Project Director
: Job Details :

Department Summary

The UCLA Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL) empowers national, state, and local stakeholders to use data to make more timely and sound decisions impacting children, families, communities, and the workforces that serve them. We do this through 1) putting vital information into the hands of stakeholders in the form of data visualizations that efficiently and effectively meet their diverse and dynamic information needs, 2) implementing utilization-focused and developmental evaluation of programs and policies of mission-driven organizations and systems, and 3) building the capacity of systems and organizations to grow, use, and sustain data ecosystems. In these ways we work with our partners in different capacities, depending on their specific needs, ranging from leading full-scale evaluations to data collection, data management and processing, and data visualization.

Position Summary

The Project Director works with the Agile Visual Analytics Lab (AVAL) team to plan, develop, and manage the implementation of complex, multifaceted program evaluation and research activities in a coherent and efficient fashion. Responsibilities and activities include:

Supporting the development of research and evaluation grant/contract proposals

Leading the planning of evaluation and research designs and activities

Overseeing/conducting data collection, management, preparation for analysis, analysis, and reporting

Collaborating with stakeholders to assess and build their capacities, as needed, to support the planning and implementation of research and evaluation activities, as well as dissemination efforts that strive to facilitate knowledge acquisition and sharing and drive the utilization of data and research and evaluation findings

Identifying, assessing, and developing resources effectively and efficiently to achieve project goals including serving as the functional manager for 2-6 research team members simultaneously

The Project Director operates and manages a team within a complex technical environment using several software products (e.g., Tableau, Alteryx, R, Stata, Knime, Python, ATLAS.ti, Dedoose, Salesforce, Qualtrics, Alchemer, Asana, Calendly). The Project Director supervises and/or conducts all research and evaluation phases to ensure timely, quality, and on-budget completion of project goals. The Project Director oversees day-to-day evaluation and research activities to ensure efficient and effective research operations including that of Senior Research Associates, Research Associates, Graduate Student Researchers, and/or other research team members to accomplish project goals. The Project Director establishes and monitors procedures and processes to ensure compliance with data security and confidentiality requirements. The Project Director is also responsible for on and off-site evaluation and research activities, including organizing, facilitating and attending meetings with research partners and stakeholders, collecting/managing data, and leading the reporting of research and evaluation findings.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as member of a research team across cultures and internally within a diverse and dynamic institution, perform effectively under conditions of fluctuating pressures, and adjust appropriately to ensure timely and accurate completion of work. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced management skills, including developing work plans, managing risk, developing and monitoring budgets, scheduling and assigning tasks to appropriate staff, monitoring progress toward goals, and calibrating resources as needed to ensure timely, quality, and on-budget completion. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced experience leading multidisciplinary teams in an applied research setting including fostering a learning environment and regularly assessing the performance and supporting the development of team members while ensuring project goals are achieved. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced data collection experience and skills including designing and coordinating the implementation of complex data collection and analysis plans, developing and validating measures, designing protocols for and facilitating of focus groups/interviews with diverse stakeholders. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced experience and skill in overseeing efficient and secure data management (e.g., using ETL software, investigating and optimizing data quality, formatting and merging data for analysis, establishing and monitoring procedures and processes to ensure compliance with requirements). (Required)

Demonstrated advanced experience and skill in data analysis (e.g., quantitative & qualitative analysis) and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Python, D3, Visme, Canva, InDesign) to build static and interactive reports that empower and meet users' diverse and dynamic information needs. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced knowledge in at least one human services field, utilization-focused evaluation, participatory research, training evaluation, as well as visual design and perception principles to present data in a clear, accurate, engaging, and equity-aware manner. (Required)

Demonstrated strong interest and advanced ability to learn, if not advanced skilled in, software and web apps (e.g., Microsoft Office, Box, Asana, Slack, Calendly, Qualtrics, Alchemer, Alteryx, Salesforce, Knime, Python, Stata, SPSS, R, ATLAS.ti, Deedose) as needed with minimal hands-on training. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced written and verbal communication skills to maintain confidentiality at all times and effectively explain complex technical concepts in a concise, coherent, courteous, engaging, and professional manner to a wide-range of stakeholder groups, including non-technical stakeholders. (Required)

Demonstrated advanced experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, highly complex data systems (e.g., LMS, HR, CRM, CSIS, or CMS) in a human services field, research and evaluation stakeholder capacity building, and vendor/consultant management. (Required)

Spanish-language fluency (reading, writing, and speaking) (Preferred)

Lived experience and/or professional direct service experience in a human services system(s) (e.g., child welfare, criminal/juvenile justice, mental/behavioral health, housing, etc.). (Preferred)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

Bachelor's Degree in social work, education, public policy, public health, or related social science field and/or equivalent experience/training (Required)

PhD in social work, education, public policy, public health, or related social science field and/or equivalent experience/training (Preferred)

Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Architect, Tableau Server Associate, Tableau Architect, PMP, CSM or ACP or other relevant verifiable certifications Upon Hire (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

COVID and Flu Vaccinations: The position is subject to providing evidence of inoculation.

Schedule

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered

Complete Position Description

#J-18808-Ljbffr