Sr. Research Associate II

University of Denver•Quinte West, ON

1d•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 stands in solidarity against the systemic oppression of persons of color and American Indian/Alaska Native tribes, communities, and individuals. Butler intentionally partners with family and child serving agencies to create healing, positive systemic change and daily inclusive actions that reflect racial equity. 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. Position Summary This position will serve as Senior Research Associate II supporting several grant-funded evaluation projects primarily in the behavioral health content area of Butler. This person will be responsible for leading design and execution of research and evaluation projects. This position is also responsible for dissemination activities, business development, and supervision.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Research Methods, Psychology, Education, or related field
2-3 years Senior Research Associate I experience
Experience designing and managing large research projects independently
Experience writing grant proposals
Experience working with grant funding in government, non-profit, or university settings
Advanced knowledge of early childhood systems, practice, and policy
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 stakeholders
Ability to facilitate constructive interpersonal interaction and teamwork
Strong critical thinking and solution-building skills
Ability to work with members of various cultures and communities with respect and humility
Ability to analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
Broad array of research skills including research design, data collection and management, and statistical analysis, including proficiency in SPSS, Atlas-TI and/or other statistical analysis packages.
Project management skills with multiple stakeholders and tasks involved
Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership accountable to deadlines
Ability to manage and develop relationships with multiple stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.
Ability to utilize flexible evaluation approaches to meet changing project needs
Strong organization and time management skills including ability to multi-task and prioritize competing deadlines and timelines
Attention to detail and accuracy
Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Word and PowerPoint
Ability to conduct and implement project design while managing and collaborating with others
Ability to set and achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Adaptable to changing priorities while demonstrating the highest level of customer service
Independently motivated to identify, research, and propose approaches and solutions as needed for projects

Nice To Haves

Experience writing successful proposals to federal or state agencies
Experience creating logic models and conducting theories of change
Bilingual English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of research or evaluation projects
Lead framing of research and evaluation questions
Design intervention, implementation and evaluation capacity-building protocols
Develop innovative qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols, tools and methodologies
Verify the validity of data
Participate in conducting interviews and focus groups
Lead data analysis activities
Identify qualitative and/or quantitative analysis techniques appropriate for answering research questions
Analyze complex qualitative or quantitative data
Synthesize information from literature reviews and multiple data sources
Utilize content expertise to make novel and/or impactful interpretations and conclusions
Plan and organize research projects as PI or Co-PI
Manage teams on projects
Execute and control the research study and makes high level decisions about project direction and scope
Manage scope of work against available budgets and identify solutions/communicate changes with funders when appropriate
Negotiate contract and sub-contract statements of work
Maintain positive working relationships with clients, programs, and other key project stakeholders
Lead the writing of reports, publications, and dissemination materials
Develop and present results to key stakeholders, funders, and other identified audiences
Generate and implement dissemination plan
Present findings at conferences or other dissemination events
Takes a lead in seeking funding opportunities and writing grant proposals
Lead screening, planning and preparation of grant proposals
Supervises Associates or small teams
Make recommendations about hiring, advancement, performance improvement, and/or termination of supervisees
Makes recommendations about team structure and strategic hiring priorities
Attend and participate in DU and Butler-related meetings, trainings, and activities, including organizational workgroups and Inclusion activities.
Other duties as assigned.