Researcher - Youth, Family, Community Development

AIR is seeking a Researcher focused on advancing justice and community safety to join our Youth, Family, and Community Developmentwithin AIR's Human Services Division. AIR's work in justice systems is committed to transformative change that dismantles structural disparities. Our work spans the justice continuum--from prevention to intervention and reentry--and embeds community-based, restorative, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive approaches. We aim to address root causes of harm and trauma to promote safety, dignity, and thriving.

In support of this work, the selected candidate will apply a strengths-based, equity-focused perspective to work aimed at building evidence on equitable pathways to thriving for youth, adults, families, and communities. This includes an understanding of the potential of all people to thrive under the right conditions and with the right supports, as well as an orientation toward supportive and restorative, rather than punitive, approaches. Related topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Community violence prevention and intervention
• Juvenile and criminal justice diversion
• Community- and school-based restorative justice
• Youth engagement and re-engagement with school and work
• Mentoring (including credible messenger mentoring)
• Police accountability and reform
• Reimagining public safety systems
• Prison-based education and reentry supports
• Alternatives to exclusionary discipline and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline

The Researcher will provide project management support and task leadership for contract and grant research and evaluation projects. In this role, the Researcher contributes to conceptualizing the vision for this work, serves as a key team member in implementing research studies and evaluations, manages their own work and/or the work of others to ensure the timely completion of tasks within budget, and adheres to high quality research and evaluation standards that meet client requirements. Candidates with relevant lived experience are encouraged to apply.

This position has the flexibility to work remote or located out of any of AIR's U.S. office locations.

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.

• Manage day-to-day project work and operations in task-lead and project director roles.
  
  
  
  • Manage projects and/or tasks by preparing timelines, coordinating staff on task assignments, and contributing to task products to ensure they are completed on time, on budget, and with quality.
  • Independently execute project work by managing own time, communicating with project directors about deadlines, and completing tasks with quality.
  
  
  
  
• Conceptualize problems and identify questions in justice research and evaluation, and collaborate in designing studies to address them.
  
  
  
  • Use content knowledge and experience in relevant research domains (e.g., positive youth development, community violence prevention and intervention) to design and execute relevant and responsive projects for the field.
  • Contribute to the development of study designs, including appropriate research questions and aligned methods and analytic plans.
  • Contribute to research proposals for Federal, state, foundation, and other clients.
  • Develop and implement creative solutions to practical challenges in applied research.
  
  
  
  
• Lead or serve as a key contributor to the collection and analyses of data.
  
  
  
  • Contribute to the design and planning of quantitative and/or qualitative data collection instruments including interview protocols, focus group protocols, and surveys.
  • Lead field-based data collection activities including interviews, structured observations, focus groups, surveys, and document review.
  • Lead and/or oversee data management and analyses of survey, interview, observation, 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 with clients, program providers, and other interested parties.
  
  
  
  
• Maintain positive and collaborative relationships.
  
  
  
  • Contribute to positive 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 competency and sensitivity in all interactions with colleagues, project participants, and community members.
  
  
  
  

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• PhD in a related subject area (Human Development, Sociology, Psychology, Public Policy, Public Health, Education, Social Work, or a related field), or a Master's degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience.
• Commitment to advancing equity and empowering communities through rigorous research and evaluation.
• Experience in topics related to youth, families, and community development, with an emphasis on opportunities to promote the above topics.
• Experience designing research and evaluation protocols and processes.
• Background in quantitative research methods, including conducting impact studies (e.g., quasi-experimental or experimental studies) or qualitative research methods (e.g., structured interviews, focus groups, observations, survey research).
• Experience using analytic software packages (such as R, Stata, NVivo, and Access).
• Experience supporting business pursuits (e.g., grant and proposal writing).

Skills

• Ability to take big ideas and develop concrete work plans and timelines.
• Ability to effectively communicate research findings to diverse audiences, both in writing (e.g., reports, briefs), visually (e.g., infographics), and orally (e.g., through presentations).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively in a virtual work environment.

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 reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an "@air.org" domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to recruitment@air.org.

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

Please note, each section of the application is required in order for you to be considered for this opportunity. If you do not complete the required screening questions, or if you close your browser before completing each section of the application, your application will not be submitted for this position. American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. American Institutes for Research's commitment to Diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations and work environment. Diversity is valued and Inclusion is reflected in all efforts to recruit, develop, and engage the diverse staff needed to accomplish our mission. ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone attboone@air.org or call 202.403.5000.

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