Vice President, Research Job in Rockville | Yulys
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Job Title: Vice President, Research

Company Name: Child Trends
Salary: USD 200,000.00
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USD 229,200.00 Yearly
Job Industry: Market Research
Job Type: Full time
WorkPlace Type: remote
Location: Rockville, Maryland, United States
Required Candidates: 1 Candidates
Job Description:

Child Trends is seeking a passionate researcher to join the leadership team at Child Trends in a Vice President role. In addition to serving in a research capacity (e.g., overseeing multiple projects), Vice Presidents (VPs) provide oversight and support to three or four program areas aligned to the VPs’ interests and expertise, ensuring that the program area directors have the tools and resources needed to successfully manage their teams. VPs at Child Trends work collaboratively as a team to ensure coordination and collaboration across program areas. VPs additionally are members of the leadership team, working closely with the President/CEO, Chief Research Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Financial Officer to develop organizational policies, procedures, and strategies as well as to identify and mitigate risks to the organization.

Most time in this position (65%) is spent leading all aspects of major research projects from designing studies and attaining funding to overseeing execution and disseminating findings, for example, as a principal investigator or project director. Successful candidates for this position will have existing project work they can bring with them that will cover this portion of time.

The remainder of the time is spent in division and organizational management and leadership as well as other organizational tasks (35%). This portion of the position is funded by the organization through overhead (i.e., is not project-based).

The successful candidate will have had experience as a mid-level manager at a professional services research organization as well as experience leading research projects across funding and contract types (e.g., foundation, Federal, state; fixed-priced and cost-reimbursable contracts and grants). The successful candidate will also have a passion for Child Trends’ mission to improve outcomes for children, youth, and their families. We are interested in candidates with subject matter expertise covering any topics relevant to Child Trends’ mission. Upon hire, the existing Research Vice President and the Chief Research Officer—with consultation from the program area directors – will work to determine how to divide responsibility for the existing program areas.

 

Responsibilities of Research VPs

  • Serves as a role model, including modelling and upholding the values of the organization (e.g., honesty, equity, service) and consistently following policies and processes.
  • Maintains own research portfolio as a principal investigator, project director, and/or senior advisor on multiple projects.
  • Coach, mentor, and hold accountable program area directors (PADs) to meet expectations
  • Support PADs to develop strategic annual plans with clear performance metrics.
  • Meet with PADs quarterly to ensure that they have what they need to meet annual plans and metrics or adjust as necessary to support continued growth
  • Prioritize equity across teams and within research
  • Respond to topics escalated by PADs (e.g., client, partner, or staff performance issues or identification or organizational supports).
  • Coordinate with PADs to ensure all staff are meeting labor utilization rate expectations. Support PADs in ensuring projects are on track
  • Serve as a resource for all staff across designated program areas and foster cross-area thought leadership
  • Help identify and execute on strategic opportunities for thought leadership annually.
  • Serve as a mentor across research staff, especially for PADs in their thought leadership development
  • Co-lead proposal bid meetings to determine go/no-go decisions and select project leadership.
  • Coordinate and plan within and across areas, including when multiple areas are interested in the same topics or funding opportunities.
  • In partnership with the Chief Research Officer, build systems and tools to support research staff to accomplish work equitably, efficiently, and with consistent quality.
  • Ensure positive, professional, and improvement-focused communication across program areas and with administrative teams.
  • Serve as a core member of the leadership team, helping to identify organizational risks and solutions.

This position reports to the Chief Research Officer.

 

Qualifications:

  • At least 10 years of success doing similar work, with increasing responsibilities (please provide data); we are particularly interested in candidates’ ability to create a great place to work as a leader in very similar environments.
  • Demonstrated thought leadership related to improving outcomes for children and youth, particularly those who face the most systemic barriers; individual must have made a significant contribution through their research to the field, policy, or program practices and demonstrate their commitment to embedding an equity approach throughout their work.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in both research and team leadership.
  • Demonstrated success winning proposals, ideally from both government and foundation funders and both contracts and grants. Extensive experience with and understanding of federal government contracting.
  • Either an advanced degree (e.g., PhD in relevant field) or equivalent knowledge gained from reading and experience.
  • Proven skills at management of a research team and staff leadership (e.g., consistent on-time, within budget work; consistently meeting labor utilization rates for self and for team).
  • Sufficient existing coverage to cover at least 50% time on direct project work. Candidates unable to bring existing coverage will not be considered.

 

Locations: Flexible Remote Work; Child Trends’ offices are based in Rockville, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Minneapolis, MN. Many Child Trends staff work remotely, and while we are set up to hire remote staff in many states, we are not yet operating everywhere in the US and do not have any overseas operations. We are currently approved to hire full-time staff in AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV. The organization will require time to assess additional set up requirements (e.g., employment and tax law) for locations outside of areas where we are currently approved to hire. Individuals who would like to work from areas outside of the currently approved states, if offered the position, should indicate this preference as early as possible in the application process.

 

Benefits:

For all full-time and part-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, we offer generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays; optional individual/domestic partner/family medical, dental and vision benefits effective first day of employment; optional pet benefits; pre-tax reimbursement funds (FSA, HSA, Commuter); life insurance; short/long term disability, basic life and AD&D coverage paid for by Child Trends; paid family leave; paid bereavement leave; professional development and tuition reimbursement allowance; and 403(b) retirement plan with immediate vesting and Child Trends contributions after 1 year of employment. To learn more, go to https://www.childtrends.org/about-us/careers and click " Benefits."

 

Background Investigation:

Jobs that involve interactions with children and positions that rely on high levels of trust to perform duties are subject to a background check at the time of hire. Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. We will always conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check and never inquire into an applicant's criminal history until interviews have been conducted and offer decisions are being made. Current employees may also be subject to future background checks depending on the nature of their duties. A criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate or current employee from employment, however any convictions related to the responsibilities and requirements of the position may do so.

 

How to Apply:

Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload resume, please upload one document that includes your resume, cover letter, writing sample, official or unofficial transcripts , and contact information for three professional references. Materials must be combined into one document in order to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process please email the requested materials to recruitment(at)childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls please!

 

Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Rockville, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators, and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org

Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child’s race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.

Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

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