Research Consultant

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Salt Lake, UT

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center of Excellence Research Consultant facilitates research and research services that support the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their responsibility to ensure that the Church remains one in Christ. They support the vision and direction of the Correlation Executive Committee (CEC) by providing direct support to Church departments and areas in their research efforts and needs. The Center of Excellence Research Consultant helps the broader Church research community develop their research skills, understand research policies and procedures, and produce reliable, relevant, and timely research. They focus on providing excellent customer service, training, and continuous improvement to processes, practices, and policies. This position will provide remote support to area offices, in addition to supporting various Church departments. This position will support areas in the Asia Pacific region. Availability to attend meetings between 5-7pm a few days per week will be necessary to support area staff. Candidates must be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently temple worthy.

Requirements

• Master's degree (required), or PhD (preferred) and/or equivalent work experience in the social sciences, economics, business, or related fields.
• 8+ years of professional experience in applied research or closely related field with significant client management and consultation experience.
• Skilled in building and maintaining strong and trusting relationships, quickly establishing credibility and rapport with a wide array of partners
• Ability to effectively work in cross-functional teams and with people at all levels
• Able to effectively collaborate with colleagues in the Correlation Department and Correlation Research Division
• Expertise in applied theory and advanced research methods, including ability to train others in the basics of research methods and design
• Ability to convey social science/research topics in business terms to a non-researcher audience
• Ability to provide insightful analysis and recommendations and effectively present results to all audiences
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and ensure timely resolution of requests
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Able to simultaneously manage multiple projects and clients in a deadline-driven environment
• Ability to adapt to change; this is a brand new team that is expected to evolve as we work towards the Center of Excellence’s vision
• Residency near Salt Lake City, UT is required.
• The Research Consultant will be required to come into the office a minimum of once a week, with the option of working from home when there are not required in-person meetings.

Nice To Haves

• Deep understanding of a culture outside of the United States (e.g., more than serving a mission outside of the United States)
• Process and project management: Experience planning and executing projects, initiatives, and/or process improvement efforts
• Experience developing, conducting, and analyzing surveys, interviews, focus groups, and/or observations

Responsibilities

• Consulting and Customer Service (35%) Provide expert consultation on Correlation Research Division (CRD) services, processes, policies, practices, and existing research. Maintain high levels of customer service, including responsiveness and resolution of requests from partners (Church departments and area offices). Provide consultation on research questions, research plans, research methodologies, interpretation of results, and logic models. Leverage CRD subject matter experts, as needed, to address specific needs.
• Build Partner Research Capability and Knowledge (15-25%) Support identification and development of training materials and establishment of research standards for research done by partners. Deliver training to empower partners to interpret existing research and conduct their own quality research. Help partners utilize CRD technology, navigate CRD processes, and develop processes for coordinating and conducting their own research. Educate partners on Correlation policies, including data privacy, sharing research, and contact with Church members.
• Continuous Improvement (20-25%) Optimize and clarify existing research practices, processes, and policies related to partner research. Collaborate with other CRD teams to make necessary improvements. Build internal CRD capabilities for providing exceptional customer service. Take initiative to set and accomplish professional development goals. Strive to accomplish work through the lens of discipleship (e.g., strive to exhibit Christlike attributes, focus on further developing traits in the Leadership Pattern)
• Development of Research Communities (5-15%) Identify and facilitate opportunities for collaboration across departments and area offices to drive sharing of best practices and key learnings. Support development of a research community of practice.
• Leadership (15%) Take ownership for accomplishing assigned Center of Excellence initiative, including creating goals and milestones and executing on plans. Proactively help colleagues solve problems. Lead training sessions.
• Conduct Research (5-10%, time permitting) Conduct research (either as a researcher or study lead). This can be done as time permits and/or as teams require backup support, as a means of providing mentoring and professional development opportunities, or to provide specific expertise.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level