Research Specialist at University Enterprises, Inc. in Sacramento, California

Job Description:

Research Specialist
Institute for Social Research
REQUISITION #587621572

 

University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) at Sacramento State is seeking a Research Specialist for Institute for Social Research (ISR). ISR is a growing, interdisciplinary applied research center situated at Sacramento State's Downtown School. With a rich 35-year history, ISR specializes in conducting program evaluations and research studies for state and local agencies, community organizations, private foundations, and academic institutions. Comprised of 18 professional staff and student research assistants, ISR’s mission is to be a public research partner to those organizations and agencies who are working to improve the lives of residents across the greater Sacramento region. 

RATE OF PAY: $6,815 - $10,223 per month

BENEFITS: UEI offers an excellent benefits package that includes:

• UEI contribution to a TIAA retirement plan after one year of service
• Paid Vacation Time – starting at 10 hours accrued/month
• Paid Sick Time – 8 hours accrued/month
• Paid Holidays – 14 paid holidays per year including paid time off the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as the CSUS campus is closed
• Excellent medical benefits – 100% employer-paid medical & dental for employee-only coverage and low cost for family coverage
• Educational Assistance Program for employees and/or dependents
• Work from home for up to three days per week with supervisor approval

FILING DEADLINE: This position is open until filled with a priority review date of October 14, 2024. We will begin application review on this date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This is a full-time, exempt from overtime, benefited position with a defined contribution retirement plan through TIAA. (The position is not covered under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.) Continued employment in this position is dependent upon funding and the mutual consent of University Enterprises and the employee, and either University Enterprises or the employee, can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause. Program continuation is contingent upon funding. This position is hybrid-eligible for up to 3 days per week. The successful candidate will be required to report to the office as needed/required. University Enterprises Inc. (UEI) reserves the right to modify or terminate any or all of the provisions of hybrid work for any reason at any time. The candidate must reside in California upon appointment and throughout their employment with UEI.

The selected candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the United States. University Enterprises, Inc. is not a sponsoring agency (i.e. H-1B Visa).

It is strongly recommended that all University Enterprises, Inc. employees follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. Master's Degree in Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy, Public Health, or related social science discipline or the equivalent combination of education and research experience.
2. Demonstrated project team management and supervisory experience in a research capacity.
3. Significant experience in independently designing and implementing complex social science studies, using quantitative and/or qualitative data collection.
4. Demonstrated experience in presenting research findings, including reports, presentations, or other formats, for technical and non-academic audiences.
5. Demonstrated experience with computer software programs for data analysis, database management, and survey administration. (e.g., NVivo, ArcGIS, SPSS, Stata, R, Qualtrics, CATI.)
6. Demonstrated experience in writing applied research proposals, developing reports, and designing presentations for both technical and non-academic audiences.
7. Demonstrated experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously and large-scale, multilayered projects.
8. Demonstrated experience with program evaluation theory and methodology.
9. Significant applied research project management experience including designing research methodology to project budgets and timeline, working in a time-sensitive and deliverable-based environment, and providing oversight and coordination for a multi-level research team.
10. Experience working in a professional consulting capacity and demonstrated success in working effectively and collaboratively with a diverse range of clients.
11. Demonstrated social scientific expertise in data analysis techniques, as well as subject matter areas (e.g., public health, criminal justice, education, social services, etc.).
12. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
13. Must pass a background check, which may include fingerprinting. Must continue to meet the established
standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Ph.D. in an appropriate social science discipline.
2. Demonstrated experience of at least ten (10) years postgraduate in an applied social science research capacity.
3. Experience in designing research studies with difficult-to-research and culturally diverse populations.
4. Demonstrated technical expertise in quantitative statistical analysis.
5. Demonstrated experience in data visualization and/or mapping.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
With or without reasonable accommodation: Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, calculators, copiers, scanners, printers, and fax machines. Limited travel is possible.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in an office environment; regular contact with staff, campus community, the public, and other
agencies. Limited travel is possible.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Research Specialist is responsible for managing complex and/or multi-year applied research projects and providing methodological expertise in research design and project implementation. Tasks associated with this responsibility include: working with clients to identify research questions; making recommendations regarding the most appropriate research and sampling designs; developing an evaluation/research methodology, work plan and budget development that meets clients specifications; designing data collection tools; supervising data collection and data entry; outlining and executing advanced analyses; writing research reports; effectively communicating research results to non-technical audiences. The position will also be responsible for the allocation of fiscal resources for one or more projects and for ensuring projects meet budgetary and timeline requirements. Additionally, the Research Specialist will also be responsible for communicating findings from studies into reports and materials that are accessible to non-technical/academic audiences. The position will have ongoing contact with clients regarding research design and deliverables. The position will assign project tasks to a research team and monitor its progress. The Research Specialist will be a part of the ISR Leadership team, assisting the Executive Director in aligning ISR’s operations towards its academic and business goals.

The position functions with a high degree of autonomy and reports directly to and receives general direction from the Executive Director of the Institute for Social Research. The position provides supervision to assigned student employees. The position provides work direction to ISR staff/students in relation to projects/tasks under the incumbent’s direction. May receive work direction from the Finance & Business Operations Manager and other ISR staff in the performance of tasks under that person’s direction.

The specific duties and responsibilities are as follows:
1. Leads all project research activities and project management tasks with support from other research staff.
2. Leads the design and execution of specialized, applied social science studies, including the nature and scope of investigation, research methodologies, data collection approaches, sampling designs, and analysis plans.
3. Develops customized research and evaluation studies components, including logic-models, project training needs and training designs, identifying secondary data sources, and leveraging existing organizational/project related data.
4. Leads the development of quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments, such as surveys, data collection forms, assessments, interview and focus group protocols, and coding manuals needed to obtain primary and secondary data.
5. Leads the development of data collection methods, protocols, timelines, and procedures for data collection and management. Coordinates with client regarding data collection requests, data quality, and timeline.
6. Collaborates with clients and study stakeholder to ensure that study design and execution is aligned to research goals and is culturally responsive to study participants.
7. Exercises a significant level of independence in drawing conclusions from study findings as well as developing evidence-based recommendations that address clients' programmatic and policy needs and study purposes.
8. Analyzes, interprets, and synthesizes quantitative and qualitative research results and oversees the analytical
work of other ISR staff and students.
9. Creates and oversees the development of client-tailored reports and presentations, including the drafting of
report narrative, graphics, charts, and tables and the review of materials prepared by Research Analysts I and II.
10. Presents study findings to clients, community stakeholder groups, elected officials, and the academic
community, which may have sensitive organizational, regional, and/or policy impacts.
11. Serves as the project lead for client communication and engagement, including monthly project updates,
facilitating client meetings, and presenting study results in an interactive and engaging manner.
12. Reviews project(s) budgets, adjusting tasks and resources, in conjunction with the ISR Executive Director and
Finance and Administration Manager as needed, to ensure project deliverables are completed in accordance with contract deliverables.
13. Supervises, schedules, trains, develops, evaluates, and mentors assigned staff ensuring compliance with UEI
personnel policies and procedures and Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity guidelines; prepares and delivers performance evaluations; and participates in the selection and hiring of department staff.
14. Identifies and implements professional development training for the Research Team, including overseeing
training needs assessments and identification of appropriate internal and external training resources to meet those needs.
15. Develops contacts with prospective project initiatives with potential clients.
16. Presents the ISR Executive Director with periodic oral and written reports on the status of research projects
under this person’s direction.
17. Contributes to the technical and subject matter expertise of ISR. Provides input and feedback to the Directors regarding the strategic direction of ISR and contributes to training staff and identifying best-practices for applied research studies.
18. Serves as a member of the ISR Leadership team, assisting in the development and institutionalizations of systematic operational and applied research practices, and strategizing regarding organization, project, and grants and contracts activities.
19. Provides direct supervision of assigned student employees. Assigns and monitors the work, performance, and efficiency of student and staff employees on projects/tasks under the incumbent’s direction.
20. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Note: This position vacancy is with University Enterprises Inc., an auxiliary organization of California State University, Sacramento. This is not a University position; the incumbent will be an employee of University Enterprises. University Enterprises operates commercial enterprises on the California State University, Sacramento campus; it is responsible for grant and contract management and fiscal services for University research and sponsored programs and provides fiscal services to University related agencies and activities. University Enterprises is a non-profit corporation governed by a board of directors in conformance with the appropriate State of California codes and policy directives of the Board of Trustees and the campus administration.

University Enterprises is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of University Enterprises that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, placement, and promotions will be on a basis of qualifications of the individual for the position being filled, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age (over 40 years), sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (diagnosis or history of cancer)*, citizenship, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Any persons who feel that they have been discriminated against in connection with an application for employment should contact University Enterprises' Director of Human Resources at (916) 278-7003. *As defined in Section 12926(F), Government Code 12990.

***AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER***

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Sacramento has made crime reporting statistics available on-line. Print copies are available in the CSUS library and by request from the CSUS Office of Public Safety and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. 

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