Openings at CCSR

August 2009

RESEARCH ANALYST II

Position Description

The Research Analyst will contribute to the design of research studies and evaluation projects on topics related to Chicago's public schools, the problems they face, and the mechanisms for improvement.  He or she will conduct reviews of pertinent literature and will share in disseminating findings in a variety of formats to a wide range of audiences.  He or she will document all procedures and methods, and will participate in weekly workshops to review findings and methodological techniques.The Research Analyst will primarily conduct detailed and complex statistical analyses of quantitative data using multivariate statistical methods including multiple regression, logistic regression, and HLM.  He or she will manipulate large-scale data bases using SAS in a UNIX environment.  Depending upon the Research Analyst's experience and interest in qualitative research, he or she may also conduct qualitative fieldwork and/or assist in developing coding schemes and in analyzing qualitative data. 

Essential Functions

Data Collection:
Assist with the collection and preparation of data, including quantitative survey data and qualitative site visits.  Conduct quality control procedures.  Update and create internal processes and data documentation.  Create specialized databases by merging multiple, complex data sources, including school-, student-, teacher-, community- and neighborhood-based files. Help develop survey questions

Analysis: 
Contribute to conceptualizing, designing, and planning research projects, framing research questions and identifying appropriate data and methods.  Participate in weekly workshops to review findings and methodological techniques.  Conduct statistical analysis of large-scale databases using SAS, including both simple descriptive group comparisons and advanced statistical modeling.  Create indicators of educational practices and progress for studies involving educational policy analysis, evaluation of school effectiveness, and explanations of educational outcomes.  Identify appropriate statistical techniques that will answer different research questions and find ways to interpret the results of analyses. 

Data Management:
Develop efficient systems for creating, documenting, and sharing large data sets derived from multiple sources.

Disseminate Findings: 
Contribute to CCSR reports and presentations geared toward a broad audience (scholars, practitioners, policy makers), as well as to journal articles for a scholarly audience, and data reports for schools.  Create effective displays of findings. Participate in meetings with stake holders.  Participate in collaborative work with other scholars/researchers and with practitioner groups, as well as CPS schools and central office.  Review pertinent literature.  Give constructive, thoughtful feedback on analyses, reports, and articles of colleagues.

Organizational Support:
Fill external data requests.  Serve as co-chair or as a committee member of the Strategic Planning Committee and one of its sub-committee.  Work on other development activities (taskforces, professional development activities) when applicable.  Build external relationships throughout the University, Chicago, CPS and nationally.

Qualifications:
Required

• Master's degree in education, policy studies or related social science discipline with interest in education research; or Masters' degree with several years of research experience
• Ability to work independently and collaborate as a team member
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with individuals of varied background, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Familiarity with spreadsheet programs such as Excel or Access
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent analytic skills
• Good verbal communication skills
• Knowledge, and demonstrated use, of multivariate statistics
• Familiarity with statistical software (SAS, SPSS, Stata)
• Ability to use SAS in a UNIX environment

Preferred

• Knowledge, and demonstrated use, of both quantitative and qualitative analysis

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job.  They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer. To apply for this position visit https://jobopportunities.uchicago.edu/, create a profile, and apply for requisition number 082720. 

SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST

Position Description

The Senior Research Analyst will take a leadership role in designing research studies and evaluation projects on topics related to Chicago's public schools, the problems they face, and the mechanisms for improvement.  He or she will conduct reviews of pertinent literature and will share in disseminating findings in a variety of formats to a wide range of audiences.  He or she will document all procedures and methods, and will participate in weekly workshops to review findings and methodological techniques.The Senior Research Analyst will primarily conduct detailed and complex statistical analyses of quantitative data using multivariate statistical methods including multiple regression, logistic regression, event-history, IRT, econometrics, and advanced features in HLM. He or she will manipulate large-scale data bases using SAS in a UNIX environment. Depending upon the Senior Research Analyst's experience and interest in qualitative research, he or she may also conduct qualitative fieldwork, develop coding schemes, and analyze and synthesize qualitative data. 

Essential Functions

Data Collection:
Collect and prepare data, including quantitative survey data and qualitative site visits.  Conduct quality control procedures.  Update and create internal processes and data documentation.  Create specialized databases by merging multiple, complex data sources, including school-, student-, teacher-, community- and neighborhood-based files. Develop survey questions. 

Analysis: 
Conceptualize, design, and plan research projects, framing research questions and identifying appropriate data and methods.  Participate in weekly workshops to review findings and methodological techniques.  Conduct statistical analysis of large-scale databases using SAS, including both simple descriptive group comparisons and advanced statistical modeling.  Create indicators of educational practices and progress for studies involving educational policy analysis, evaluation of school effectiveness, and explanations of educational outcomes.  Identify appropriate statistical techniques that will answer different research questions and find ways to interpret the results of analyses.

Data Management:
Develop efficient systems for creating, documenting, and sharing large data sets derived from multiple sources.

Disseminate Findings: 
Create CCSR reports and presentations geared toward a broad audience (scholars, practitioners, policy makers), as well as journal articles for a scholarly audience, and data reports for schools.  Create effective displays of findings. Participate in meetings with stake holders.  Participate in collaborative work with other scholars/researchers and with practitioner groups, as well as CPS schools and central office.  Review pertinent literature.  Give constructive, thoughtful feedback on analyses, reports, and articles of colleagues.

Direct Projects/Develop New Projects:
Lead work on research projects. Provide leadership, direction, and coordination to projects in their planning, analysis, publication, and outreach efforts. Maintain regular communication and involvement with relevant CPS department.

Organizational Support: 
Fill external data requests.  Serve as co-chair or as a committee member of the Strategic Planning Committee and one of its sub-committee.  Work on other development activities (taskforces, professional development activities) when applicable.  Build external relationships throughout the University, Chicago, CPS, and nationally.

Qualifications:
Required

• Master's degree in education, policy studies or related social science discipline with interest in education research; or Masters' degree with several years of research experience
• Ability to work independently and collaborate as a team member
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with individuals of varied background, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, and linguistic backgrounds
• Familiarity with spreadsheet programs such as Excel or Access
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent analytic skills
• Good verbal communication skills
• Knowledge, and demonstrated use, of multivariate statistics
• Familiarity with statistical software (SAS, SPSS, Stata)
• Ability to use SAS in a UNIX environment

• Doctorate in a social science discipline with interest in education research.
• Experience conducting social science research (e.g. authorship on scholarly articles and/or research reports)
• Knowledge, and demonstrated use, of both quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques

July 2009

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 Position Description
The Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago is nationally recognized for respected research that has informed public policy and changed practice in Chicago while examining issues of significance to school improvement nationwide. Founded in 1990, CCSR conducts research of high technical quality that is accessible to practitioners and policymakers and used broadly by the school reform community in Chicago and urban districts nationwide.  As an organization, it supports the search for solutions to the problems of school reform, but does not argue for particular programs or practices.  Rather, it helps build capacity for school reform by identifying what matters for student success and school improvement, creating critical indicators to chart progress, and conducting theory-driven evaluation to identify how programs and policies are working.  As part of the Urban Education Institute, CCSR is a strategic priority for the University of Chicago. Its model mirrors the university's defining features and commitment to inquiry by asking tough questions, engaging the world around it, pursuing knowledge with rigor, and believing in the transformative power of ideas.

CCSR is searching for a replacement for John Q. Easton, who was recently appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the Director of the Institute for Education Sciences in the Department of Education.  Easton, who has been affiliated with CCSR since its early years, was Deputy Director from 1997 to 2002, and Executive Director from 2002 to 2009.  He succeeded Anthony S. Bryk, CCSR's Founding Director, who currently serves as president of The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of CCSR, ensuring that it continues to forge its hallmark, innovative approach to studying urban schools. The Executive Director serves as the Consortium's primary ambassador at both the local and national levels and is central to building relationships locally with Chicago Public Schools, funders, foundations, national organizations, and the university.  Working in collaboration with CCSR's Directors, the Executive Director helps translate CCSR's findings into accessible and practical presentations and products for researchers, policymakers, CPS practitioners, other stakeholders, and the broader public. The Executive Director manages the organization's day-to-day operations, finances and human resources while ensuring compliance with applicable granting organizations, CPS, state and federal requirements. 

The Executive Director works with the CCSR Steering Committee and Directors to develop and implement CCSR's research agenda. This requires a deep understanding of the problems of urban schools, and specifically CPS, to help inform the strategic choices that ensure the development of a responsive and coherent research agenda. The Executive Director also is responsible for identifying funding sources, cultivating relationships with foundations and funders, and developing grant proposals to support the research and public informing agenda. In addition, the Executive Director serves as the principal investigator on selected CCSR's research studies, overseeing the research design, data collection, analysis and presentation of findings.

CCSR's Executive Director reports to the Director of The Urban Education Institute (UEI), who has operational responsibility for CCSR. The Executive Director serves as a member of the UEI Senior Leadership Team and, upon appointment, will be nominated to serve as a member of the University's Committee on Education.

Position Responsibilities
Leadership

• Provide leadership to ensure CCSR continues to be an innovative leader in the field of urban school research and evaluation
• Build strong relationships with CPS, foundations and other funders, state and federal governmental agencies, national organizations and the University
• Collaborate with CCSR's Steering Committee and Directors to establish a research and public informing agenda
• Identify funding opportunities, develop grant proposals, and make strategic decisions about research directions 
• Serve as a member of the Urban Education Institute's Senior Leadership Team
• Consult with the Director of the Urban Education Institute in making CCSR senior staff appointments, approving the annual budget, and building synergies with other UEI units.

Research - Collaborating with CCSR's Directors:

• Maintain high quality standard for all studies conducted across CCSR  
• Develop and design research studies and serve as principal investigator on selected studies
• Support and supervise research teams engaged in data collection, analysis, writing, and presentations 
• Disseminate findings through reports, presentations, and scholarly publications
• Maintain continuing agreements with CPS regarding data requests and data sharing
• Oversee CCSR's data archive to ensure quality and timeliness
• Develop collaborative research projects with affiliated principal investigators in other units of the Urban Education Institute, the University and beyond.

• Formulate CCSR's communications and public informing strategy, including publication and distribution of reports, presentations, symposia, conferences, testimony, and media exposure
• Serve as key liaison with Chief Executive Officer and other senior management at the Chicago Public Schools
• Act as primary spokesperson for CCSR on local and national levels
• Represent CCSR in public forums and on advisory panels
• Coach CCSR staff in preparation for public presentations

• Manage day-to-day operations and overall supervisory responsibilities for staff 
• Oversee all finances and grant reporting
• Develop strategic planning priorities, operational plans, and financial plans
• Establish policies and procedures for CCSR operations within the context of the university

• Ph.D. or Ed.D. in a social science discipline or education
• Management and leadership experience in education research and evaluation settings
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Proficiency in data analysis, statistics, and display methods
• Expertise in applied research and educational research and evaluation
• Strong reputation in urban school research
• Ability to develop strong relationships with CPS quickly
• Proven authorship/publishing experience
• Excellent presentation skills - ability to translate and communicate technical information to varied audiences
• Supervisory experience required - minimum of five years required

This position offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  We welcome applications from established scholars, senior researchers and policy experts, and exemplary practitioners. To apply for this position visit academiccareers.uchicago.edu, create a profile, and apply for posting number 00003.

For additional information about the Consortium on Chicago School Research visit the "Research and Publications" section of our website to review research reports and learn more about the CCSR model as detailed in the recent report, The Consortium on Chicago School Research: A New Model for the Role of Research in Supporting Urban School Reform; Roderick, Easton, and Sebring; February 2009.  Interested parties can also access additional information about the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago by visiting uei.uchicago.edu