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Job Posting Forum
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Rescue Social Change Group (Rescue SCG) is searching for an experienced Research Director to lead Rescue SCG’s research department. Qualified candidates are well-versed in quantitative and qualitative research methods for both field- and online-based data collection. In addition, this individual must understand statistical methods with experience in planning and implementing statistically valid procedures and analysis for internal research projects. This individual must also have leadership and project management experience to oversee overlapping research projects and a growing team of researchers. Finally, this individual must be familiar with social psychology and behavior change theories as they relate to public health to integrate into research projects. Typically utilized theories in Rescue SCG’s logic models include but are not limited to Social Identity Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and Diffusion of Innovations Theory.
The Research Director would have two overarching responsibilities: 1) the successful management of Rescue SCG’s market research projects for clients; and 2) the progression of Rescue SCG’s science base for its proprietary behavior change models, including investigating and modifying internal behavior change logic models. Fortunately, there is significant overlap between these two responsibilities because Rescue SCG’s market research practice is limited to clients seeking behavior change with a focus on health behaviors (i.e.: tobacco use, violence, obesity, etc.), often providing the opportunity for this individual to further internal research priorities through market research projects. To achieve the first responsibility, this person must have strong skills in client management, project planning, budgeting, team management, data analysis, and reporting. For the second responsibility, this person must have a strong understanding of current public health theories and research, ability to write for and successfully publish in peer-reviewed journals, and ability to understand how each client research project can contribute to Rescue SCG’s ongoing research questions and priorities.
Rescue SCG’s internal research priorities mostly focus on teens and young adults (13 – 26) and include:
-Understanding the role of subculture affiliation (also called peer crowd affiliation) and identity in the performance of unhealthy behaviors;
-Developing tools to consistently measure a person’s subcultural and/or peer crowd affiliations;
-Measuring risk of unhealthy behaviors using lifestyle and cultural variables;
-Developing strategies to reduce the perceived social benefits of an unhealthy behavior within specific subcultures and/or peer crowds;
-Understanding the role of “fitting in” within a specific subculture and its association with performance of risk behaviors;
-Predicting the effectiveness of different health messages to reduce unhealthy behaviors;
-Evaluating impact and efficacy of Rescue SCG’s proprietary behavior change models, such as Social Branding®.
In addition to designing and leading research studies for both internal and client objectives, this individual will be responsible for occasional grant writing to fund internal research priorities. While funding for this position is provided through the company and its existing client base, the ability to expand internal studies will depend, in part, on the Research Director’s ability to acquire research grants. Experience in grant writing is preferred.
The Research Director is a new position at Rescue SCG and provides an opportunity for a leader to shape an expanding research department. While a small research team currently exists, this individual will be a critical part of the team expansion by helping recruit additional research team members in response to newly awarded contracts. The position can be based in either San Diego or Washington DC, as offices exist in both locations.
Company Description
Rescue Social Change Group (Rescue SCG) is a for-profit social change agency with a mission to improve people’s lives through cost effective and evidence-based behavior change programs. Clients include local, state and national government organizations as well as not-for-profits, schools, universities, and foundations addressing issues such as tobacco, violence, underage drinking, and after school programs. Rescue SCG provides services in marketing, research, and strategic planning to execute social change efforts nationwide. Rescue SCG has been named one of San Diego’s 100 fastest growing companies for four years in a row and expects this to be its fifth year. Rescue SCG is based in San Diego, with offices in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and Washington, DC. Rescue SCG’s efforts are focused on youth and young adult populations to cause behavior change and/or policy change. The Rescue SCG team is youthful and energized, challenging industry standards to develop effective and sustainable solutions for public health issues.
In terms of Rescue SCG’s research, the company engages in research projects that closely align with its own internal research questions. Rescue SCG is not a traditional “research for hire” market research company, usually passing on projects that do not align with our internal priorities and/or practices. This creates a hybrid environment that combines select research-for-hire projects with internal research projects, an approach more similar to a university than a private company. The result is an exciting opportunity to lead research projects with compounded results from past studies to advance public health sciences and achieve Rescue SCG’s mission.
Position Description
The Research Director’s responsibilities would include, but are not limited, to the following:
1. Plan and lead major research projects, both for clients and for internal purposes;
2. Lead a growing research team which include duties such as supervision, management, hiring, training, evaluating and mentoring;
3. Apply best practices of experimental design to plan research studies;
4. Apply social and behavioral theories, as well as Rescue SCG’s theories in the design of research studies;
5. Lead onsite data collection when applicable;
6. Work with non-traditional research partners such as bars and nightclubs for data collection;
7. Work with traditional partners such as universities and schools for data collection;
8. Develop online studies including participant recruitment strategies;
9. Train and support data collection staff when applicable;
10. Develop data collection protocols;
11. Manage research projects throughout all stages of the research process (design questionnaire, monitor fielding, run analyses, develop final report, present to client);
12. Manage research projects throughout all stages of the research process (design facilitator guides, coding protocol, collecting and analyzing qualitative data);
13. Manage IRB approval processes;
14. Further Rescue SCG’s various theories of behavior change by identifying patterns across research projects;
15. Analyze data and write reports for clients;
16. Manage client relationships for research projects to ensure overall client satisfaction;
17. Manage project contractors, such as data collectors, statisticians, and/or technology partners;
18. Identify, establish, and maintain partnerships and collaborations with academic research partners on mutually beneficial research projects;
19. Write abstracts and present findings at relevant conferences;
20. Write papers for peer-reviewed journals and publish 2 to 3 articles per year;
21. Write grants to fund Rescue SCG’s internal research priorities;
22. Stay up-to-date on research trends and be active in the research community at large to ensure that Rescue SCG’s quantitative practices remain innovative, unique, and of top quality.
Candidate Requirements
Work Experience: 5 years of professional or post-graduate academic experience in developing, leading, and conducting social science research studies
Education Level: A Ph.D. in public health, psychology, sociology or related social science
Minimum Age: Must be at least 21 years old
Environment: Must have valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, computer and Internet access, must be available to work non-traditional hours such as late nights and weekends, must be a non-smoker, and must be able to lift 30 lbs. Travel within the U.S. 1 – 2 times per month on average with significant variability based on current research projects.
Required Skills:
Well-versed and experienced in designing and conducting a broad array of quantitative and qualitative market research approaches such as positioning/messaging studies, segmentation studies, behavioral studies and creative testing;
Strong analytic skills with proven ability to contribute to methodology improvements;
Strong experience with SPSS or a similar software package;
Able to operate independently and run projects from inception to final report;
Ability to express research findings in a graphical format;
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively in teams;
Strong verbal and written communication skills;
Demonstrated professionalism with people throughout all organizational levels;
Demonstrated leadership and management experience;
Strong organizational skills to oversee numerous projects at once;
Knowledge and familiarity with prevailing social and behavioral theories in public health;
Ability to excel in high-stress, fast-paced environments;
Highly attentive to detail / perfectionist with ability to quickly identify and solve problems;
Ability to see the big picture while keeping track of details;
Basic understanding of youth and young adult cultures in U.S.;
Strong verbal communications skills;
Numerous published publications as a primary author.
Desired Skills:
Experience directly in public health, marketing and/or youth research;
Successful grant writing experience.
Training: A comprehensive training would be provided to the selected candidate reviewing all internal theories, procedures and past studies. The training is conducted at RSCG’s San Diego office and paid for by RSCG.
Location: San Diego, CA or Washington, DC based on candidate’s preference
Salary/Status: Salary Based on Salary History, Experience and Education Level - Full Time, Exempt Position / Salary Range Possible - $85,000 – $130,000
Benefits: Eligible to participate in Performance-Based Bonuses and company benefit plans
Target Start Date: ASAP
Apply Online
All applications must be submitted through RSCG’s online careers system at RescueSCG.com/careers. We will not accept applications via email, mail, fax or in-person delivery. No calls please. Send questions to careers@rescuescg.com.
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