Director of Research and Evaluation

Position Overview

The Director of Research and Evaluation (R & E) will provide strategic leadership to CASCW research and evaluation efforts by directing, designing, implementing, and maintaining a research program focused on answering questions about child and family well-being for families served by the child welfare system or families at risk of entering the child welfare system. In this role, the Director will often serve as a principal investigator of independent and collaborative research projects. The Director will be primarily responsible for developing grant proposals and contracts for project funding; leading the design and implementation of R & E projects at CASCW; participating in research and evaluation activities as needed to promote the success of such endeavors (e.g., data collection, data analysis, writing, etc.); hiring and managing staff and student personnel; supervising students and staff working on research and evaluation projects at CASCW; developing and managing budgets; ensuring ethical conduct of research; submitting compliance reports to funders; communicating with key stakeholders about CASCW research and evaluation efforts; and presenting findings to key stakeholders, including community stakeholders, State agency personnel, and the academic community, through technical reports, presentations, and scholarly publications. The Director will also serve on School, College, University, community, and scholarly committees as a means of advancing CASCW research efforts and the capacity of the practice and scholarly communities. 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. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures. Job Responsibilities Management and Administration of CASCW Research & Evaluation Efforts (30%) Develop and promote the CASCW research & evaluation mission, engaging key stakeholders in the process Develop and carry out strategic planning for CASCW research and evaluation efforts Identify and secure external funding to support CASCW research & evaluation efforts Lead hiring efforts for research and evaluation staff and student personnel who bring a variety of perspectives, experiences, and skills Supervise staff and students working on research and evaluation projects at CASCW with an awareness of diverse supervision expectations and project needs Locate and/or provide training and mentoring relevant and appropriate for a diverse group of staff and graduate assistants to develop relevant knowledge and skills Guide professional development and ensure accountability for project activities for all research and evaluation staff through regular meetings and communication Participate in monthly CASCW All-Staff meetings, Directors meetings, SSW Council meetings, SSW committee meetings (as assigned) and bi-weekly Administrative meetings Develop and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and organizations in the community; participate in community-based meetings and taskforces, as appropriate to current or potential research and evaluation efforts Engage in dialogue with members of the academic community (both locally and nationally) as a means of connecting CASCW research and evaluation efforts to current issues in the field and bringing cutting-edge research and methods to CASCW efforts; this may occur through participation in and presentation at local and national conferences, publication in peer-reviewed journals, etc. Lead the development of training for child welfare professionals serving Title IV-E eligible youth in out-of-home care based upon knowledge generated through CASCWâ™s research and evaluation efforts (as appropriate) Research and Evaluation (R & E) Design and Implementation (55%) Lead the development and implementation of research and evaluation studies at CASCW, including: The development and implementation of appropriate research design and methodologies, Preparation of research plans for submission to the IRB for approval and updating IRB protocols, as needed, The development and implementation of data security and confidentiality protocols, Oversight of adherence to data security and confidentiality protocols, Data collection, cleaning, recoding, and analysis, The management of study progress and ensuring study time lines are met, Preparation of technical reports or Minn-LInK briefs for key stakeholders and/or funders, Preparation and presentation of findings to study investigators, community stakeholders, state agency personnel, and/or the academic community (e.g., conference presentations, community presentations, etc.), as appropriate, Determination whether findings warrant publication in a professional journal; preparation of written article(s), as appropriate, Preparation of training materials relevant to public child welfare employees (e.g., learning modules, brochures, etc.). Identify and engage key stakeholders (including other study investigators, faculty, community stakeholders, State agency personnel, and other members of the academic community, as appropriate) in project-specific conversations about research and evaluation planning, findings, and dissemination opportunities, as appropriate, usually through the use of project-specific Advisory Boards Resource Development & Grant Management (15%) Engage key stakeholders (including community stakeholders, State agency personnel, and other members of the local and national community, as appropriate) in conversations about ways in which CASCWâ™s research and evaluation efforts may fill a needed gap in the knowledge Locate additional sources of funding to promote R & E efforts Develop and/or collaborate on the development of grant proposals to fund R & E projects, including the development of project budgets Manage the fiscal and programmatic aspects of awarded grants, including but not limited to hiring of project staff, monitoring and assuring appropriate allocation of project resources, approval of project expenditures, ensuring project timelines are followed, and development of project reports to funders Coordinate resource allocation across R & E projects, ensuring adequacy of staffing and continuation of effort Required Qualifications PhD degree in social work or related field plus three years of relevant experience OR Masterâ™s degree in social work or related field plus six years of relevant experience Substantial research and publication record Ability to secure external funding for research, scholarship, and/or training Evidence of local and national recognition in child welfare and/or child well-being research Strong record of external funding for research, scholarship, and/or training Advanced research and quantitative analysis skills Strong project management skills and experience supervising research staff Established record of interprofessional research and/or collaborations in local and state agencies or organizations Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment Preferred Qualifications Evidence of local and national recognition in child welfare and/or child well-being research Strong record of external funding for research, scholarship, and/or training A record of community-engaged research Familiarity with the field of child welfare and a deep understanding of child protection Knowledge of methodologies used to integrate data across systems Experience working with State educational, child welfare, or other State system data Experience working with large administrative data sets to measure outcomes

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