Associate Researcher Senior

Position OverviewThe Center for Research to Transform Systems (CRTS) is seeking an Associate Researcher Senior. CRTS focuses on implementation and evaluation of research projects aimed at promoting child and family well-being through prevention, intervention, and system change. The Associate Researcher Senior will support large multi-partner research, evaluation, and implementation projects that are focused on community-engaged research and improving child and family outcomes.

The Associate Researcher Senior will work closely with CRTS researchers, public and private human service agencies, federal partners, other funders, court/legal collaborators, and community members. The Associate Researcher Senior will contribute to research projects’ implementation and evaluation, including research design, human subjects protocols, project implementation, data management, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, continuous quality improvement, and dissemination. The Associate Researcher Senior will be part of a collaborative research team with the opportunity to conduct research with policy implications and improve the lives of families and communities.

The Associate Researcher Senior may act as a liaison with other departments; develop and conduct one or more large research efforts; review progress and evaluate results; prepare research materials; and formulate research methods. The Associate Researcher Senior may serve as co-principal investigator or principal investigator; oversee day-to-day research operations; write funding applications; prepare human subjects protocols for approval by the Institutional Review Board; train other researchers (as needed); supervise students or staff; coordinate data collection; implement research projects; and analyze and interpret project results. The position will also include authoring and co-authoring research publications and present at meetings and/or conferences.

About CRTS and KUSSW
CRTS operates from within the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare (KUSSW), which is committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive educational environment for students, faculty, and staff. We seek colleagues whose research, teaching, and service reflect the values and ethics of the social work profession and align with the School’s Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles.

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship, and creative endeavors. As the state’s flagship institution of higher education, The University of Kansas (KU) is the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a select group of 62 public and private research universities that represent excellence in graduate and professional education and the highest achievements in research internationally. The University enrolls more than 31,000 students, offers 5,000 courses, more than 400 degree and certificate programs and employs 2,800 faculty members, many of them at the top of their fields. In KU’s dynamic, cross-disciplinary research and learning environment, students exchange ideas, discover new ways of processing the world, and address society’s grand challenges.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard, and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.Job Description40% – Research Design, Implementation, and Evaluation
This component may include research design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of research; developing and implementing research (i.e., protocols, standardized measures, surveys, interviews, etc.); organize research teams and activities with internal, external, and community project partners; monitoring project timelines; completing institutional review board materials and gaining approval; Contribute to interpretation of findings and identification of implications for research, policy, practice, and systems change.

40% – Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting
This component may include organizing and managing research data (i.e., quantitative and qualitative); creating data management procedures, databases, and continuous quality improvement processes; manage and create data dashboards; conduct advanced quantitative data analysis; perform qualitative coding and data analysis using team-based software; prepare and contribute to reports, conferences presentations, peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and other dissemination products to reach a wide variety of audiences.

20% – Research Capacity Building
This component may include supervising and training staff and/or students as needed; support meetings and workgroups; collaborate with government agencies, community organizations, research staff, research faculty, funders, and other partners; identify research opportunities, funding, and partners; support grant proposal submissions; and participate and contribute to professional development and knowledge-sharing activities.Position RequirementsThis position will be remote with occasional in-person meetings.

Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California, Delaware, Idaho, and Minnesota. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.Required Qualifications

1. A PhD in social work or a closely related field AND five (5) years of additional postdoc experience in or closely related field/area of research.
2. Advanced quantitative statistical analysis skills, including proficiency in Stata or R or another comparable quantitative software with 6-12 months of professional experience where writing data analysis code was a core responsibility OR a graduate level course in quantitative methods.
3. Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills, as evidenced in application materials.
4. Strong written communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.
5. High proficiency in statistical software (i.e., Stata, SPSS, R) with 6-12 months of professional experience where writing data analysis code was a core responsibility OR a graduate level course in quantitative methods.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience working with large, complex datasets.
2. Experience managing large data collection efforts using REDCap, Qualtrics, or similar software.
3. Experience explaining methods to research staff, provide guidance, and interpret and present output.
4. Experience presenting research to a broad range of audiences, including development of infographics, PowerPoints, briefs, fact sheets, etc.
5. Experience developing, building, and maintaining data dashboards using Tableau, Power BI, or similar software.
6. Experience with writing and submitting peer reviewed manuscripts.
7. Experience with preparing funding applications for projects that include research and/or evaluation.
8. Strong knowledge in preparing protocols for human subjects research and the Institutional Review Board process as evidenced by application materials and work history.
9. Experience that required the ability to multi-task across multiple projects.
10. Demonstrated commitment to social work values and the KUSSW mission, vision, and guiding principles and values as evidenced by application materials and work history.

Additional Candidate InstructionsA complete application includes:

1. Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications
2. Resume/CV
3. List of three (3) professional references

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application review begins Friday, October 30th and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.Contact Information to ApplicantsDr. Brennan Miller
bjm@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Range$85,000 - $93,000Application Review BeginsFriday October 30, 2026Anticipated Start DateTuesday December 1, 2026Apply to Job