Senior Project Administrator

Rutgers University•Camden, NJ

39d•$77,919 - $114,989•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) at Rutgers-Camden has been a long-standing and trusted regional community partner for over 25 years. WRI honors former Senator Rand's dedication to Southern New Jersey and exists to produce and highlight community-focused research and evaluation leading to sound public policy and practice in the region. With that as a foundation, WRI convenes and engages stakeholders in making the connections across research, policy, and practice in support of Camden City and Southern New Jersey residents. Using social science research methods, WRI specializes in transforming data into actionable information across a variety of areas, including workforce development, education, transportation, and public/population health. WRI reinforces and amplifies Rutgers' research, teaching, and service goals by connecting the multidisciplinary expertise of faculty to regional problems, developing research and professional skills in students, and linking the resources of higher education to communities in Southern New Jersey. The Senior Project Administrator is a position at the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs (WRI) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden Campus. This is an exciting opportunity to join an influential organization with a mission of improving lives across the region and contributing significantly toward that mission. Under the general direction of the Associate Director of Research, this position is responsible for the development, coordination, and management of complex research and evaluation projects in the communities of Southern New Jersey and New Jersey. The Senior Project Administrator will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) on mostly large (and at times, smaller) contracts and grants and as a project coordinator on additional large or small projects in a variety of content areas, e.g. opioids/substance use, food insecurity, and education. They will lead WRI research teams and provide oversight and direction across each phase of the research project, including proposal drafting, project design, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and dissemination. They will serve as relationship managers for a variety of research partners and funders, including foundations, State and local agencies, and community-based organizations. The responsibilities associated with this position include the selection of appropriate research methodologies, collaborating effectively with WRI research team members, maintaining compliance with all Rutgers University and Federal research guidelines and regulations, managing timelines and budgets, and mentoring and supervising student research assistants. The Senior Project Administrator will play a key role in public engagement efforts by regularly representing WRI in meetings and various public and networking events across Southern New Jersey and the State. This position is also responsible for effectively communicating research findings to a myriad of audiences, including community members, community partners, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders in academia. This will take the form of research presentations, panels, webinars, forums, etc. They will also regularly contribute to conversations around written research translation and dissemination efforts and lead large and small writing projects, e.g, research reports, briefs, fact sheets, etc. This position requires extensive experience leading community-focused research projects, exceptional public speaking and writing skills, project leadership and management expertise, and a keen orientation toward team collaboration. This is a grant funded position contingent upon the availability of funds to support it.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required, plus a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience leading large mixed-methods community-focused research and/or evaluation projects.
Regular, demonstrated experience communicating research findings effectively to both academic and non-academic audiences (e.g, community members, policymakers, community partners, and organizations) through written reports, public presentations, and stakeholder briefings.
Exceptional public speaking and engagement skills, and experience presenting to diverse community and professional audiences.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for field-based data collection and public engagement throughout Southern New Jersey and the State are required.
A strong foundation in social science research and evaluation methods - both quantitative and qualitative research methods - are essential to this position.
Demonstrated experience with community-based research and public engagement.
Skills in project management, strategic thinking, public speaking, and writing for public audiences.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master's, Ph.D., or equivalent) plus five (5) or more years of relevant experience conducting community-focused research and/or evaluation across various social issue areas, e.g., transportation, workforce development, food insecurity, education, substance misuse, population health.
Experience conducting feasibility and economic impact studies and cost-benefit analyses related to social issues/conditions.
Experience conducting research in higher education settings.
Familiarity with the Southern New Jersey region and an established network or prior work experience within that region and the State is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Development, coordination, and management of complex research and evaluation projects in the communities of Southern New Jersey and New Jersey.
Serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) on mostly large (and at times, smaller) contracts and grants and as a project coordinator on additional large or small projects in a variety of content areas, e.g. opioids/substance use, food insecurity, and education.
Lead WRI research teams and provide oversight and direction across each phase of the research project, including proposal drafting, project design, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
Serve as relationship managers for a variety of research partners and funders, including foundations, State and local agencies, and community-based organizations.
Selection of appropriate research methodologies, collaborating effectively with WRI research team members, maintaining compliance with all Rutgers University and Federal research guidelines and regulations, managing timelines and budgets, and mentoring and supervising student research assistants.
Play a key role in public engagement efforts by regularly representing WRI in meetings and various public and networking events across Southern New Jersey and the State.
Effectively communicating research findings to a myriad of audiences, including community members, community partners, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders in academia. This will take the form of research presentations, panels, webinars, forums, etc.
Regularly contribute to conversations around written research translation and dissemination efforts and lead large and small writing projects, e.g, research reports, briefs, fact sheets, etc.

Benefits

Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
Life insurance coverage
Employee discount programs

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