The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab ("Colorado Lab") is strategic research partner for government and the community. The Colorado Lab was launched as a collaboration between the University of Denver and the Colorado Governor's office. The mission of the Colorado Lab is to improve the lives of Colorado residents by partnering with state and local governments to strengthen coordinated and efficient person-centered services. The Colorado Lab approach is responsive to the needs of government partners, serving as a connector between government agencies and the research community and prioritizing work that would not happen but for the Colorado Lab. The projects the Colorado Lab engages in are cross system, person-centered, and aligned with the Governor's priority social and health policy areas.

The Colorado Lab team consists of the Director, Deputy Director, Director of Data Integration and Analytics, Sr. Researcher/Project Manager, a Staff Researcher, and an Office Manager. The Colorado Lab also works closely with a network of affiliated researchers at universities throughout the state. Colorado Lab research staff are required to possess a solid intuitive understanding of rigorous research methods and why they work, strong written and oral communication skills for explaining technical topics to non-experts, and coding skills necessary to manage and analyze longitudinal data efficiently. Staff members are expected to engage in a collaborative learning environment where employees are highly responsive to each other as well as to government and research partners. Staff hold themselves and each other responsible for completing high quality, well-documented work in a timely fashion.

Essential Functions

• Manage projects involving multiple partners, tight deadlines, sensitive data, and potentially high-profile and/or controversial topics.
• Productively engage in reciprocal partnerships with the Governor's office, governmental agencies, and external researchers.
• Translate policy or practice questions into research designs
• Evaluate and strengthen research proposals submitted to the Lab through RFPs
• Shepherd projects through Institutional Review Board process
• Collaborate on the development of grant proposals
• Complete a variety of analytic tasks based on a project plan, recommending deviations from the plan as appropriate.
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing to a lay audience about technical analytic and policy issues.
• Engage in other duties as necessary, requested, and appropriate to support the mission of the Colorado Lab.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated passion for improving government performance and addressing complex social problems.
• Excellence in both written and oral communications.
• Experience with technical writing for peers, policy memos for policymakers and practitioners, slide decks, and public speaking.
• Exceptional project management capabilities and creativity in problem solving.
• Outstanding quantitative and analytical skills. Experience generating and/or using data to drive insights and action.
• Track record of adeptly navigating complex organizations, developing trust with senior leaders, and building relationships among diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Self-motivated with an orientation towards results over process and a track record of driving results with limited supervisory direction.
• Eagerness to learn, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• At least three years of work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, or Public Health or PhD in public policy, public health, economics, criminal justice, law, or a related field.
• Graduate-level coursework in research methods, statistics, econometrics, or psychometrics.
• Experience working with large administrative datasets.
• Experience working with government and the policy-making process.
• In-depth knowledge of at least one major area of domestic social policy, especially criminal justice or health care costs.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00pm (MST) March 6, 2019.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through www.du.edu/jobs to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Once within the job description online, please scroll to the bottom of the page to apply. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Elysia Clemens at

To be fully considered for the position, please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Writing sample communicating complex ideas to a lay audience (up to 7 pages).

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages applications from women, minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities and veterans. The University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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