Date: December 2023
Title: Research Associate
Department: Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research & Education
School: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Location: Mandel Community Studies Center
Supervisor Name and Title: Jeff Kretschmar, Research Associate Professor, Managing Director
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research & Education is home to a multi-disciplinary team of faculty, researchers, and training and technical assistance providers in many areas including violence prevention, adult and youth mental health and substance use, youth and adult specialty courts, trauma, and community-based evaluation. Working with a high degree of independence, the incumbent will carry out, manage, or lead program evaluation projects in areas related to social behavioral science and the justice system on various grant funded projects at the Begun Center, including the evaluation of Ohio’s Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice (BHJJ) initiative, a diversion program for justice-involved youth with behavioral health issues (https://case.edu/socialwork/begun/research-and-evaluation/juvenile-justice/ohios-behavioral-healthjuvenile-justice-initiative-bhjj). The research associate will provide input and recommendations to the principal investigator regarding significant developments in research projects; project management, data coding, management, and analysis of databases; coordinating major activities of research staff; co-authoring reports and manuscripts; and meeting regularly with nonprofits, agencies, justice system partners, and other government agencies to provide information and technical assistance.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Manage the day-to-day evaluation of various research projects and assist with comprehensive program evaluation, report preparation and writing. Projects may involve assessing organizational capacity and providing technical assistance to agencies as it relates to program evaluation. Track and follow up on daily project operations. (65%)
- Establish and maintain relationships with external partners and sponsors and collaborate with them to create grant proposals and launch new evaluation projects with very little supervision. External partners include but not limited to local and state government, foundations, non-profit community-based agencies, etc. (15%)
- Research and develop/create evaluation instruments/surveys. Develop databases/spreadsheets and carry out complex on-going and new data analyses within the research projects using SPSS or similar statistical analysis software. Create data visualizations for inclusion in project reports or websites using software such as Power BI or Tableau. (20%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned.
May supervise students.
CONTACTS
Department: Daily contact with supervisor and research staff in the center.
University: Occasional contact with other departments.
External: Frequent contact with community partners.
Students: Contact with student employees.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
No direct supervisory responsibility; may direct the work of students and research assistants.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience: Master’s Degree or higher in the social sciences or relevant field is required. Experience working in funded evaluation/research, with non-profit and government or county agencies, or conducting/participating in program evaluations is required.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Ability to work closely with justice- and community-based agencies.
- Highly organized with strong quantitative skills.
- Ability to create IRB applications for new projects and monitor compliance for existing projects.
- Ability to assist with both the development and execution of program evaluations.
- Experience in Microsoft Suite (Word, Access, Excel), email and internet applications; proficient with statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS, R Suite, etc.
- Experience creating data visualizations using Power BI, Tableau, etc.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a small team environment.
- Ability to work with general supervision while being highly self-motivated and self-directed.
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General working conditions. May be required to attend evening and weekend meetings. Typical office environment. No exposure to chemicals. This department is eligible for the CWRU Staff Hybrid Remote Work Program. Under this program, the University permits hybrid remote work arrangements for eligible staff in certain departments. Eligible staff in this department are currently permitted to work up to two hybrid work days per week after successful completion of a three month orientation period.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
All resumes and cover letters should be sent to Jeff M. Kretschmar, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences jeff.kretschmar@