Senior Research Associate II
University of Denver

Job Info

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Throughout its 75-year history, the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work has administered countless externally funded projects to support children and families. The Butler Institute for Families was founded in 1994, and today, we are nationally recognized for our leadership and collaborative work at the national, state, tribal, 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 builds systems capacity across 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 integration of knowledge about what works into practice, and lessons learned from practice into better knowledge for the field. 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 talented team who is dedicated to working with communities in culturally-responsive ways to support program development and service delivery to children, families and communities. We also offer professional development and job growth opportunities, flexible schedules and the opportunity to telework 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.

Position Summary

The Senior Research Associate II position is responsible for leading research and evaluation projects within the early childhood content area. This includes securing new projects, designing studies and framing research/evaluation questions, using culturally responsive research methodologies and data collection approaches, identifying appropriate instrumentation to address research questions, project management, statistical and/or qualitative analyses and interpretation, synthesizing information from diverse data sources, and disseminating materials through reports, publications, and presentations. This position requires experience leading a team in designing and supporting evaluation strategies supervises and mentors Research Assistants and/or Research Associates.

Essential Functions

Research and Evaluation Design, Project Management, Data Collection, Statistical Analysis and Interpretation

• Oversee and manage research and evaluation projects in the early childhood content area; may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-investigator.
• Develop evaluation plans and frame research/evaluation questions.
• Manage day-to-day implementation of team deliverables and communicate implementation progress with external stakeholders and PI/co-investigators.
• Help develop qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols and measures.
• Design and conduct interviews and focus groups.
• Identify qualitative and/or quantitative analysis techniques appropriate for answering research questions.
• Analyze complex qualitative or quantitative data.
• Plan data collection and management approaches that are culturally-relevant and responsive.
• Utilize content expertise to make novel and/or impactful interpretations and conclusions.
• Coordinate data analysis activities.
• Identify implementation barriers and work with team to develop strategies and solutions.
• Oversee appropriate tracking and monitoring of evaluation activities.
• Use a broad array of research skills, including proficiency in Atlas-ti, SPSS, and other statistical analysis and visualization tools.
• Make interpretations and conclusions and smoothly translate data and results for varied stakeholders and audiences.

Dissemination

• Significantly contribute to the writing of evaluation reports, publications, and dissemination materials as co- or lead author/presenter.
• Generate, disseminate, and promote uptake of content-specific knowledge.
• Develop and present results to a wide array of audiences, including policy makers, public agencies, foundations, early childhood professionals, and families.
• Generate and implement communication plans to disseminate results.
• Present findings at conferences or other dissemination events and act as an effective spokesperson representing Butler's early childhood content area.

Grant Writing and Business Development

• Identify funding opportunities in the early childhood content area.
• Lead screening, planning and preparation of grant proposals.

Other Duties

• Participate in Butler Institute work groups and committees as identified and/or assigned including those related to GSSW's Culture and Climate Initiative and DU's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Attend and participate in DU and Butler-related meetings, trainings, and activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

• This position supervises assistant and/or associate-level staff, including making recommendations about hiring, advancement, performance improvement, and/or termination of employees.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of early childhood systems.
• Ability to design research and evaluation studies to answer programmatic and policy questions relevant to the early childhood field.
• Ability to analyze and interpret quantitative data; ability to analyze and interpret qualitative data.
• Broad array of qualitative, quantitative, and culturally aligned research skills including research design, data collection and management, and statistical analysis, including proficiency in SPSS and/or other statistical analysis packages, and proficiency with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., Atlas-ti).
• Excellent written and oral language skills for report generation, presentations, and grant applications.
• Ability to lead project teams using strength-based strategies.
• Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership colleagues accountable to deadlines.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively and diplomatically with a variety of stakeholders using various modes of communication including in person, by phone, over email, by virtual technology, and through written project materials.
• Ability to manage and develop relationships with multiple stakeholders, and to demonstrate behaviors consistent with indigenous relationality.
• Ability to utilize flexible evaluation approaches to meet changing project needs.
• Ability to draft complex narrative reports and correspondence with minimal guidance.
• Strong organization and time management skills including ability to multi-task and prioritize competing deadlines and timelines.
• Strong solution-building skills.
• Ability to learn, reflect, and practice cultural humility with others within Butler and with project partners of diverse cultures and communities.
• Ability to participate in actions steps with colleagues to move Butler to an anti-racism, multi-cultural organization.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in early childhood development or education or another relevant field.
• Understanding of issues, policies, and practices within early childhood systems.
• Experience working in early childhood research and/or policy.
• 6 years of experience leading program evaluation or social sciences research, including evaluation planning, designing, data collection, data management, and data analysis.
• Experience leading the design and implementation of quantitative and/or qualitative research or evaluation.
• Experience leading data collection, data management, data analysis and development of findings for reporting.
• Experience managing a large research and evaluation project.
• 2 or more years of experience supervising staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in early childhood development or education or another relevant field.
• Experience writing grant proposals.
• Four or more years of experience supervising staff.
• Experience working within grant funded environments in government, nonprofit, or university settings.

Working Environment

Primarily remote work with on-site office space available
Option to work outside of the Denver area with occasional travel

Physical Activities

Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
Often required to move about the office/campus and transport objects up to 30 lbs.
Occasional travel required for project work

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 9, 2023.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Advertised: June 01, 2023
Applications close: June 09, 2023

This job has expired.