Research Manager

Department
 

UL Homelessness

About the Department
 

The Health Lab’s mission is to partner with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate and help scale programs and policies that improve health outcomes, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged urban residents. To accomplish our mission, we seek to identify and engage vulnerable people so they can access services and opportunities that will improve their safety, health and vitality. We work closely with partners, including persons with lived experiences, to learn directly from them about their challenges. We evaluate interventions that seek to address these challenges and advise our partners using data-driven results. We are deeply committed to understanding the impacts of policies, programs and interventions. Like the needs of those we seek to serve, our partnerships are vast. While these partners represent many communities and community-based organizations, they also include medical and social service providers, emergency service providers, members of the corrections, policing and other law enforcement communities. We believe that two key obstacles prevent cities from mobilizing and coordinating their rich resources across sectors. First, cities lack evidence about the multi-sector impact of their efforts. Second, cities lack coordination mechanisms and incentives to collaborate across sectors. The Health Lab dedicates our work and our resources to these two issues. Our primary goal is to generate high-quality evidence about interventions that can sustainably improve urban health and be widely scaled. For examples of our work, please see: http://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/

Job Summary
 

The University of Chicago Health Lab is seeking a Research Manager to work on large-scale social policy research, data science, and program evaluation projects to support the development of effective policy interventions in the domain of 911 and alternative emergency response. The Research Manager will work on several evaluations in support of our suite of 911 and emergency response projects in Chicago and several other cities nationwide.
This position is grant-funded for twelve months with the possibility of further extension. The Research Manager will have the opportunity to manage various stakeholder relationships and contribute to all aspects of research design, methods, and evaluation of research projects. Duties will include managing and facilitating communication between Health Lab and external stakeholders, managing qualitative and quantitative research projects, conducting literature reviews, and producing written materials for both academic and policy-maker audiences. The ideal candidate will be organized and able to execute multiple project work plans, including setting project timelines and meeting key milestones.
This position requires an individual who can work as a part of a small research team simultaneously running a variety of data and research collection endeavors as well as facilitating communication between stakeholders in the 911 field. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, partnering researchers, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates, as well as a team of administrative staff, project managers, and student research assistants. The Research Manager will also collaborate closely with the UChicago Urban Labs' partners in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day implementation of several social policy research projects, including secondary data and research collection, while ensuring fidelity to research ethics and study design.

• Ensures that project deliverables are developed in a satisfactory and timely manner.

• Manages multiple project aims simultaneously and meets tight deadlines.

• Contributes to research design and coordinates implementation with program partners and collaborators in the public and nonprofit sectors.

• Oversees quality control of data collection, including developing and maintaining the study’s research and dissemination processes.

• Coordinates project development and deliverables among all internal and external partners.

• Facilitates integration of community feedback into research process and generated products.

• Prepares IRB proposals, writing grant proposals and grant progress reports, and obtains research permission and data use agreements as needed.

• Performs literature reviews and assists in writing, proofreading, and fact-checking academic papers, reports, and presentations.

• Prepares research summaries for memos, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders.

• Supervised other staff as needed.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.

• Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments. Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.

• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.

• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum requirements include a master's degree in criminal justice, economics, sociology, public health, public policy or another relevant field.

• Will consider applicants with equivalent lived experience.

Experience:

• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through at least one year of relevant research experience.

• Experience gained in school counts towards requirement.

• Managing complex projects with numerous stakeholders.

• Collecting and managing qualitative and quantitative datasets.

• Working on field experiments.

• Translating analytic insights into written recommendations.

• Working with law enforcement or in emergency response.

• Working with large and complex datasets, including with health and claims data appreciated.

• Coursework in econometrics and/or mathematical statistics.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Proficiency with one or more languages such as R, Stata, Python, or SAS preferred.

• Strong computer skills including the ability to effectively use software applications such as Microsoft Office suite.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong interest in social policy.

• Written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas in a simple straightforward way and develop positive relationships with a broad array of partners.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated capacity to work independently in an organized, detailed manner, while maintaining a collaborative team environment. Self-starter with ability to take initiative to move projects forward.

• Excellent data visualization ability.

• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data.

• Knowledge and understanding of criminal justice and 911 emergency crisis response.

• Applied statistics, data analysis, or machine learning/predictive analytics.

• Qualitative research and analysis.

Working Conditions

• This role will be indoors, on phone, Zoom, email, and other digital formats - working remotely initially.

• Requires the ability to work independently and virtually with teams for periods of eight (8) hours or more.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover letter (required)

• Writing sample (required)

• Transcript (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Applicant Inquiry Form. <span>Applicant Inquiry Form</span> The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity /Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Department
 

UL Homelessness

About the Department
 

The Health Lab’s mission is to partner with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate and help scale programs and policies that improve health outcomes, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged urban residents. To accomplish our mission, we seek to identify and engage vulnerable people so they can access services and opportunities that will improve their safety, health and vitality. We work closely with partners, including persons with lived experiences, to learn directly from them about their challenges. We evaluate interventions that seek to address these challenges and advise our partners using data-driven results. We are deeply committed to understanding the impacts of policies, programs and interventions. Like the needs of those we seek to serve, our partnerships are vast. While these partners represent many communities and community-based organizations, they also include medical and social service providers, emergency service providers, members of the corrections, policing and other law enforcement communities. We believe that two key obstacles prevent cities from mobilizing and coordinating their rich resources across sectors. First, cities lack evidence about the multi-sector impact of their efforts. Second, cities lack coordination mechanisms and incentives to collaborate across sectors. The Health Lab dedicates our work and our resources to these two issues. Our primary goal is to generate high-quality evidence about interventions that can sustainably improve urban health and be widely scaled. For examples of our work, please see: http://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/

Job Summary
 

The University of Chicago Health Lab is seeking a Research Manager to work on large-scale social policy research, data science, and program evaluation projects to support the development of effective policy interventions in the domain of 911 and alternative emergency response. The Research Manager will work on several evaluations in support of our suite of 911 and emergency response projects in Chicago and several other cities nationwide.
This position is grant-funded for twelve months with the possibility of further extension. The Research Manager will have the opportunity to manage various stakeholder relationships and contribute to all aspects of research design, methods, and evaluation of research projects. Duties will include managing and facilitating communication between Health Lab and external stakeholders, managing qualitative and quantitative research projects, conducting literature reviews, and producing written materials for both academic and policy-maker audiences. The ideal candidate will be organized and able to execute multiple project work plans, including setting project timelines and meeting key milestones.
This position requires an individual who can work as a part of a small research team simultaneously running a variety of data and research collection endeavors as well as facilitating communication between stakeholders in the 911 field. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, partnering researchers, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates, as well as a team of administrative staff, project managers, and student research assistants. The Research Manager will also collaborate closely with the UChicago Urban Labs' partners in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day implementation of several social policy research projects, including secondary data and research collection, while ensuring fidelity to research ethics and study design.

• Ensures that project deliverables are developed in a satisfactory and timely manner.

• Manages multiple project aims simultaneously and meets tight deadlines.

• Contributes to research design and coordinates implementation with program partners and collaborators in the public and nonprofit sectors.

• Oversees quality control of data collection, including developing and maintaining the study’s research and dissemination processes.

• Coordinates project development and deliverables among all internal and external partners.

• Facilitates integration of community feedback into research process and generated products.

• Prepares IRB proposals, writing grant proposals and grant progress reports, and obtains research permission and data use agreements as needed.

• Performs literature reviews and assists in writing, proofreading, and fact-checking academic papers, reports, and presentations.

• Prepares research summaries for memos, spreadsheets, and presentations targeting both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders.

• Supervised other staff as needed.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process.

• Takes responsibility for the following laboratory duties: recognizing abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems; setting up and performing experiments. Analyze the meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.

• Applies research principles and relevant subject matter knowledge relevant to administer a research project. With a moderate level of direction, manages lab and/or research-related duties and tasks. Helps develop, design and conduct research projects according to plan.

• Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects. Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Takes responsibility for the following non-laboratory duties: transcribing and coding data; developing data collection instruments; presenting research; and recruiting and scheduling research subjects. Acquires higher-level skills and knowledge in the process

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum requirements include a master's degree in criminal justice, economics, sociology, public health, public policy or another relevant field.

• Will consider applicants with equivalent lived experience.

Experience:

• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through at least one year of relevant research experience.

• Experience gained in school counts towards requirement.

• Managing complex projects with numerous stakeholders.

• Collecting and managing qualitative and quantitative datasets.

• Working on field experiments.

• Translating analytic insights into written recommendations.

• Working with law enforcement or in emergency response.

• Working with large and complex datasets, including with health and claims data appreciated.

• Coursework in econometrics and/or mathematical statistics.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Proficiency with one or more languages such as R, Stata, Python, or SAS preferred.

• Strong computer skills including the ability to effectively use software applications such as Microsoft Office suite.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong interest in social policy.

• Written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas in a simple straightforward way and develop positive relationships with a broad array of partners.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated capacity to work independently in an organized, detailed manner, while maintaining a collaborative team environment. Self-starter with ability to take initiative to move projects forward.

• Excellent data visualization ability.

• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data.

• Knowledge and understanding of criminal justice and 911 emergency crisis response.

• Applied statistics, data analysis, or machine learning/predictive analytics.

• Qualitative research and analysis.

Working Conditions

• This role will be indoors, on phone, Zoom, email, and other digital formats - working remotely initially.

• Requires the ability to work independently and virtually with teams for periods of eight (8) hours or more.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover letter (required)

• Writing sample (required)

• Transcript (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Applicant Inquiry Form. <span>Applicant Inquiry Form</span> The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity /Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.