Research Scholar for Migration, Trafficking, and Organized Crime

5669

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 an anticipated end date of August 31 appointment is renewable at the discretion of the University and dependent upon performance and continued funding.

Develops and advances the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justices emerging portfolio on migration trafficking and organized crime with attention to the border region and comparable transnational contexts. This position is intended for an entrepreneurial scholar-practitioner who will help shape a focused but flexible area of applied research teaching program development and public engagement within the Institute. The Researcher integrates academic practitioner and policy perspectives to generate actionable knowledge support student learning and build a stronger institutional platform for future work in this domain. Responsibilities include teaching one elective course related to migration trafficking organized crime political violence border insecurity or a closely related area; contributing to applied research and public-facing outputs; collaborating with the Institutes Associate Director of Strategic Development and Grant Management and research leadership to pursue external funding; and helping cultivate a programmatic framework that can deepen and organize the Institutes work in this area over time. As a resident member of the Institute community the Researcher contributes to its intellectual life supports convenings and dialogues and represents the Institute in public forums that elevate the Kroc Schools profile in practice-based peacebuilding and policy-relevant applied research.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Teaching

• Help lay the intellectual relational and strategic groundwork for a developing area of Institute work focused on migration trafficking organized crime and related forms of violence or insecurity including thematic focus partnership cultivation student engagement and the pursuit of future external support.
• Teach one elective course per academic year related to migration trafficking organized crime border dynamics political violence or a closely related topic.
• Mentor students engaged in applied research practice-oriented work or project-based learning connected to this portfolio.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Research and Knowledge Production

• Conduct and disseminate applied research policy briefs and public-facing outputs that advance understanding of migration trafficking organized crime and related forms of violence or insecurity.
• Collaborate with faculty staff practitioners and external partners to produce co-authored publications and other outputs relevant to policy and practice.
• Contribute to the Institutes public intellectual life by presenting work at Kroc Pot public events conferences and other relevant forums.

Funding Development and Strategic Collaboration

• Work closely with the Institutes Associate Director for Strategic Development and Grant Management and Director for Research and Monitoring to identify and pursue external funding opportunities aligned with this portfolio.
• Lead the conceptual development of grant-funded initiatives in this area including research programmatic and partnership components and help translate emerging ideas into competitive proposals and externally supported projects.
• Help build the institutional foundation for sustained work in this area by identifying strategic opportunities for growth collaboration and external support.

Partnership Development and Institutional Integration

• Cultivate relationships with NGOs community organizations universities government actors and practitioners working on migration trafficking organized crime border dynamics transnational violence or related themes

Special Conditions of Employment:

• The role may include occasional domestic or international travel for conferences or professional events.
• This role is designed as an in-person and on-site position. While limited remote work may be permitted with prior approval and when compatible with business needs regular on-site presence is an essential expectation of the job.

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 in a relevant field such as peace and conflict studies international relations law public policy human rights migration studies criminology sociology political science or security studies.
• At least three (3) years of relevant professional research policy or higher-education experience in one or more of the following areas: migration trafficking organized crime border governance political violence public security illicit economies postconflict violence or related justice and governance issues.
• Demonstrated record of producing high-quality applied research policy analysis public scholarship or learning products that inform practice policy or public understanding.
• Experience engaging with academic governmental intergovernmental or civil society partners on issues related to violence justice migration trafficking security or governance.
• Strong analytical communication and organizational skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across academic policy and practitioner communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal degree (PhD JD or equivalent) in a relevant field or significant sustained professional practice at a senior level in migration policy organized crime human rights border governance public security or related areas.
• Four or more years of relevant experience as described above.
• Demonstrated record of applied policy-relevant research or practice addressing migration trafficking organized crime political violence border insecurity or cross-border governance.
• Experience teaching graduate-level courses.
• Ability to contribute flexibly to adjacent Institute priorities including student practice-based learning and applied monitoring evaluation learning mixed-methods research or evidence-based program assessment.
• Experience in program development or helping build new areas of institutional work within higher education government or international organizations.
• Experience developing or contributing to funded initiatives collaborative research or multi-partner projects.
• Familiarity with the border region and related policy justice and security dynamics.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Performance Expectations- Knowledge Skills andAbilities:

• Deep understanding of migration trafficking organized crime and related forms of transnational insecurity especially in border contexts.
• Ability to integrate applied research teaching public engagement and program development in ways that inform real-world policy and practice.
• Strong analytical and writing skills including the ability to translate rigorous empirical research and complex ideas into accessible formats for varied academic policy practitioner and public audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across academic practitioner policy and community settings.
• Skill in helping build a focused area of institutional work from an emerging or transitional foundation.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities meet deadlines and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Commitment to evidence-based impact-oriented approaches that advance peace justice and human dignity.

$6666.67 - $8333.33 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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Note: The position will be hired either at the Assistant or the Associate level depending on the experience of the candidate selected.

Note: Preference will be given to qualified current University of San Diego employees.

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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