[Hiring] Senior Research Associate @The Regents of the University of California on behalf of their Los Angeles Campus

Role Description

The Senior Research Associate position with the UCLA Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL) is an exciting opportunity for an experienced applied researcher to contribute to the lab’s mission by taking a leading role in complex, multifaceted evaluation and research projects. The Senior Research Associate will:

• Help shape research and evaluation designs.
• Lead the development and implementation of data collection.
• Conduct advanced analyses.
• Develop and prepare a wide range of reporting products.

This position is designed for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment and is ready to take greater responsibility for coordinating research activities and supporting the work of multidisciplinary teams. The role is particularly well suited for someone who enjoys combining advanced research methods, technology, and effective stakeholder engagement to help partners use data in their work.

The position also provides opportunities to coordinate workflows and provide feedback to Research Associates and other members of the research team. The ideal candidate is a highly organized and intellectually curious applied research professional with:

• Advanced qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Substantial experience with data collection, management, and analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Successful candidates will be able to independently navigate complex research activities while collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams and with a wide range of stakeholders. Advanced knowledge of utilization-focused evaluation, participatory research, human services systems, and visual design principles for communicating data in a clear, accurate, engaging, and equity-aware manner will be especially valuable.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to assess priorities and coordinate workflows across projects to complete tasks in a timely and accurate manner within a high-paced work environment.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a research team across cultures and internally within a diverse and dynamic institution.
• Demonstrated in-depth data collection experience and skills including measurement development and validation, survey programming, designing and coordinating data collection plans in a multisite project setting, and facilitating focus groups and interviews with a wide range of stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge and skill in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Demonstrated advanced written and verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholder groups in a concise, coherent, and engaging manner.
• Demonstrated strong interest and ability to learn new software and web-based apps as required with minimal hands-on training.
• Advanced skill operating various software and web-based apps: Microsoft Office, project management (Asana, Calendly, Slack), ETL (Alteryx, Knime), data analysis (Stata, SPSS, R, ATLAS.ti, Deedose), and data visualization (Tableau, Power BI, Python, D3) and report designing (Visme, Canva, InDesign).
• Demonstrated knowledge of utilization-focused evaluation and participatory research, as well as current research in child welfare, criminal/juvenile justice, education, or related fields.
• Demonstrated strong skills and experience in data management and analysis (e.g., quantitative & qualitative analysis).
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of visual design and perception principles to present data in a clear, accurate, engaging, and equity-aware manner.
• Spanish-language fluency (reading, writing, and speaking). (Preferred)
• Lived experience and/or professional direct service experience in a human services system(s) (e.g., child welfare, criminal/juvenile justice, mental/behavioral health, housing, etc.) (Preferred)

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, education, public policy, public health, or another social science field, and 6 years of experience in an applied research setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. (Required)
• PhD in social work, industrial and organizational psychology, community psychology, education, public policy, public health, or related social science field. (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• 10% Some travel for in-person meetings required as needed.

Schedule

• 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

• RP-Research and Public Service PR

Salary & Compensation

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.

Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.