JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Research Associate

Building Changes seeks a Research Associate to help implement sections of Building Changes’ Research and Evaluation plan. The position will focus on producing applied research and evaluation relevant for policy and practice on topics identified through collaboration with partners and Building Changes staff with the goal of improving services, supports, and outcomes for students, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

This position will be involved in various Building Changes’ projects with a focus on the housing crisis response and education systems. The goals of this body of work are to:

• Analyze data and share research on student homelessness in Washington State
• Identify strategies and develop tools for addressing the unique needs of students experiencing homelessness
• Influence policy and advocate for adequate, sustainable resources and capacity for the education and housing systems
• Hold the education and housing systems accountable to advance and adopt racially equitable and culturally responsive policies, practices, and community partnerships
• Facilitate leadership buy-in and cross-systems collaboration.

This position reports to the Director of Research and Evaluation and is located at our office in Seattle, though we are currently working remotely due to COVID-19. This position may also require occasional statewide travel once safe.

Our Mission

Building Changes advances equitable responses to homelessness in Washington State, with a focus on children, youth, and families and the systems that serve them.

Our Work

Together with our partners, Building Changes pushes for equitable, holistic responses in and across the housing, education, and health systems so that all children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness get the support they need. Resolving a housing crisis and maintaining housing stability are not possible without this. To achieve our mission, Building Changes uses an interdisciplinary

approach that combines grantmaking and capacity building, research and evaluation, and advocacy.

Responsibilities will include:

• Under the direction of the Director of Research and Evaluation, implement research, evaluation, and data analysis projects, including partner consultation, qualitative and quantitative data collection and management, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings.
• Create and monitor project task timelines.
• Prepare data sharing agreements, Institutional Review Board applications, and other necessary protocols.
• Working in partnership with Building Changes’ Practice Innovation, Policy/Advocacy, and Communications staff, write reports for and deliver presentations to layperson and technical audiences. Develop summary materials such as slides, briefs, fact sheets, and interactive data dashboards to share findings with communities and influence policy and practice.
• Working in partnership with Building Changes’ Development staff, provide accurate and relevant research and data to support grant proposals.
• Cultivate and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal staff, project partners, and other researchers and evaluators.
• Review and stay abreast of research literature, methodological developments, and data visualization techniques.
• Summarize and distribute findings internally; provide consultation to staff on research and evaluation principles and methods.
• Represent Building Changes externally at conferences, on committees, in workgroups, and other venues.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will have a combination of the following:

• Experience in an applied research and/or evaluation setting.* Knowledge and experience working in the housing crisis response and/or education sectors desired.
• A strong commitment to racial equity. Demonstrated experience centering equity in research and evaluation activities desired.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and ethical principles.
• Skill in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience working in content areas focusing on underserved populations desired.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple, complex projects and move them forward to completion on time.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex methods and findings for technical and layperson audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively within and across interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience blending multiple datasets and developing dashboards in Tableau is preferred.
• Experience in statistical analysis software and/or programming languages (R, STATA, SPSS, or similar).
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and online survey products.

*Note: In our effort to conduct an inclusive search for qualified candidates, this position does not require an advanced degree. Educational attainment will be considered along with other experience.

The salary for this position is $65,000. This salary has been benchmarked against local market survey data at the 75th percentile of the market for organization of our size, type, and revenue. We offer excellent health, time off, retirement, and other benefits.

To apply for this position, please email cover letter and resume to:  jobs@buildingchanges.org – Subject: Research Associate. For more information, please visit our website at www.buildingchanges.org.

Building Changes is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong organizational commitment to building a diverse workforce.

Please submit Cover letter and Resume to jobs@buildingchanges.org