Lead Researcher, JusticeForward Initiative

5700

The University of San Diego an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972 USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any or no religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanitys urgent challenges.

This is a full-time temporary benefit-based position with a 30 month grant appointment is renewable at the discretion of the University and dependent upon performance and continued funding.

The Lead Researcher for the JusticeForward initiative leads applied research student-integrated learning and public-facing dissemination for JusticeForward: Safer Students Workforce Initiative a grant-funded workforce development and applied research initiative designed to strengthen pathways for justice-impacted students into careers within the justice sector.

Working under the direction of the Executive Director of the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and in close collaboration with the Director of Research Monitoring and Evaluation the Lead Researcher is responsible for conducting and producing the core JusticeForward research deliverables required under the grant including a barrier and opportunity scan learning framework midpoint and final reports practical public-facing resources and related scholarly policy or practitioner-oriented outputs.

The position integrates applied research policy analysis teaching student mentorship stakeholder engagement and dissemination. The Lead Researcher will teach or co-teach a credit-bearing practicum course that embeds students in JusticeForwards research policy and advocacy work. The position will help students contribute meaningfully to policy mapping research brief development stakeholder analysis and the translation of findings into accessible practitioner-facing resources.

This is a fixed-term grant-funded position. Eighty-Five percent of the role will be assigned to JusticeForward grant activities. The remaining 15% will support other IPJ research teaching evaluation program development or applied initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director.

Duties and Responsibilities:

JusticeForward Applied Research and Knowledge Production

• Lead and manage IPJs JusticeForward research workstream under the direction of the Executive Director and in close coordination with the Director of Research Monitoring and Evaluation and relevant project partners.
• Conduct rigorous ethical and well-scoped applied research using appropriate quantitative qualitative policy institutional community-engaged or mixed-methods approaches drawing on relevant documents stakeholder perspectives student learning partner experience and other sources of evidence.
• Produce grant-required and project-related research learning and knowledge products that are responsive to project goals partner needs student learning and implementation realities including reports briefs scholarly or research-oriented outputs public-facing resources presentations and other applied materials as needed.

Teaching Practicum Design and Student Mentorship

• Teach or co-teach credit-bearing practica that integrate students into JusticeForward research policy and dissemination work.
• Design and support structured student roles that contribute meaningfully to applied research stakeholder engagement practitioner-facing products and other project needs.
• Mentor students engaged in JusticeForward-related research practica internships presentations or other applied learning activities helping connect their project work to classroom learning professional development and justice-sector career pathways.

Dissemination Stakeholder Engagement and Research-to-Impact Translation

• Translate JusticeForward research findings into clear actionable recommendations and public-facing products for relevant policy practitioner community and higher education audiences.
• Collaborate with IPJ communications grant and leadership staff to ensure that JusticeForward research products are effectively edited designed shared and positioned for practical use.
• Help maintain develop and expand external relationships that support JusticeForward research stakeholder learning dissemination.
• Support stakeholder engagement convenings presentations briefings publications and other dissemination activities connected to the JusticeForward Initiative.

Broader IPJ Research Program and Institutional Support

• Contribute flexibly to other IPJ research evaluation teaching public engagement and program development activities as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Contribute to the growth of IPJs broader applied research and practice portfolio by supporting new initiatives that align with the Institutes mission and have a plausible pathway to external support.
• Participate in the intellectual life of the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and the Kroc School through internal meetings public events Kroc Pot discussions faculty/staff conversations and other relevant activities.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• This is a fixed-term grant-funded position with an anticipated term of 30 months contingent on continued grant funding and institutional approval.
• The role requires regular on-site presence at the University of San Diego; limited remote work may be permitted with prior approval and when compatible with business needs but regular on-site presence is an essential expectation of the job.
• This role may include local travel to partner organizations justice-sector agencies community-based organizations convenings or research sites.
• Occasional domestic travel for conferences or professional events may be required.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree required in a relevant field such as peace and conflict studies public policy international relations law human rights sociology criminology social work education political science justice studies public administration or a closely related field.
• At least two (2) years of relevant professional experience in applied research policy analysis evaluation teaching higher education community-engaged work advocacy public problem-solving or related practice.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct applied research policy analysis evaluation or community-engaged research including the ability to gather synthesize and analyze information from documents interviews stakeholder consultations literature program data or other relevant sources.
• Strong writing and analytical skills including experience producing or contributing to research reports policy briefs literature reviews evaluation products public-facing writing practitioner tools grant deliverables or other applied knowledge products.
• Strong organizational and project management skills including the ability to manage multiple deadlines coordinate across teams and move complex projects from concept to completion.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with students faculty staff community partners public agencies nonprofit organizations and people with lived experience of justice-system involvement or other forms of marginalization.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical rigorous and useful work in applied research policy practice or public problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree preferred such as PhD JD EdD or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Direct experience working on issues related to criminal justice reentry collateral consequences public safety probation corrections diversion restorative justice community violence prevention or justice-sector workforce pathways.
• Familiarity with San Diego County justice-sector agencies community-based organizations reentry programs or higher education programs serving justice-impacted students.
• Experience conducting applied research activities such as stakeholder interviews listening sessions focus groups policy scans workforce pathway mapping institutional analysis or implementation-oriented research.
• Quantitative research skills including experience with statistics survey design data analysis monitoring and evaluation systems or mixed-methods research.
• Experience developing applied research products such as policy briefs public-facing reports pathway maps implementation guides practitioner tools scholarly publications or other products intended for academic practitioner policy or community audiences.
• Experience teaching co-teaching facilitating workshops mentoring students supervising student researchers or supporting credit-bearing practica field placements research apprenticeships policy clinics or other forms of practice-based learning.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to produce peer-reviewed scholarship law review articles book chapters or other academically credible publications from applied research policy research evaluation or community-engaged research.

Performance Expectations- Knowledge Skills andAbilities:

• Strong applied research and analytical skills including the ability to organize complex information and identify practical implications for policy practice and institutional learning.
• Excellent writing and communication skills including the ability to translate research findings into clear products for academic practitioner policy community and public audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students faculty staff external partners public agencies community organizations and people with lived experience.
• Strong project management skills including the ability to manage multiple priorities meet deadlines coordinate deliverables and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Commitment to high-quality evidence-informed work professional integrity and respectful engagement with colleagues students partners and external stakeholders.

$6667-$7500 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical dental vision a retirement contribution given to you by the University and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience education and other factors including departmental budget.

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Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date:Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

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