Director of Assessment and Research

Director of Assessment & Research 

Position Description

About Trauma-Informed Utah:

Trauma-Informed Utah (TIU) is a not-for-profit organization (501(c)3), built on 8+ years of dedicated work by partners across Utah to establish formal statewide assistance for organizations and businesses seeking to implement a trauma-informed approach. While the organization is new, the community desire for these services amongst Utah interestholders is strong and well-established. TIU provides research, education, technical assistance, and community networking services to help expand the application of trauma-informed approaches across Utah. Learn more about Trauma-Informed Utah here. Trauma-Informed Utah helps organizations and businesses learn about, integrate, and adopt inclusive trauma-informed approaches at the organizational level, including operations, policies and procedures, managerial practices, and program development. 

About the Desired Candidate:

The Director of Assessment & Research of TIU will be an experienced researcher or evaluator who can serve on a team to conduct research and evaluation projects, including designing research and evaluation plans, developing and administering data collection tools, conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, preparing reports and deliverables (e.g., briefs, presentations), building relationships with clients, and facilitating client meetings with community partners. They will have strong assessment, writing, partnership and communication skills, allowing them to effectively collaborate with TIU staff, key community interest holders, and any organization interested in becoming more trauma-informed. Specifically, this person needs to be able to share complex data and findings in easy-to-understand ways to motivate donors and clients as community based organizations, and translate learnings into applicable implementation science. This person will have a comprehensive, working knowledge of the trauma-informed approach and can integrate this framework into their scope of work. This includes both the impacts of adversity and trauma on individuals, communities, and systems, as well as the power of building community resilience and prevention efforts. They will be compassionate and dedicated to helping organizations embrace a trauma-informed approach to better organizational systems and service delivery. They will be diligent and persistent, focused on building on a strong foundation to further TIU’s mission in the community. Lastly, this person must be willing to embrace and navigate the ambiguity of developing a new organization!

Core Skills:

• Ability to develop, initiate and evaluate research processes in program design and deliver including expertise analyzing data using bi-variate analysis methods.
• Sophisticated mixed-method design, implementation, data management and analysis skills. 
• Serve as a subject matter expert on assessment, data gathering and interpretation, and summarizing and writing around the learnings in trauma-informed systems and approach. 
• Designation of research processes to capture and track immediate outputs and subsequent outcomes of TIU and participating community organizations. 
• Translation of research for application based on setting, including research implementation and dissemination. 
• The ability to work within an interdisciplinary team, and lead consensus building within design and delivery of assessment and research efforts.   
• Utilize trauma-informed approaches across internal and external operations, communications, collaboration, and leadership efforts.
• Evaluate initial needs and readiness of organizations interested in assessing and implementing trauma-informed approaches.
• Dynamic critical and strategic-thinking skills relative to building and growing a new organization.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills with individuals, organizations and interestholders of diverse identities, belief systems, and backgrounds.
• Superb writing, public speaking and presentation skills. 
• Capacity and enthusiasm to synthesize and integrate complex and evolving theories, ideas, information, concepts and perspectives regarding the trauma-informed approach. 
• Translate complex concepts regarding trauma and trauma-informed approach into digestible concepts for audiences with diverse levels of experience.
• Engage in advocacy work and policy discussions related to trauma-informed approaches in state and national policy development.

Essential Qualifications:

• Earned master’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, social work or an applied social science. 
• Three years of full-time experience leading and/or conducting research or evaluation projects, with increasing independence and responsibility.
• Expertise with quantitative and qualitative methods; translational research design, methods, and analysis for program evaluation;
• In-depth familiarity of the neurobiology of traumatic stress; the bio-psycho-social-cultural etiology of trauma; the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study; SAMHSA’s Concept on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Approach and other trauma-informed frameworks;
• Excellent critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills; 
• Experience developing research and evaluation reports and other deliverables (e.g. infographics), including translating reports for multiple audiences; 
• Strong foundation in program evaluation and implementation science;
• Some experience in training and facilitation skills; 
• Willingness and ability to travel independently, both in-state and nationally;
• Valid Driver's license and vehicle transportation.

Preferences:

• PhD/EdD in education, sociology, psychology, public policy, or an applied social science.
• Five or more years of experience in research and evaluation. 
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofits, state agencies, or an organization that works within the nonprofit sector. 
• Experience administering and managing surveys, particularly in Qualtrics.
• Experience with large datasets.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience applying for research and evaluation grants. 
• Knowledge of DEI principles and translational application.

Position Specs

The Director of Assessment & Research is a full-time, salaried (exempt) position, supervised by the Executive Director. The salary is negotiable ($75,000-$90,000) depending on experience. The candidate is expected to reside within the state of Utah. The benefits package will be determined in collaboration with the TIU Board of Directors to best fit the needs of the Program Director candidate. Benefits to be considered include:

• Health insurance / reimbursement
• Paid time-off and holiday schedule
• Flexible work schedule, including work hours and office location

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year depending on experience

Schedule: Generally Monday to Friday

Location: Hybrid

To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to info@tiutah.org. 

TIU welcomes and strongly encourages people of color and people from historically marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, and others who would enrich the breadth and scope of our organization to apply. TIU is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.