Social IMPACT Research Center
Heartland Alliance
Heartland Alliance
Chicago, IL
Summary: The Social IMPACT Research Center conducts applied research for nonprofits, foundations, advocacy groups, governments, coalitions, and the media to help them measure, inform, and grow their social impact. IMPACT also regularly reports on key poverty trends to equip decision makers with sound data to inform public policy. The Associate Director of Research is responsible for the creation, management, and implementation of IMPACT’s contract studies, evaluations, and other projects as well as for many of the business operations of the division. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Qualifications: Successful candidate will manage and mentor Senior Research Associates, Research Associates, and Research Assistants. They will also work closely with the Director of Research and other members of the Research & Policy division. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Summary: The Social IMPACT Research Center conducts applied research for nonprofits, foundations, advocacy groups, governments, coalitions, and the media to help them measure, inform, and grow their social impact. IMPACT also regularly reports on key poverty trends to equip decision makers with sound data to inform public policy. The Associate Director of Research is responsible for the creation, management, and implementation of IMPACT’s contract studies, evaluations, and other projects as well as for many of the business operations of the division. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead research and evaluation project design, management, and implementation.
- Lead fundraising for research projects and evaluations.
- Lead research client management and relationship development.
- Lead research business operations such as developing and managing project budgets, client invoicing, contracting, periodically assessing pricing structure, marketing, etc.
- Supervise team of researchers.
- Oversee research standards including maintenance of confidentiality standards, ethical treatment of human subjects, quality control, and record keeping.
- Participate in implementation of studies, including the development and adaptation of data collection tools, designing databases, conducting focus groups, and other research activities.
- Produce professional reports, fact sheets, data summaries, and other documents as needed.
- Summarize research findings for different audiences with different levels of research comprehension.
- Oversee data requests.
- Ensure quality of process and products.
- Present research findings to internal and external working groups, conferences, committees, government leaders, and other relevant parties.
- Keep abreast of emerging trends in research, methodolologies, and content areas as pertinent to projects.
- Participate in media outreach and interviews serving as a credible source on social issues.
- Respond to requests for papers and conference presentations.
- Collaborate with communications coordinator on communications planning, content, and dissemination.
- Assist with research team skill development.
- Participate in internal and external work groups that are relevant to IMPACT’s work.
- Participate with professional organizations of researchers, evaluators, or data users.
- Directly supervise permanent and temporary employees at Heartland Alliance.
- Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Travel as required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Successful candidate will manage and mentor Senior Research Associates, Research Associates, and Research Assistants. They will also work closely with the Director of Research and other members of the Research & Policy division. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Master's degree (M. A.) or equivalent and four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
Computer Skills: Proficiency in SPSS and Microsoft Access, Excel, and Word required. Proficiency in Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Excel, SPSS, Access, and GIS software. Proficiency in Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
Other Skills: Experience working with people who are very low income and people of different races and ethnicities.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Req ID: 3565
Location: Chicago - North Side
# of Openings: 1
Shift: 1
FT/PT: Full time
Employment Type: Regular
Salary Schedule: ADM 3
Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Employee Services Office at (312) 660-1431.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Req ID: 3565
Location: Chicago - North Side
# of Openings: 1
Shift: 1
FT/PT: Full time
Employment Type: Regular
Salary Schedule: ADM 3
Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Employee Services Office at (312) 660-1431.