Research Fellow – Contractual (5 positions)

We are looking for a passionate researcher to conduct evaluations of criminal and/or juvenile justice programs. Be a part of a team to make change and foster improvements to justice and community well-being in the state of Illinois. Use your research skills to evaluate public programs to assist youth and/or adults in addressing physical, emotional, social, and behavioral health needs. The researcher will examine program operations and outcomes to make recommendations for program improvement. Be a leader in translating research data, findings, and implications to state and local policymakers, practitioners, and communities for positive change. This position is fully remote but requires travel to evaluation sites in the state.

Job Responsibilities

1. Assist with all components of the program evaluation including, but not limited to, designing evaluation instruments; recruiting evaluation participants; collecting data through field observations, focus groups, surveys, and/or interviews; engaging stakeholders; managing data collection; analyzing data; and preparing reports and presentations.
2. Assist with assessing the evaluability of the program, as well as evaluating program outcomes to the extent possible, including, but not limited to, analyzing program data; developing an outcome evaluation design; developing and implementing an analytic plan; and preparing reports and presentations.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires a master’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, political science, or other related field.
2. Requires one year of assisting with or conducting research projects that involve critically summarizing academic literature, developing survey, interview, or other protocols, analyzing qualitative or quantitative data, and writing major findings.
3. Requires the ability to demonstrate an understanding of social science research methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prefers 1 year of experience critically analyzing, interpreting, and summarizing published research methods and findings.
2. Prefers 1 year of experience developing evaluation protocols that effectively measure key constructs and program activities.
3. Prefers 1 year of experience analyzing qualitative and quantitative data using statistical software.
4. Prefers 1 years of experience summarizing technical research findings in a manner that is accessible to lay persons.
5. Prefers 6 months experience presenting information to a wide variety of audiences.

Conditions of Employment

1. Must be able to pass a background check.
2. Must have a valid driver’s license.
3. Work remotely with the ability to travel in the state and nationally.
4. Authorized to work in the United States during the contract period.