Sr. Research Associate II

Throughout its 75-year history the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) has administered numerous externally-funded projects serving children and families. The Butler Institute for Families (Butler) established in 1994 is affiliated with GSSW and is nationally recognized for our leadership and collaborative work at the national state and local level in evaluation research and technical assistance aimed at improving the quality of child- youth- and family-serving systems.

We bring together researchers practitioners public and private service system experts and community members to: engage in program evaluation and research; examine outcomes; and provide technical assistance and training to program administrators direct service providers and community leaders. Currently Butler conducts business in four primary content areas: child welfare early childhood systems tribal child welfare and behavioral health. These content areas operate within a Research-to-Practice framework that promotes the use adoption adaptation replication and scaling of research and/or evaluation knowledge and the integration of this knowledge in addition to the benefits offered by the University of Denver (see here for more details: Butler offers the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of people committed to using research and evaluation to inform practice and practice to inform research and evaluation. We also offer professional development and job growth opportunities flexible schedules and the opportunity to work remotely. Butler stands in solidarity against the systemic oppression of persons of color and American Indian/Alaska Native tribes communities and individuals. Butler intentionally partners with family and child serving agencies to create healing positive systemic change and daily inclusive actions that reflect racial equity. This is a grant-funded position and while Butler often has new projects that can replace a project that ends Butler cannot guarantee positions after the end of grant-funding.

Position Summary

This position will serve as Senior Research Associate II supporting several grant-funded evaluation projects primarily in the behavioral health content area of Butler. This person will be responsible for leading design and execution of research and evaluation projects. This position is also responsible for dissemination activities business development and supervision.

Essential Functions

Research and Evaluation Design Data Collection Statistical Analysis and Interpretation and Project Management

• Lead the design and development of research or evaluation projects
• Lead framing of research and evaluation questions
• Design intervention implementation and evaluation capacity-building protocols
• Develop innovative qualitative and quantitative data collection protocols tools and methodologies
• Verify the validity of data
• Participate in conducting interviews and focus groups
• Lead data analysis activities
• Identify qualitative and/or quantitative analysis techniques appropriate for answering research questions
• Analyze complex qualitative or quantitative data
• Synthesize information from literature reviews and multiple data sources
• Utilize content expertise to make novel and/or impactful interpretations and conclusions
• Plan and organize research projects as PI or Co-PI
• Manage teams on projects
• Execute and control the research study and makes high level decisions about project direction and scope
• Manage scope of work against available budgets and identify solutions/communicate changes with funders when appropriate
• Negotiate contract and sub-contract statements of work
• Maintain positive working relationships with clients programs and other key project stakeholders

Dissemination

• Lead the writing of reports publications and dissemination materials
• Develop and present results to key stakeholders funders and other identified audiences
• Generate and implement dissemination plan
• Present findings at conferences or other dissemination events

Grant Writing and Business Development

• Takes a lead in seeking funding opportunities and writing grant proposals
• Lead screening planning and preparation of grant proposals

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises Associates or small teams
• Make recommendations about hiring advancement performance improvement and/or termination of supervisees
• Makes recommendations about team structure and strategic hiring priorities

Other Duties

• Attend and participate in DU and Butler-related meetings trainings and activities including organizational workgroups and Inclusion activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of early childhood systems practice and policy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports presentations and grant applications as well as coordinating and communicating with project team and multiple professional and lay stakeholders
• Ability to facilitate constructive interpersonal interaction and teamwork
• Strong critical thinking and solution-building skills
• Ability to work with members of various cultures and communities with respect and humility
• Ability to analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
• Broad array of research skills including research design data collection and management and statistical analysis including proficiency in SPSS Atlas-TI and/or other statistical analysis packages.
• Project management skills with multiple stakeholders and tasks involved
• Ability to tactfully hold project members and leadership accountable to deadlines
• Ability to manage and develop relationships with multiple stakeholders including researchers practitioners and policy makers.
• Ability to utilize flexible evaluation approaches to meet changing project needs
• Strong organization and time management skills including ability to multi-task and prioritize competing deadlines and timelines
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Word and PowerPoint
• Ability to conduct and implement project design while managing and collaborating with others
• Ability to set and achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Adaptable to changing priorities while demonstrating the highest level of customer service
• Independently motivated to identify research and propose approaches and solutions as needed for projects

Required Qualifications

• Masters Degree in Research Methods Psychology Education or related field
• 2-3 years Senior Research Associate I experience
• Experience designing and managing large research projects independently
• Experience writing grant proposals
• Experience working with grant funding in government non-profit or university settings

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience writing successful proposals to federal or state agencies
• Experience creating logic models and conducting theories of change
• Bilingual English and Spanish

Working Environment

• Primarily remote work with option to work outside of the Denver area.
• Occasional travel required.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance.

Work Schedule
Estimated Monday Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Application Deadline
For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 4 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $90000-$96700.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate departmental budget availability internal salary equity considerations and available market information but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits including medical dental retirement paid time off tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.