Researcher - Youth, Family, and Community Development
Overview
AIR’s Youth, Family, and Community Development program area is seeking Researchers to support teams aiming to build evidence on equitable pathways to thriving. Related projects aim to use culturally responsive science to focus around one or more areas, including but not limited to Youth Development & Family Engagement; Whole Child Learning & Development in K-12 Educational Settings; Public Health, Schools, and Communities; and Thriving Youth & Justice Systems. In addition to these content areas, the program area houses the AIR Center for Addition Research and Effective Solutions (a multi-disciplinary center dedicated to preventing and reducing the negative consequences of substance misuse). Depending upon interests and expertise, researchers can also contribute to projects in other program areas on topics such as: early childhood and child wellbeing, K-12 education, higher education, social policy, health systems, and inequality and opportunity.
We are interested in qualified applicants with methodological expertise in one or more of the following areas: quantitative methods, mixed-methods, and/or program evaluation.
About AIR:
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.
AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities for the position include:
- Manage day-to-day project operations
- Manage collaborative project teams and managing junior staff, including preparing timelines, coordinating staff on task assignments, and overseeing products to ensure they are completed on time, on budget, and with quality
- Conceptualize problems, identify research questions, and design studies to address them
- Use content knowledge and experience to design and execute relevant and responsive projects for the field
- Develop study designs, including appropriate research questions and aligned methods and analytic plans
- Develop and implement creative solutions to practical challenges in applied research
- Gather and apply data appropriate to methodological expertise
- Lead the design and planning of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection instruments, such as interview protocols, focus group protocols, logs, and surveys
- Oversee field-based data collection activities, such as interviews, structured observations, focus groups, and document review
- Manage the coding and data analysis from surveys, interviews, observations, and/or extant data using the appropriate analysis tools
- Communicate study progress and findings
- Write reports, including briefs, charts, and graphs that describe and interpret findings of analyses for clients
- Clearly communicate with clients and represent AIR in a professional manner
- Communicate effectively, orally or in writing, with clients, site-based staff, and other stakeholders
- Maintain positive and collaborative relationships
- Manage client and stakeholder relationships in ways that are respectful and demonstrate knowledge of the field and policy landscape
- Contribute substantively, thoughtfully, and creatively to project teams
- Demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence and sensitivity in all interactions with colleagues, stakeholders, and project participants
Qualifications
Education, Knowledge, and Experience:
- Master’s degree within Public Health, Social Sciences (Child/Youth/Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Public Policy, Education Policy, etc.), or related field with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience or a PhD within Public Health, Social Sciences (Child/Youth/Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Public Policy, Education Policy, etc.), or related field
- Knowledge and experience in one or more of the topics listed in the overview above
- Experience with data collection activities from the field using a variety of methodologies and data collection techniques, such as structured interviews, observations, extant data, and/or survey research
- Experience managing project and/or task teams on research and evaluation projects a plus but not required
- Experience building and maintaining client and partner relationships a plus but not required
Skills:
- Ability to take big ideas and develop work plans and timelines
- Ability to conduct data analysis activities and knowledge of one or more data analytic software packages appropriate to your methodological expertise (e.g., EXCEL, NViVO, R, SPSS, STATA, among others)
- Ability to work in a fluid, team environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure effective communication and ability to communicate research findings to individuals at all levels and from diverse backgrounds
- Strong attention to detail with commitment to accuracy when writing
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion - providing strengths-based perspective as well as mitigating the impacts of both personal and systemic biases in research
Disclosures:
AIR requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive a legally required exemption from AIR, as a condition of employment. AIR will ask candidates to verify their vaccination status only after a conditional offer of employment is made. Applicants should not provide information about their vaccination status or need for exemption prior to receiving a conditional offer of employment from AIR
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.
AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.