RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Position Available: research scientist (One position to be filled prior to October 21, 2022)

Immediate Opening: One contracted, grant-funded Research Scientist position through September 30, 2025 with potential extension subject to continued funding availability. Applications received through October 4, 2022.

· Location: Prevention Unit, NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Main Office, 52 Washington Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144 (Current OCFS policy determines whether some work hours can be performed remotely.)

· Hours: Full-time (37.5 hrs/week, Monday through Friday).

· Pay Rate: Starting annual salary of $75,340. (Starting salary is set by contract and is not negotiable.)

· Benefits: WRI offers membership in the New York State Employees’ Retirement System, in addition to Worker’s Compensation insurance, health insurance, group term life insurance, paid holidays (following the NYS Executive Branch schedule) and the employer match of Social Security and Medicare contributions. After six months of continued employment, employee is eligible for dental insurance as well as a pre-tax cafeteria program for unreimbursed medical expenses or dependent care expenses.

Statewide not for profit seeks to hire one full-time Research Scientist to provide services to the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) in their Prevention Unit. This new position is necessary to meet OCFS and federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) requirements for quality improvement and evaluation.

The Research Scientist will:

· Assist OCFS staff in the data management and evaluation of programs funded by William B Hoyt Trust Fund and/or Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) and/or other OCFS funded programs.

· Assist the Community-based Prevention Evaluation Unit lead in developing and implementing data collection systems and evaluating the impact of community-based prevention programs designed to strengthen and support families and reduce risk factors for child abuse and neglect.

· Assist with planning and coordination of research or evaluation projects, including research design, data collection, data coding, data analyses, and report writing. This role requires familiarity with community-based prevention services and strengths-based approaches to engaging families, as well as the ability to develop and evaluate standardized measures for evaluating the effectiveness of prevention programs, products, and tools.

· Engage stakeholders at the state and local level in discussions about data collection and evaluation activities, review data with the stakeholders, and translate the findings into actionable strategies for improvement. All services provided under resulting contract must be in accordance with all State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations.

Welfare Research, Inc. (WRI) is a mission-driven organization that provides assistance to public and private agencies supporting an array of work in human services. WRI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates to apply who come from diverse backgrounds and who have personal lived experience as a member of a marginalized community.

Apply PRIOR TO October 4, 2022.

Interviews will occur via Zoom videoconference platform.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Development and implementation of research and program evaluation studies under the guidance of the Community-based Prevention Evaluation Unit Lead; including:

o conceptualization and execution of creative and sophisticated research designs, qualitative research studies, and developmental and applied evaluation designs;

o development of data collection systems, tools, and protocols;

o data cleaning and analysis protocols;

o technical report and/or manuscript preparation; and

o dissemination of findings to internal and external audiences.

• Multivariate data analysis, such as: linear, logistic regressions, factor analysis, survival analysis, structural equation modeling, and propensity score matching, and sample selection and survey methods;

· Development of reports, research briefs, and other dissemination tools aimed at translating data and research findings into useable, field friendly products that support implementation and continuous quality improvement activities;

· Preparation of comprehensive statistical reports and/or data files to meet federal, state and agency level reporting requirements;

· Representation of the unit, bureau, and agency at meetings and workgroups; and

· Additional duties as needed to support the bureau or unit.

Travel may be required. Travel and per diem expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with guidelines established by the Office of the State Comptroller.

Minimum Qualifications: The Research Scientist must possess the following educational and experience requirements:

· A doctorate degree social welfare, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, public health, public administration, human development and family studies, family sciences, or a related field;

OR

• A master's in social welfare, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, public health, public administration, human development and family studies, family sciences, or a related field AND two (2) years of professional research experience in the areas of child welfare, criminal justice, social work, psychology, sociology, program evaluation, child development, maternal health, health disparities, applied human services research, family systems, applied data science, or a related field.

The Research Scientist must possess the following:

· A Valid NY State driver’s license

· A resume that documents, at a minimum, the required experience above, to include all positions held during the last five (5) years

· Proof of degree and educational requirements

· Three (3) professional references that can attest to the candidate’s capacity, written and oral communication skills, and the facilitation skills to manage this initiative.

Clearance from the New York State OCFS State Central Register will be required prior to starting work.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $75,340.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Master's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: One location