Director of Research & Evaluation

Description

Broad Scope & Function

This position is responsible for directing EdInsights' research and evaluation strand, with projects ranging from large-scale community college pathways development to campus-based student success programs. As a part of the EdInsights leadership team, this position will help inform decisions regarding business operations and strategic direction for EdInsights as a center. The Director will provide EdInsights staff oversight and leadership coverage as needed. Based on Center mission, vision, and capacity, this role will provide strategic thought partnership to the Center on research and evaluation portfolios, incorporating stakeholder feedback when relevant. The Director will help to Identify funding opportunities and work with the Executive Director to develop proposals. Additionally, with the Executive Director this role will pitch proposals to potential clients/funders/collaborators and provide strategic thought partnership to inform the research and evaluation needs of funders and clients. The Director will be responsible for reviewing project deliverables, final reviewer for externally facing client/funder deliverables and/or research reports.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports directly to and receives general direction from the Executive Director or Associate Director of EdInsights. This position directly supervises Research Managers, and provides indirect supervision to Research Assistants, Research Associates, and Senior Research Associates. Supervision of this position is maintained through discussion of deliverables, scopes, budget, compliance, and capacity.

Benefits

• 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
• Hybrid
• Requires local travel to meetings in the Sacramento area
• View a comprehensive list of all of the benefits at https://www.enterprises.csus.edu/wp-content/uploads/UEI_Benefits-At-A-Glance-Brochure_Projects.pdf

Application Instructions

This position is open until filled with a priority review date of April 14, 2025. We will begin application review on this date.

Please include the following with your application:

• Resume

If this document is not included, your application materials will not be considered. Please include your employment history in the "Employment Experience" section of your application in addition to submitting your resume.

Conditions of Employment

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).

This is a full-time, exempt from overtime, benefited position, covered under the California Public Employees' Retirement System. Continued employment in this position is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the employee, and either University Enterprises or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.

Duties and Responsibilities

Directs complex projects using project management software, oversees progress, and manages all research and evaluation project resources including oversight of budget and internal/external staffing allocations by Senior Research Associates and Research Manager(s). Presents Executive Director with periodic oral and written reports on the status of research and evaluation projects. Supports Senior Research Associates and Research Manager(s) to strategize project activities and deliverables timelines.

Facilitates and leads agenda creation for complex client meetings and supports Senior Research Associates and Research Manager(s) in facilitation and agenda creation for routine client and staff meetings. Establishes and oversees client and funder relationships, provides strategic thought partnership to inform the research and evaluation needs of the funders and stakeholders, communicates with clients and funders, provides oversight of reporting requirements. Supports Senior Research Associates and Research Manager(s) with handling complex ongoing client relationships, managing client expectations, and working with them to fulfill project objectives and obtain necessary data and information.

Oversees all research and evaluation proposals and designs. Oversees the preparation and submission of research and evaluation grant proposals to foundations and other external grantors.

Oversees literature review and secondary research processes performed by the research and evaluation team.

Oversees and makes final decisions regarding Center instrument development processes.

Oversees the use of project data to achieve various project goals through a variety of deliverables across staff and consultants (e.g., program improvement; outcome/impact reporting) across the Center's evaluation and research projects.

Oversees data analysis processes and procedures; makes final decisions regarding analysis and interpretation when needed.

Reviews and ensures all interim and annual narrative reporting requirements are complete. Provides direction to, collaborates with, and provides feedback to UX/UI Design Analyst to create visuals for reports. Provides final review of all contracted deliverables and externally facing evaluation and research reports. Presents findings at meetings and conferences.

In collaboration with the Finance and Operations team, oversees all research and evaluation project budgets.

Oversees research protocols and practices, makes final decisions on protocols and practices.

Oversees, coordinates, and provides staff research training. Serves as Edlnsights' in-house expert on research methods, providing advice and consultation to other Edlnsights staff and associated faculty who work with Edlnsights.

Hires, supervises, trains, and evaluates the work of a team of regular benefited employees and graduate assistants and/or non-benefited employees, consistent with University Enterprises, Inc. policies. Reviews and approves time-off requests and timesheets.

Works directly with UEI Human Resources on staff hiring and on staff hiring and job description development.

Studies and stays abreast of major issues and trends in postsecondary reform nationally and in California, specifically.

Represents Edlnsights at state and national education conferences and events relating to areas of research. Presents Edlnsights research in multiple formats, including full-length reports, policy briefs, and oral presentations to a variety of targeted audiences including legislators, educational leaders, the business community, other researchers, and advocacy groups. Maintains regular communication with other education researchers in universities or other research organizations. Identifies funding opportunities and works with the Executive Director to develop proposals. Together with the Executive Director, pitches proposals to potential clients/funders/collaborators and provides strategic thought partnership to inform the research and evaluation needs of funders and clients.

Sits on the EdInsights leadership team as the research and evaluation liaison to help inform decisions regarding business operations and strategic direction for EdInsights as a center. Designs, leads, facilitates, and synthesizes center-wide discussions on equity and center strategic direction as part of the leadership team. Provides EdInsights staff oversight and leadership coverage as needed. Strategically advises leadership regarding how research fits with higher education goals and priorities. Advises the Executive Director about the strategic direction of Edlnsights, particularly focused on the center's research and evaluation portfolios. Works in a team, with Executive Director and other Edlnsights staff, to provide input into a variety of Edlnsights publications and other products. Collaborates with Edlnsights' Leadership to systematically document learnings from across all center projects. Leads the development of a cohesive evaluation strategy inclusive of needs, goals, and concerns of various audiences.

Works in a team, with Executive Director and other EdInsights staff, to provide input into a variety of EdInsights publications and other products.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in public policy/administration, education, economics, political science, sociology, or other field requiring statistical analysis and social science research, or equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.

Demonstrated extensive experience conducting social science research, strong research methods training, and experience with developmental evaluation approach as well as large- scale evaluations in postsecondary systems and institutions.

Experience managing staff/teams and overseeing workflow.

Experience working with funders.

Experience designing and creating data visualization.

Experience using project management tools to manage multiple projects/priorities and meet competing deadlines (e.g., Trello). Experience with word processing, spreadsheets, internet, and statistical software packages such as SPSS or SAS.

Strong technical and public (such as for policymakers) writing skills. Demonstrated extensive experience lead authoring research publication(s) (public or client-facing).

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Demonstrated experience with qualitative data collection and analysis methods, such as designing and administering surveys, conducting interviews and focus groups, and developing a cross-team coding scheme for coding qualitative data.

Demonstrated experience with advanced quantitative analysis (i.e., inferential statistics) and longitudinal data/analyses.

Demonstrated experience working with large data sets.

Experience working in a highly collaborative environment.

Commitment to educational equity and research experience related to disproportionate impacts for students from traditionally underserved communities.

Must pass a background check, which may include fingerprinting. Must continue to meet the established standards.

Preferred Qualifications

Doctorate in public policy/administration, education, economics, political science, sociology, or other field requiring statistical analysis and social science research, or equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.

Demonstrated experience in policy analysis.

Physical Requirements

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, copiers, printers, scanners, and fax machines.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office environment; continuous contact with staff, campus community, government agencies, and other organizations; requires local travel to meetings in the Sacramento area, and occasional out-of-area travel for meetings or conferences.

Work Schedule

• 40 hours per week
• Hybrid
• Requires local travel to meetings in the Sacramento area