Posted: 12-May-23

Location: Houston, TX, United States,

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Internal Number: 2387

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application. We suggest the documents be in a PDF format to avoid formatting issues.

Position Summary

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to improve lives through data, research, engagement, and action. The institute is currently expanding to build out five research centers focused on key aspects shaping the social and cultural landscape of the Houston area. The five research centers will conduct research on housing , education , public health , economic mobility and inequality , and population dynamics . Each of these centers will conduct research focused on its particular topic, as well as do groundbreaking and necessary work across centers. To achieve this, each center is building interdisciplinary teams that specialize in solutions-oriented research, and will use a research-practice partnership (RPP) model to jointly design, develop, and do research that values diversity in expertise and centers the community in identifying the most pressing questions and challenges facing Houston.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research is seeking a full-time Associate Director of Housing & Neighborhoods to oversee research produced in partnership with a set of partner organizations in and around the Houston region on topics related to housing and neighborhood issues (e.g., affordable housing, homelessness, community development, health and safety, gentrification, and segregation). The Associate Director will be responsible for establishing, building, and maintaining partnerships with organizations and entities in the Houston area utilizing the principles of research-practice partnerships. KIUR's RPP model involves working with external stakeholders to collaboratively develop, design, and do research that will address the most pressing and urgent needs of the community in order to bring about change in the Houston region. The Associate Director of Housing & Neighborhoods will work collaboratively with the Housing & Neighborhood research center director, other research directors at KIUR, as well as the Senior Director of Research, Executive Director, and other leadership through the institute.

Optional hybrid work schedule within Harris County and surrounding counties.

Salary starts at $100,000, depending on experience and qualifications

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other Doctoral Degree in social science, such as sociology, economics, other social science, public health or related field
• 5 years of experience in a management role conducting quantitative and/or qualitative research projects
• Skills required
  • Proficient in statistical and other software programming (e.g. Stata, R, Python)
  • High proficiency and comprehensive knowledge of information management, knowledge management, and publication management
  • Excellent interpersonal skills such as patience, determination, flexibility, and decisiveness
  • Excellent listening, verbal and written communication, analytical, and research skills
  • Excellent scientific and numerical skills with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to work in a team environment, participate actively, collaborate and motivate others

Essential Functions

• In cooperation with the senior director of research and other research directors, leads the research design and supervises the analysis of multiple projects
• Performs research conducting independent studies, facilitating other ongoing research, and developing and validating new protocols, methodologies, and/or theories
• Assists and oversees with producing research products (e.g., research briefs, presentations, interactive data tools) for partner organizations, foundations, and wider audiences, including the general public and conference presentations
• Actively works to improve the institute's reputation and research capabilities
• Seeks new research grant opportunities
• Mentors, supervises, and trains research scientists, research analysts, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students by including them in ongoing research in a meaningful manner
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Collects, organizes, manages, and maintains original data as needed, working with the data team
• Locates new data, acquires any necessary permissions needed to use, extract, and merge data with data from other sources (including real estate listings and tax assessment data)
• Analyzes data according to the research agenda
• Communicates research findings to wide ranging audiences (e.g. policymakers, general public, other researches)
• Consults and plans with the Senior Director of Research, Housing & Neighborhood research center director, and other staff to develop, strategize and facilitate research process
• Professional development through travel to conferences and seminars for networking, training, and presentation of grant-related research
• Directs and distributes workload of staff research analysts
• Co-presents grant-related research findings at appropriate professional conferences
• Establishes a communication strategy, including setting regular meetings, with community partners
• Attends weekly staff and research team meetings

Preferences

• One year experience doing partnership research
• Experience developing and managing research projects, managing data, and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, such as multilevel modeling, causal modeling, quasi-experimental methods, survey design, interviews
• Experience as a Research Scientist
• Experience leading a team and supervising others
• Can lead quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research
• Able to oversee various research projects while managing and mentoring other research staff
• Ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Adaptable to change and able to think creatively to address issues

Kinder Institute for Urban Research
https://kinder.rice.edu/

Rice University HR / Benefits website
https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values
https://www.rice.edu/mission-values

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.