at Chapin Hall in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Senior Researcher
Full Time
Chapin Hall is seeking an experienced Senior Researcher to work on a national cross-site evaluation and other projects focused on development of cross-system and community pathways research methodologies. The Senior Researcher will join an interdisciplinary technical assistance and an evaluation team comprised of national partners working to design a viable alternative to child welfare initiative. Chapin Hall is serving as the cross-site evaluator on the project and our partners range from foundation and university partners, government agencies to local service providers, and families with lived experience. The Senior Researcher will serve as the project liaison to a National Evaluation Advisory Group.
The Senior Researcher primary responsibilities include leading mixed methods - qualitative and quantitative- research designs, leading implementation of qualitative and quantitative research projects and their components. The Senior Researcher will contribute to integrated approaches to analyze and interpret research findings. Projects focus on the analytic activities necessary to inform system planning and decision-making and are intended to generate actionable evidence to guide the implementation, continuous quality improvement, and/or evaluation of new initiatives including, for example, the Family First Preventive Services Act (FFPSA) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEBI) initiatives. Project methods may vary but include literature reviews, evaluation design, community-engaged research projects with quantitative and qualitative analytic components, analysis of quantitative and qualitative data - particularly linked administrative data, and report and manuscript writing.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Working with colleagues and partners to design formative, experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations. These include impact, implementation, and mixed-methods evaluations of complex social and economic interventions, especially related to preventing child welfare involvement.
Collecting, analyzing, and integrating qualitative and quantitative data, e.g., through surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory action methods (the researcher's methodological focus will depend to some extent on their skillset, but we encourage and support enough proficiency and professional development across methods to work effectively as part of the team).
Facilitating community-engaged research in intervention development and evaluation; mentoring and supporting young adult researchers with lived expertise.
Developing research protocols that integrate cross system linked administrative data such as Child Welfare and TANF.
Developing mixed methods approaches to inform FFPSA community pathways implementation.
Developing research and Institutional Review Board protocols.
Contributing to the development of research funding proposals.
Performing project management tasks, peer reviews, and an array of collegial support.
QUALIFICATIONS
A doctoral degree in social work, public policy, psychology, statistics, education, public health, sociology or another relevant field OR a master's degree plus a minimum of five years of relevant, post-degree experience required.
A minimum of three years of experience with community-engaged, mixed methods research projects is required.
Substantive content expertise in child welfare as evidenced by authorship in peer reviewed publications and national presentations is required.
Strong knowledge of child welfare mandatory reporting policies and practices is required.
Experience conducting analyses of quantitative and qualitative data in child welfare research projects.
Strong knowledge of quantitative approaches to data analysis such as predictive modeling using integrated administrative data sets.
Knowledge of qualitative research methods, including the ability to develop data collection protocols required and conduct systematic reviews of literature.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively manage key partner relationships required.
Strong communications skills with the ability to translate and convey complex concepts and study findings in oral and written communications required.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent tasks required.
Problem-solving and analytic skills... For full info follow application link.
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that values and actively seeks diversity in its workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, status as an individual with disability, age, ancestry, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
