Research Scientist for Indigenous Populations
We are seeking a Research Scientist who will be actively involved in planning and executing major research and evaluation projects on the well-being of Indigenous children and families in partnership with Indigenous populations living in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Responsibilities of the Research Scientist include managing staff; building partnerships with Indigenous Tribes, communities, and organizations; serving as a point person for communication between research partners or clients; identifying implications for policy and practice based on study findings, and communicating study results to key audiences through the development of various dissemination products (e.g., reports, briefs, blogs, academic articles, presentations, and data visualizations). Research Scientists are also responsible for collaborating with colleagues across the organization to develop and write grant proposals. The position may also involve functioning as project manager for research projects, including managing budgets, work plans, and timelines.
Child Trends’ brings a multi-disciplinary perspective to its studies of children, youth, and families and the programs, systems, and policies that impact them. Our work is grounded in an approach that is strengths-based, responsive to the needs of communities, and focused on improving program quality, reducing disparities, and promoting positive outcomes and equity. Our work focuses on Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American children, youth, and families who are underserved and/or overlooked by research, policy, and programs.
Locations: Flexible Remote Work; Child Trends’ offices are based in Bethesda, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Minneapolis, MN. Many Child Trends staff work remotely, and while we are set up to hire remote staff in many states, we are not yet operating everywhere in the US and do not have any overseas operations. We are currently approved to hire full-time staff in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The organization will require time to assess additional set up requirements (e.g., employment and tax law) for locations outside of areas where we are currently approved to hire. Individuals who would like to work from areas outside of the currently approved states, if offered the position should indicate this preference as early as possible in the application process.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leads research and evaluation projects: Serve as a principal investigator or project director for one or more projects. Develop partnerships with Indigenous Tribal Nations, communities, and/or organizations. Lead teams to write proposals, conceptualize work, and negotiate and draft budgets. Select appropriate research designs to answer research questions and/or evaluate programs. Select appropriate techniques to manage and analyze data (e.g., develop and implement analytic plan, use data analysis software).
- Collects, analyzes, interprets, and communicates data: Participate in site visits and supervise field research as necessary. Supervise data collection and analysis performed by other project staff. Interpret results for various stakeholders, such as families, policymakers, program staff. Communicate results in multiple formats for various audiences.
- Administrative responsibilities: Attend management meetings. Review resumés and interview candidates for employment.
Below we list preferred qualifications. If you do not meet our criteria exactly but think you’d be great, please submit and tell us why in your cover letter.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience working for or with Indigenous Tribal Nations, communities, organizations, agencies, or institutions in research and/or evaluation activities.
- Experience with public health, health services, child welfare, education, behavioral health, culture and well-being, and/or substance use prevention in Indigenous populations.
- For this position we are seeking an early-to-mid-career researcher, inclusive of those within 10 years of achieving their doctoral degree. Applicants with master’s degrees or other relevant experience will be considered with additional experience expected.
- Knowledge of and experience with participatory research methods and Indigenous Methodologies.
- Must respect and embrace Indigenous Knowledge and ways of knowing.
- Knowledge of and experience with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research approaches.
- Demonstrated ability to manage research projects effectively with keen attention to detail and quality.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Existing partnerships with Indigenous Tribes or communities, organizations, agencies, or institutions a plus but not required.
- Experience applying for and winning funding for support of research and evaluation activities a plus but not required.
How to Apply:
Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload resume, please upload one document that includes your resume, cover letter including preferred work location, academic writing sample, transcript and contact information for three professional references. Materials must be combined into one document in order to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process, please email the requested materials to recruitment (at) childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls please!
Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Bethesda, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org
https://www.childtrends.org/Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child’s race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.
Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disability encouraged to apply.