Job Opportunities - NORC at the University of Chicago, Bethesda, MD

Research Scientist (see: http://careers.norc.org/cw/en-us/job/494277/research-scientist )
#494277
Regular Full-Time
Bethesda, MD
Education and Child Development

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Join the Education and Child Development Department at NORC at the University of Chicago as the newest Research Scientist focusing on early childhood issues, including work that is responsive to cultural and linguistic diversity, disparities and equity issues. Based in our Bethesda office, take this opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the department during a time of strategic growth.

DEPARTMENT: EDUCATION & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
For more than 40 years, NORC has been committed to conducting high quality education research. Our department of Education and Child Development's research covers the full array of education-relevant populations, from pre-school children to the post-graduate doctorate holders. NORC is a leader in conducting large national surveys, as well as more targeted state and local studies, harvesting reliable, actionable early childhood data, particularly data on early care and education. The scope of our education research methodologies is wide-ranging, as well - including primary data collection, analysis and reporting of existing data, transcript abstraction, classroom observations, qualitative analysis, and experimental and quasi-experimental designs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design program evaluations in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and program partners
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Review, synthesize, and describe existing evidence
• Guide programs and policymakers in using evidence to make decisions
• Author white papers, briefs, and reports; submit articles for publication in refereed journals
• Synthesize and present research findings to policy, practitioner, and researcher audiences at professional meetings
• Engage in business development activities including idea generation, outreach, grant writing, and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs)
• Serve as task leader on large projects, overseeing staff responsibilities, monitoring budgets, and coordinating schedules
• Occasional travel to client meetings and conferences

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor's Degree is required, PhD is strongly preferred
• At least 7 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in research or related field (or equivalent education) including at least 3 years' of social science project management as well as experience with the design and execution of social science research and in publishing research results, with a strong career-appropriate record of peer-reviewed technical publications
• NORC will possibly hire at the Senior Research Scientist level for more qualified candidates
• Interest and experience in early care and education programs, preschool, elementary schools and community-based programs a plus
• Advanced quantitative and/or qualitative skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate complex research methods and findings for a practitioner and policy audience
• Strong problem solving, project management, relationship management skills
• Ability to manage time to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Some experience in client communications and relationship management; solid technical writing skills
• Strong proficiency with statistical analysis packages such as such as SAS, SPSS, STATA, or R
• Outstanding interpersonal and critical reasoning skills
• Spanish language skills preferred (particularly native fluency)

Research Analyst (see: http://careers.norc.org/cw/en-us/job/494276/research-analyst )
• #494276
• Regular Full-Time
• Bethesda, MD
• Education and Child Development

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Join the Education and Child Development Department at NORC at the University of Chicago as the newest Research Analyst focusing on early childhood issues, including work that is responsive to cultural and linguistic diversity, disparities and equity issues. Based in our Bethesda office, take this opportunity to contribute to the continued success of the department during a time of strategic growth.

The analyst must have experience in conducting qualitative and/or quantitative analyses of moderate complexity and have strong writing skills. A mixed-methods analyst is also welcome.

DEPARTMENT: EDUCATION & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
For more than 40 years, NORC has been committed to conducting high quality education research. Our department of Education and Child Development's research covers the full array of education-relevant populations, from pre-school children to the post-graduate doctorate holders. NORC is a leader in conducting large national surveys, as well as more targeted state and local studies, harvesting reliable, actionable early childhood data, particularly data on early care and education. The scope of our education research methodologies is wide-ranging, as well - including primary data collection, analysis and reporting of existing data, transcript abstraction, classroom observations, qualitative analysis, and experimental and quasi-experimental designs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take a lead or supporting role, under the supervision of senior staff, on key tasks related to research design, data collection, data processing, and/or analysis
• Prepare literature reviews, and written descriptions of data collection methodologies and procedures
• Assist in design of questionnaires and other quantitative or qualitative data collection instruments
• Plan and conduct project activities including site visits, telephone interviews, and technical panel meetings
• Conduct analyses on quantitative and/or qualitative data including administrative and survey data
• Assist in creating presentations for client meetings and conferences
• Prepare/draft client reporting deliverables, including monthly or annual progress reports, memos, slides, data charts, and tables for presenting study findings
• Assist with business development activities, supporting all aspects of proposal efforts including drafting subsections of proposals, compiling data, and drafting charts or exhibits
• Coordinate project activities and events, including setting up meetings and conference calls and liaising with consultants and local data collection firms

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in early childhood, developmental psychology, education, other social science, public policy, economics, or statistics is a plus. Degrees in other subjects may be considered, if other relevant skills apply
• At least one year experience with increasing knowledge in the principles, processes, and methods of social science research
• Interest and experience in early childhood care and education programs, preschool, elementary schools and community-based programs a plus
• Experience playing a lead role conducting literature reviews; using and designing qualitative data collection tools including key informant interviews, site visits and focus groups. Additional experience with Nvivo or ATLAS TI a plus
• Experience working with large datasets, conducting data quality review and data analysis. Additional advanced quantitative research skills a plus
• Strong command of statistical packages, such as STATA, SAS, or R
• Strong proficiency with MS Office software, including Excel
• Strong writing skills, including experience with report writing
• Outstanding interpersonal and critical reasoning skills
• Spanish language skills preferred (particularly native fluency)

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***We also have a Research Scientist position for a K-12 focused person in our Chicago office:
(see http://careers.norc.org/cw/en-us/job/494279/research-scientist )