Research Associate II

Strategic Prevention Solutions is hiring a full time Research Associate II to support a variety of community planning and evaluation projects. 

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

We are looking for a motivated mid-career researcher with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods who can work independently on community research and evaluation projects and assessments. The Research Associate II will work under the supervision of a Senior Research Associate across multiple concurrent projects. This position will support statewide and local projects in Alaska and across the United States, including statewide assessments of social services, evaluation of multi-site community prevention projects, community needs assessments, substance misuse and gender-based violence prevention evaluation, and development of widely usable technical assistance tools and training. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: At least FOUR years of hands-on experience in applied research, evaluation, or assessment settings (i.e., documented work experience beyond degree/educational projects). Preference given to candidates with experience living and/or working among Native American/Alaska Native populations. This position is fully remote.

Education: Bachelor's or master's degree (or equivalent experience) in psychology, public health, public policy, sociology, or a related field. Training in strengths-based community assessment, evaluation, strategic planning, and program planning is highly valued.

Skills Required:

Research & Analysis

• Experience collecting, analyzing, and summarizing both quantitative and qualitative data
• Ability to independently develop surveys, questionnaires, and evaluation tools with minimal guidance
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesize findings into briefs or reports
• Intermediate statistical analysis skills (e.g., correlations, t-tests, chi-square, basic regression) and ability to interpret results
• Qualitative coding and thematic analysis experience using software (e.g., Atlas.ti, Dedoose, CoLoop)

Technical Writing & Communication

• Strong ability to draft sections of evaluation plans, work plans, and technical documents, including methodological sections, results and findings summaries, and evaluation briefs
• Strong reading, writing, and editing skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate research results effectively to diverse audiences

Project Coordination

• Excellent timeline and task management skills, including project coordination
• Ability to coordinate internal and client-facing project activities (e.g., scheduling meetings and events, participant recruitment, data collection logistics)
• Great communication skills and a self-starter who is responsible
• Ability to work independently yet be a team player

Technical Proficiency

• Strong MS Word and MS Excel skills, including report drafting, charts/graphs, and auto-formatting
• Experience creating and managing online surveys (e.g., Alchemer, SurveyMonkey)
• Comfort with online meeting tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
• Strong skills creating data visuals, including infographics, charts/tables/graphs, and dashboards (e.g., Canva)

Community-Based Work

• Ability to travel approximately 1 week every 2-3 months
• Ability and comfort communicating with clients and being onsite in communities for site visits
• Positive, strengths-based focus on evaluation in "real world" settings
• Empowerment-minded approach; believes communities have knowledge to inform program planning and evaluation
• Ability to think on one's feet and adapt to current context

Additional Skills Preferred, not Required:

• Experience facilitating meetings, or supporting training delivery as a co-facilitator
• Understanding of community-based prevention and the public health model of prevention
• Experience working within a non-profit environment
• Understanding and use of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Data Sovereignty

SALARY:

This position is a full-time non-exempt (1.0 FTE) Research Associate II. Salary is negotiable commensurate with skills and experience, with an expected range of $65,000-$87,000 per year. SPS maintains a generous benefits package for full-time employees, including a company-funded SEP-IRA, medical/dental/vision health insurance and a company-funded Health Savings Account, PTO, and flexible hours. We also invest in our employees and offer annual professional development stipends and learning opportunities, team building retreats and meetings, and professional mentorship. We believe happy employees make the best employees. Ability to work remotely in a separate closed office space is required.

To apply, please go to our website (www.strategicpreventionsolutions.com) or access our hiring portal directly at: https://spsconnect.bamboohr.com/careers

SPS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, handicap, or any other reason not related to employment. All successful applicants will be required to show proof of legal right to accept employment in the US.