Associate Director of Research Operations - Lab for Economic Opportunities

Summary of the Organization: The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame is a research center dedicated to reducing poverty and improving lives in the United States through evidence-based programs and policies.

Summary of the Role: We are looking for someone who wants to change the face of poverty in our country and believes that impacting poverty is possible. LEO’s Associate Director of Research Operations will drive forward projects in the exploratory, developing, and active phases. This position will ensure all projects are well-managed, project concerns are quickly addressed, and tracking occurs of project phases and status. This position will also drive a smooth transition from project development to research operations and from research operations to dissemination. This position will lead a team of research associates, as well as a project design manager, while also working closely with Research Faculty and Faculty Affiliates.

Responsibilities: The Associate Director of Research Operation’s top priorities will be...

• Team Management - Leading, managing, coaching, and holding accountable Research Associates and a Project Design Manager. In FY24, this position will supervise 8-10 FTEs. Supervision includes, establishing annual goals and priorities, setting the direction for new processes and operational plans for this unit, estimating staffing needs and schedules, and assigning projects and work for this unit. These efforts are particularly essential for LEO’s Research Associates who provide critical, direct support to multiple PIs on multiple projects at the same time.
• Oversight of Developing & Active Research – Leading, managing and driving forward the developing and active phases of LEO projects, working closely with Research Faculty, Faculty Affiliates, and undergraduate students to achieve the implementation of high-quality research projects. Research responsibilities require advanced knowledge of impact evaluations in order to supervise unit personnel’s preparation of research protocols, statistical analysis, data processing, survey design and editing, and literature reviews.
• Oversight of Exploratory Research - Leading, managing and driving forward the exploratory phase of LEO projects. Convert research project ideas into research study designs by working with LEO’s provider partners to understand their systems, services, and organizations. Work closely with Research Faculty and Faculty affiliates to achieve the development of high-quality research study designs. Advanced knowledge of impact evaluations is required.
• Supervision of External Funding Proposals – Supervising team members preparing content for proposal submissions for external funding and post-award reporting for securing external funds. This responsibility requires advanced knowledge of impact evaluations as the proposals and reporting will focus on research protocols, statistical analysis, data processing, survey design and editing, and literature reviews.

Qualifications:

The Associate Director of Research Operations owns the achievement of LEO’s research goals. The ideal candidate will have extensive management experience as well as expertise in program evaluation and statistical analysis.

• A deep commitment to the mission of both LEO and the University
• Bachelor’s degree with a Master’s degree in a field such as public policy preferred
• Five years of relevant experience
• Extensive experience within an academic or related setting
• Demonstrated leadership ability with extensive experience or demonstrated ability to manage staff
• Strong communication, writing, and presentation skills
• Expertise in program evaluation and statistical analysis

Please note: This is a three-year, limited-term position. Contingent on funding, the position may be extended.