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 posting is recruiting for two grant-funded positions. One will support grant-funded projects within Butler’s behavioral health team and the other will support grant-funded projects within Butler’s early childhood team. The Research Associate has significant research experience, preferably related to behavioral health and/or early childhood systems, equity work, building resilience, trauma-informed care, and/or public health. This position requires experience with project management as well as conducting evaluation projects using culturally-based methodologies, such as mixed-methods approaches. Research Associates are responsible for supporting research design activities, overseeing data collection and management activities, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, report writing and dissemination, and collaboration with funders, community partners, providers, and stakeholders. This position may contribute to developing proposals and grants. This is a grant-funded position.

Essential Functions

Project Management, Data Collection, Statistical Analysis and Interpretation 

• Project management, including establishing project timelines and ensuring timelines are met.
• Internal communication among team members and external communication with stakeholders.
• Participate in framing of research and evaluation questions.
• Assist in developing evaluation plans, data collection protocols, tools, and methodologies.
• Design, coordinate, and conduct interviews and focus groups.
• Quantitative data collection using surveys, including with software such as Qualtrics.
• Conduct statistical analyses and interpretation activities under guidance from project Principal Investigators.
• Guide team member tasks and activities on projects.
• Maintain positive working relationships with clients, programs, and other key project stakeholders.
• Conduct project management for research and/or evaluation studies or major components of complex evaluations.

Dissemination 

• Participate in the development and presentation of results to key stakeholders, funders, and other audiences.
• Contribute to reports, publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination opportunities as a co-author or co-presenter requiring excellent writing skills and quality presentation abilities.
• Communicate with community and interdisciplinary collaborators and act as a spokesperson.
• May assist in writing grant proposals.

Other Duties

• Attend and participate in DU and Butler-related meetings, trainings, and activities, including organizational workgroups and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports, presentations, and grant applications, as well as coordinating and communicating with project team and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) skills, including statistical analysis and interpretation.
• Use a broad array of research and presentation skills, which may include proficiency in Qualtrics, Atlas.ti, NVivo, SPSS, and other statistical analysis/visualization tools.
• Project management skills with multiple stakeholders and tasks involved.
• Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership accountable to deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize competing timelines and project deliverables.
• Ability to facilitate constructive interpersonal interaction and teamwork.
• Strong critical thinking and solution building skills.
• Ability to work with members of diverse cultures and communities with respect and humility.
• Strong attention to detail.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field OR Bachelor’s degree in related field and 2 additional years of work experience
• For those with a Master’s degree, 3 years of experience and for those with a Bachelor’s degree, 4 years of experience working in program evaluation or social sciences research, including evaluation planning, design, data collection, data management, and data analysis

• Knowledge of behavioral health and/or public health systems (for behavioral health position) or of early childhood systems (for early childhood position)

Preferred Qualifications

• One or more years of experience in project management
• Coursework in research methods, statistics, evaluation, and/or qualitative research approaches
• Content knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to the child- and family-serving systems and the workforce in those systems
• Content knowledge of trauma-informed care
• 4 or more years of experience in program evaluation or social sciences research, including evaluation planning, design, data collection, data management, and analysis
• Experience designing and administering web-based surveys
• Experience with learning management systems
• Experience analyzing qualitative data
• Experience working with grant funded projects in government, nonprofit, or university settings
• Advanced knowledge or expertise in behavioral health and/or public health systems (for behavioral health position) or in early childhood systems (for early childhood position)
• One or more years’ experience supervising staff, students or others
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience working with diverse communities

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.
Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance.

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 12, 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 10.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $58,000-$65,000

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.