Research Manager

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a Research Manager to lead complex, high-impact projects that inform policy, strengthen programs, and advance evidence-based practices that improve lives and enhance public safety. This role serves as a project lead for internal research initiatives and a representative of DOC in partnerships with external researchers. The Research Manager will lead research projects aligned with agency priorities and provide practical, data-driven recommendations that support the department’s strategic goals. This role requires broad knowledge of research methodologies, correctional practices, and business operations, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders. The Research Manager will proactively identify solutions with statewide impacts on policy, programs, and procedures while providing expert consultation to department leadership and research partners. They will also help bridge project needs with agency resources, oversee key deliverables, and ensure research efforts align with the priorities of DOC leadership and the Research Review Committee. This role plays a vital role in advancing evidence-based decision-making and supporting the Department of Corrections’ mission to improve public safety by positively changing lives.

Requirements

PhD in Criminal Justice, or other Social / Behavioral Science from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) AND A minimum of two (2) years of experience conducting policy-relevant data analysis in a public sector setting OR MA/MS in Criminal Justice, or other Social / Behavioral Science from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) AND A minimum of four (4) years of experience conducting policy-relevant data analyses in a public sector setting OR BA/BS in Criminal Justice, or other Social / Behavioral Science from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) AND A minimum of six (6) years of experience conducting policy-relevant data analyses in a public sector setting. OR A minimum of ten (10) years of experience conducting policy-relevant data analyses in a public sector setting
Ability to define measurable problems/research questions, analyze information, formulate logical and objective conclusions, and translate findings to policy recommendations and presentations for a variety of audiences
Demonstrated expertise in SAS, R, SQL, or other advanced statistical analysis software
Advanced training in multi-variate statistical methods, qualiitative research methodologies, and research evaluation methodologies
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication and public speaking skills
Ability to present complex ideas and information with detail appropriate to the target audience
Ability to lead, coach, and mentor staff members in research methods and analyses, fostering an environment of supportive learning
Ability to explain complex or technical information using plain language, ask clarifying questions, and clearly and concisely emphasize key points
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and a high degree of political sensitivity

Nice To Haves

Able to design and implement rigorous, advanced, and policy-relevant research and statistical analyses to directly inform policy and practice
Able to command exceptional communication skills to guide and mentor RDA staff, work across agency divisions, provide sound recommendations on agency priorities, and present finding to a variety of audiences
Experienced in a range of database systems to assist in improving and expanding the data collected by DOC
The complexity and technical nature of the work performed requires advanced knowledge of research and statistics
The ability to conduct important research and evaluation, as well as guide, mentor, and training RDA staff in sophisticated statistical methods to support the vision of DOC being able to conduct more in-depth research and analyses internally
Expanding RDA capacity in this area is key to providing accurate and timely feedback to practices and policies that impact public safety

Responsibilities

Leading projects including development, preparation of analyses, and recommendation of data and business rules that support data needs, summaries, and reports
Working with stakeholders to establish data sources, research questions, methodology, data requirements, analysis plans, timelines, and deliverables
Ensuring appropriate documentation of project, including purpose, design, timeline, data sources, counting rules, program code, and associated products
Obtaining appropriate research pre-approval though the Research Review Committee and Washington State Institutional Review Board
Reviewing deliverables to ensure accuracy and format appropriate for department use
Building custom datasets using Statistical Analysis System (SAS)/Structure Query Language (SQL) programming and testing program/code to ensure accuracy, and documenting program or code as to logic and reasoning for program design
Working with stakeholders as DOC’s representative, bringing requisite and available resources to projects to establish data sources, research questions, methodology, data requirements, analysis plans, timelines, and deliverables
Managing external research related to policy changes and process improvements
Developing Data Share Agreements (DSAs) and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for external partnerships on research that minimizes risk and maximizes impact on agency-/institution-wide programs and policies
Building custom datasets using SAS/SQL programming that align with external research project needs with consideration for data integrity and security
Formulating strategies to link external research to agency-/institution-wide process improvements, integrating research practices to facilitate organizational change
Consulting with and facilitate communication between DOC subject matter experts and external partners regarding business and research needs/requirements through project duration