Research Professional 2

This is a short term, low hour hybrid appointment with periodic in-office work at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus and periodic offsite work in the Twin Cities metro area as needed to conduct in-person interviews and focus groups.

Beginning in summer 2025, RCP will conduct a five-year evaluation to assess how well the program meets the needs of University and local government partners, and identify opportunities to strengthen or improve the program.

Key activities for this position may include:

• Leading development of a 5-year program evaluation plan, including researching, identifying, defining, developing, and establishing internal processes and infrastructure to support quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Assessing program context through a landscape scan of similar community-university engagement programs at the University of Minnesota and at colleges and universities around the United States
• Assessing program needs, objectives, inputs, implementation processes, outcomes and impacts through a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
• Producing a final report that provides evidence-based insights and recommendations to inform and enhance program design, implementation, operation, accountability, and improvement

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS and 2 years experience in program evaluation and/or qualitative research methods and analysis, including focus group and semi-structured interview facilitation, or a combination of an advanced degree and relevant work experience to equal at least six years
• Demonstrated knowledge of service learning, community-university engagement, and/or applied learning theories and practices
• Demonstrated knowledge of local government and/or sustainability and resilience issues and practices at the community-scale
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently, given clear guidance but minimal supervision
• Ability to work with varied audiences, including university faculty and staff, students, public officials, and local government staff, with a professional demeanor and work ethic
• Ability to attend in-person meetings in various types of buildings and outdoor settings
• Valid driver's license and the ability to travel occasionally within the Twin Cities metro area
• Experience using Qualtrics, NVivo, XMind, SPSS Statistics, or other similar qualitative/quantitative research applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree
• Previous experience with the Resilient Community Program's Evaluation project

The Resilient Communities Project (RCP) connects the University of Minnesota faculty and students with Minnesota city and county government agencies to address strategic local projects that advance community sustainability, equity, and resilience. Each year, RCP partners with competitively selected local government agencies in Minnesota to collaborate on agency-defined projects, and matches these projects with graduate and professional student teams across the U of MN that provide research and technical assistance. RCP is supported with funding from the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and its community partners.

The mission of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs is to align University of Minnesota resources to catalyze community-driven change. We collaborate with community and local government to advance smart and equitable decision making, investments, and policies to benefit all of Minnesota's diverse communities. Faculty and students at the University of Minnesota are involved in CURA programs in a variety of ways. CURA's work ranges from community engaged research to leadership development. Our varied programs seek to develop deep partnerships with community collaborators and acknowledge the expertise and contributions of our partners in all of the work we do.

Pay Range: $44.75 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Application deadline: Midnight on May 22, 2025. Apply online only through the UMN Employment System by submitting:

• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Cover letter that explains your qualifications for and interest
• Two professional or academic references (ideally one of each)

Applications must be submitted online; incomplete applications and material submitted other than through the online employment system will not be considered.

To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

If you receive a message from the online employment system that the position is no longer available prior to the application deadline, close out of your browser and try again or try a different browser. If you continue to experience problems, contact CJ Madsen madse002@umn.edu.

For more information regarding this position, contact RCP at rcp@umn.edu

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).