Researcher 5 (Title IV-E Program Eval)

Position Overview

This position is fully funded by sponsored funds. 

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare is located in the School of Social Work in the College of Education and Human Development. CASCW supports the education and training of child welfare professionals, identifies and examines effective child welfare practice methods, informs the public and policy makers about various child welfare issues, and incorporates research and evaluation findings into School of Social Work curriculum and training opportunities. 

The Title IV-E Program Evaluator hired into this 12-month, 1.0 FTE, annually-renewable Researcher 5 (9742R5) position works collaboratively with CASCW leadership to:

1. Develop and implement research to assess the effectiveness of the Title IV-E MSW Child Welfare Fellowship program
2. Develop and implement evaluation activities to assess the effectiveness of the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) and Phoenix Learning Xchange Certificate (PLX) programs
3. Develop and implement research aimed at best practices for supporting graduates of Title IV-E Fellowship programs as they enter the child welfare workforce. 

It is expected that the Title IV-E Program Evaluator will carry out their work with attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of the evaluation process and while collaborating with others in this work, including University and external stakeholders (e.g., Department of Children, Youth, and Families, non-profit agencies, child welfare agencies, etc.). Primary duties will involve evaluation design and implementation (e.g. evaluation instrument development, data collection and management, data analysis and writing technical and translational reports). The researcher in this position will also co-author reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, research briefs, and other dissemination products and present findings to a wide stakeholder audience, including researchers, administrators, and policy makers.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.  

Job Responsibilities

Develop and Implement Program Evaluation (95%)

• Co-design and implement research and evaluation projects involving both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methodologies (e.g., research instrument design and development, data collection and management, data analysis, etc).Integrate a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of the research process.
• Collaborate on the development of reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, research briefs, and other dissemination products that provide useful information to researchers, practitioners, policy makers, administrators, and other stakeholders.
• Develop, monitor, and ensure compliance with standard operating procedures, data management systems, institutional review board, and relevant policy and procedures processes for human subjects research.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including representatives of CASCW, the School of Social Work, the College of Education and Human Development, and local, state, regional, and national stakeholders and partners.
• Develop and implement processes to ensure that work plans and timelines meet project goals.
• Oversee reporting to funding agencies, such as progress reports, and ad hoc reporting requests.

Administration & Planning (5%)

• Participate in CASCW, project-specific, and SSW Council meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in social work, public health, education, or related social science discipline with on or more years of research or evaluation training
• Demonstrated capacity to consult and collaborate with external stakeholders from diverse fields, communities, and with diverse perspectives/experiences on project planning, research design, and dissemination
• Experience designing and completing analyses for research and evaluation projects that employ a variety of research methodologies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills – both technical and scholarly – to meet the diverse communication needs and styles of project stakeholders and the broader community
• Demonstrated ability to translate research and evaluation findings into reports and presentations accessible by frontline practitioners and educators
• Ability to work independently and in team-based settings
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for an inclusive environment for all backgrounds and identities
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in social work, family studies, education, or related field with substantial research & publication record
• Demonstrated project development and project management skills
• Experience providing technical assistance to community and University partners
• Knowledge of and experience working with statistical computing and coding software (Stata, SPSS, R, NVivo)
• Understanding of child welfare and/or foster care service delivery, including disparities and social inequities evident in these systems
• Understanding of evaluation issues pertinent to child welfare workforce development and systems change
• Direct practice experience working with children and families