Associate Project Director - 1 year term

OverviewThe Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science (CORNERS) at Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research develops transformative research projects with community and civic partners aimed at improving health and safety for more equitable neighborhoods.The Associate Project Director reports directly to the Project Director and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of research projects focused on gun violence prevention, public safety, criminal justice, and community violence intervention. This role ensures that projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and meet the highest standards of research quality and stakeholder engagement.This position is for an initial term ending on August 31, 2026. Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.Note: Projects may require work on evenings and weekends, as dictated by center priorities, programs, donor prospect availability, and NU/community event schedules.Specific ResponsibilitiesResearch Program Direction and LeadershipDirects a research program consisting of 3-4 of the center's core social policy research and evaluation projects focused on gun violence prevention, public safety, and community violence intervention.Oversees the major research components of the program, including developing research project standards, guidelines, and benchmarks; overseeing data collection, analysis, and workflow; supervising the development of key program deliverables; and developing systems and infrastructure to guide and ensure consistent high-quality work across projects.Maintains strong external partnerships with key stakeholders to support and advance the program, including serving as the lead representative and spokesperson for the projects within the program.Provides senior leadership for the center, including helping Corners' executive leadership team develop organizational priorities and advance its mission and core pillars.Project and Partnership DevelopmentInitiates and develops new partnerships, projects, and proposals to advance the work of the center.Leads and collaborates with Corners' team members and external partners on the development of research project grants.Acts as a primary point of contact for stakeholders wishing to collaborate or partner with the munication and DisseminationServes as a lead representative and spokesperson for Corners' research.Leads the development of research findings for peer-reviewed journals, reports, and presentations. Oversees program team members in generating data and developing content and finalizes publications and other communications materials and municates and disseminates research findings across multiple audiences (e.g., partners, funders, and policymakers) and across multiple forums (e.g., at conferences, community events, and professional meetings).Program AdministrationEnsures that all policies, regulations, rules, and requirements are met per foundation, federal, or other sponsor guidelines.Oversees budget and expenditures for the program, including performing monthly budget reviews and presenting financial information to Corners' leadership on the financial status of the program.Leads program team in developing job descriptions for new roles and recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new program staff.Staff SupervisionSupervises 3-5 full-time research project staff, including project managers, project coordinators, and data analysts.Provides direction on research project planning and management to ensure timely and high-quality execution of key project deliverables.Trains and supervises research project staff and students, providing mentorship and professional development.MiscellaneousPerforms other duties as assigned.QualificationsMinimum Qualifications:A master's degree in public policy, sociology, or other relevant social science or related field.At least two years of academic research project management experience in the area of gun violence prevention with demonstrated success and increasing responsibility.Three to five years of relevant experience in the field of violence prevention (e.g., direct service experience, programmatic experience, and/or relevant nonprofit or other non-academic research experience).At least two years of experience as a supervisor.Formal training or coursework in program evaluation, research methods, and/or policy analysis.Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)Strong project management skills and ability to train others in project management tools, techniques, and systems.Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop effective relationships with diverse stakeholders including community partners, funders, policymakers, and other researchers.Strong written communication skills and ability to translate complex and technical research concepts into understandable ideas for diverse audiences.High level of attention to detail and organizational skills.Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research design and methods and community based participatory research approaches.Knowledge of Chicago neighborhoods and understanding of the impact of gun violence in Chicago communities.Strong supervisory and leadership skills.Preferred Qualifications:At least five years of relevant experience in the field of violence prevention (e.g., direct service experience, programmatic experience, and/or relevant nonprofit or other non-academic research experience).Experience developing publications, presentations, and trainings for diverse audiences across multiple channels of communication.Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)Proficient in relevant statistical software (e.g., R, Stata) and/or other web-based software/technology.Demonstrated experience with data collection, program evaluation, and human subjects research projects requiring Institutional Review Board approval.Knowledge of data visualization tools and techniques.Salary: Target hiring range for this position will be between $85,000-$90,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.Benefits and Work-Life: Northwestern offers meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more. Northw estern also provides work-life programs to support flexible work arrangements and childcare/senior care options. Further information is available through Northwestern’s benefits resources (note: remove URLs in final text).Professional Growth & Development: Northwestern supports employee career development with tools and resources for learning and advancement.Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. Additional information on accommodations is available through Northwestern's resources.#LI-EN1 #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-28