met.
Participate in framing of research and evaluation questions.
Lead development of evaluation plans, data collection protocols, tools, and methodologies.
Verify the validity of data.
Design, coordinate, and conduct interviews and focus groups with various participants/communities.
Conduct statistical analyses and interpretation activities independently or with minimal guidance from project Principal Investigators.
Guide team member tasks and activities on projects.
Lead relationship development and management, maintaining positive working relationships with clients, programs, and other key project interest holders.
Independently conduct project management for research and/or evaluation studies or major components of complex evaluations.
Use a broad array of skills, which may include advanced proficiency in Atlas-ti, SPSS, and Remark, and intermediate proficiency in Stata, NVivo, Winsteps, and other statistical analysis/visualization tools.
Support Spanish translation and review of translated materials for assigned project work as needed.
Lead the development and presentation of results to key interest holders, funders, and other audiences.
Independently and collaboratively produce reports, publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination opportunities requiring excellent writing skills and quality presentation abilities.
Communicate with community and interdisciplinary collaborators and act as a spokesperson.
May assist in writing grant proposals.