Description

The Position: Senior Research Associate    

We are looking for a highly skilled and collaborative team member who has demonstrated experience building evaluation partnerships, designing and leading meaningful evaluation studies, and using data, research, and program evaluation to improve the lives of children, youth, and families. The Senior Research Associate will serve as the lead methodologist in one or more areas for the company, develop the technical skills of team members, develop and manage new business opportunities, nurture client relationships, and assume responsibility as the principal investigator of a growing portfolio of projects. The Senior Research Associate shares accountability for high-quality work with the project team.

The Senior Research Associate plays a pivotal role in designing and performing rigorous and useful evaluations of child- and family-serving programs. Specific areas of responsibility include, but may not be limited to:

• Approaching research with humility, respect, and commitment to cultural responsiveness and equity—and supporting team members to do the same.
• Closely collaborating with team members, partners, and stakeholders throughout the life of a project.
• Effectively communicating with project team members, partners, and stakeholders.
• Leading the methodological design of studies to answer questions in a way that is rigorous, culturally responsive, and equitable, while meeting client’s needs.
• Selecting methods and measures, designing and testing research instruments, and developing, implementing and monitoring evaluation
• Developing and using strategies to ensure research integrity throughout data collection or data sourcing, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
• Building the capacities of team members and partners to collect, analyze, interpret, and use data.
• Conducting sound qualitative analyses (e.g., thematic analysis) and/or quantitative analyses (e.g., descriptive, inferential, predictive) to answer questions of
• Collaborating with team members to develop clear and user-friendly professional reports, articles, and presentations that are designed to help our partners and their stakeholders understand and apply meaningful
• Teaming to ensure that all project deliverables are completed on time and meet or exceed
• Reviewing final deliverables to ensure quality, completeness, and accuracy.
• Developing and leveraging professional networks to disseminate work with KI&E and/or generate new partnerships.
• Leading and contributing to proposals for new projects or funding.

This is a full-time remote position with occasional travel (approximately 4-8 trips per year) to participate in team and project meetings and to deliver local and national presentations. The anticipated salary range for this position is $105,000 - $125,000.

Kaye Implementation & Evaluation values diversity and lived experience. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications for Senior Research Associate 

• Graduate degree in social work, sociology, psychology, public health, public policy, or a related human services or social science field
• 5 or more years of experience conducting research/evaluation and performing responsibilities that will be expected of this position
• Strong interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain working relationships with team members, partners, and stakeholders
• Experience performing program evaluation with public and/or private human service agencies that serve populations who are impacted by child welfare systems
• Knowledge of child welfare research, systems, programs, policies gained through lived or professional experience
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead studies from design through execution and final deliverables
• Demonstrated proficiency conducting qualitative and/or quantitative analyses, including
  • Using qualitative analysis software to prepare and manage analysis files by assigning attributes, coding data using a structured methodology, and performing analysis
  • Using statistical software, preferably Stata, to prepare and manage analysis files by linking multiple tables using common identifiers, writing syntax for analysis, conducting quality assurance checks, performing descriptive and inferential analyses
  • Integrating approaches in a mixed methods study
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex research findings and to develop clear, visually compelling presentations and reports for diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated expertise presenting study findings in easily consumable and useful presentations, publications, products, and/or other media to meet the needs of target audiences
• Demonstrated ability to ensure research integrity and perform quality assurance of research/evaluation procedures and deliverables
• Proven organizational, project, and time management skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects effectively, both independently and collaboratively with a team
• Demonstrated ability to generate new projects/funding through competitive proposals or through extensions of work with previous funders/clients
• Strong commitment to a collegial workplace

Desired Qualifications for Senior Research Associate        

• PhD or doctoral degree in social work, sociology, psychology, public health, public policy, or a related human services or social science field
• Lived expertise as a participant in child welfare services, including child protection, foster care, kinship care, group care, adoption, independent living or related services
• Experience with evaluation co-design and participatory evaluation approaches that elevate and include the perspectives of persons with lived experience
• Experience exploring issues of overrepresentation, disparities, bias, and inequity
• Familiarity with the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and the CFSR process
• Experience performing analyses using child welfare administrative data sets; for example, experience with CFSR statewide indicators, CCWIS, SACWIS, NCANDS, and/or AFCARS
• Demonstrated expertise conducting culturally responsive and equitable evaluation
• Demonstrated ability to teach and coach others to conduct and use evaluation
• Demonstrated expertise applying implementation science theories, frameworks, and research methods

To view the full job posting visit https://www.kayeimplementation.com/jobs. To apply, please send cover letter and resume or CV to info@kayeimplementation.com.