Deputy Director of Center, HI
We are currently seeking a Senior Research Scientist to serve as Deputy Director of Center for Child Trends Hispanic Institute. The Hispanic Institute provides timely and insightful research-based information and guidance to improve outcomes for and the wellbeing of Latino children and families. We apply a strength-based, child development approach to our work and recognize the diversity of the Latino child population as well as the importance of intersectionality to understanding the experiences of Latino children.
The ideal candidate is a leader with deep substantive knowledge of Hispanic/Latino children and families, particularly on the ways in which the structural and policy context shape the economic conditions of Hispanic families, their level of access to social services, and their overall wellbeing. This position will serve as deputy director of the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, which seeks to provide research-based information to help inform programs and policies better support low-income Hispanic children and families.
This position presents an opportunity for someone with expertise in Latino children and families to become a leader in an organization nationally known to impact policymakers and practitioners through our rigorous, applied research and for its work on Latino children. We are looking for a colleague with a track record of successful fundraising experience; exceptional leadership skills; strong quantitative and/or qualitative analytic experience; and the proven ability to effectively execute and complete projects. This position requires exceptional writing and communications skills, the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to balance priorities across multiple projects.
We offer you not just a national platform, but a workplace that uses teamwork to concentrate your time on your strengths. We offer enormous growth, flexibility and have consistently won great-place-to-work awards because we know that when you achieve your mission, we achieve ours.
We bring a strong commitment to racial and ethnic equity to our work and a recognition that systemic discrimination has negatively impacted the well-being of Latino families. As researchers, we aim to promote equity by centering the lived experiences of Latinx families in our research. We also commit to ensuring that we are contributing to Child Trends’ work culture in an equitable way. We strongly encourage individuals from populations that are historically underrepresented in research and academic fields (e.g., first-generation college students, first-generation immigrants, people of color) to apply.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develops a line of inquiry and work that seeks to apply the tools of research, analysis, evaluation, or technical assistance to improve the lives of Latino children, youth, and families.
- Serve as deputy director of the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families. This includes:
- Being part of the Center’s leadership team.
- Responsible for the oversight of the Center’s daily activities, including communication with all partners, developing and maintaining policies and procedures, adherence to high quality assurance standards, oversee editorial and meeting calenda, and working with the Director to develop and carryout the overall goals and vision of the Center.
- Oversee pipeline of publications including providing substantive reviews, editing to increase accessibility, and ensuring high quality standards and timelines are followed.
- Carry-out research studies focused on Latino children and families’ economic wellbeing, family life, and access to government programs
- Produces products (e.g., briefs, white papers, data points, etc.) that influence policymakers, practitioners, or target audiences.
- Serves as a thought leader in the broader field, presenting research findings and insights to stakeholders, including testifying before legislative bodies, providing briefings and other assistance to policymakers and other public officials, and engaging with other thought leaders and influencers.
- Works closely with Child Trends’ communications and policy staff to disseminate research findings to the policy and programmatic communities, the media, and other researchers.
- Serves as principal investigator or project director for one or more projects.
- Fundraises to support the line of work and related staffing.
- Selects appropriate analytic techniques and develop statistical analysis plans for projects.
- Serves as a mentor for research staff.
- Supports Child Trends’ great-place-to-work environment.
Qualifications:
- Requires PhD-level knowledge and 7+ years post-doctoral job experience. Applicants with Masters degrees or other relevant degrees will be considered, but additional experience will be expected.
- Degrees in Public Policy, Sociology, Demography, or Economics are strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated thought leadership within the field; individual must have made a significant contribution through her or his research to the field, policy, or program practices;
- Must possess a clear understanding of the intersectionality of the Latinx experience in the United States and how historic and ongoing systemic inequality has led to disparities in access to safety net program and to the prevalence of child poverty and low income among Latinx children and communities including those from immigrant families.
- Proven skills at management of a research team or partnering with managers (consistent on-time, within budget work);
- Demonstrated effective writing and scholarship;
- Effective public speaker and presenter;
- Demonstrated success in fundraising for ideas and work including experience writing and winning proposals, from government and foundation funders, is preferred.
- Expertise in designing research studies, including determining appropriate study designs and methodology.
- Demonstrated communications achievements (e.g., notable research papers, effective white papers).
- Expertise the economic wellbeing of Latino families and with government safety net programs is strongly preferred.
- Experience working directly with communities to elevate community voices is a plus.
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, transcripts, a writing sample 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, founded in 1979, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by conducting research and providing science-based information to improve the decisions, programs, and policies that affect children. With annual revenue of $23 million and 192 employees, our clients include federal, state and local government agencies, foundations, and service providers. Our head