Job Title: Senior Director for Research, Evaluation, and Performance, Justice and Health

Reports To: Vice President of Strategy and Programs

Position Summary: The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (Meadows Institute) seeks a collaborative and strategic professional to serve as Senior Director of Research, Evaluation, and Performance (Senior Director) for the Center for Justice and Health (Center). The Senior Director will support the work of the Center by engaging in targeted research, data analysis, and designing vital research strategies to advance polices shifts at the intersection of justice and health systems. The Senior Director is expected to work collaboratively with staff, contractors, partner agencies, and stakeholders while remaining aligned with the mission and strategy of the organization. This role is a remote position. This position may not be filled or performed in Colorado at this time. Travel (up to 25%) may be required. Some duties may require access to reliable personal transportation.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical and management direction on designing and implementing a diverse portfolio of complex evaluation, research, and data collection projects
• Serve as an expert in justice research, evaluation, and performance measurement, including wide-ranging topics such as structural inequities and disproportionate impact, capacity building, person-centered research, population and/or behavioral health, criminal and civil legal systems, public safety, juvenile justice, courts and sentencing, and jails corrections.
• Assist in designing the Center’s annual research agenda, methodologies, and action plan to include studies to deflect individuals with mental health issues from incarceration.
• Disseminate and translate research findings and support evidence-based/informed practices for practitioner and policy audiences.
• Expand relationships with stakeholders, government officials, human service agencies, and local and lived experience communities.
• Elevate the Center’s reputation as a trusted research leader by engaging in high-quality quantitative analysis of administrative data sets and policy analysis that demonstrates credibility, including comparative analysis, validity, and reliability.
• Ensure rigor and best practice in a variety of methodological designs and analytical procedures.
• Support the scaling of the Center’s research, development, and implementation initiatives (Innovation Labs) to support the Institute’s growth and development regarding research and evaluation processes, workflows, and documentation of uniform data metrics.
• Represent the Center in various settings and events.
• Track research and policy developments to support strategic response to changes in the field, including rapid response communications, technical assistance, the commissioning of original research, brief and/or policy proposals.
• Research, draft, and edit policy report, analyses, fact sheets, columns, interactive graphics, and other collateral materials on a wide range of topics associated with justice and health.
• Liaise with other staff on project efforts that span across the Meadows Institute.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, social sciences, humanities, evaluation (e.g., social research, research methodologies, measurement, and evaluation) or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience leading research in government, academic institution, non-profit, or similar context.
• Progressive experience conducting and overseeing evaluation, including evaluation design, and implementation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Capacity to think strategically and critically, and respond analytically.
• Decisiveness in asserting professional opinions and extrapolating data on topics that do not yet have deep evidentiary or research histories.
• Flexibility in working with new issues, topics, and approaches.
• Creative problem-solver.
• Cultivation of own line of research and dissemination a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 to 7 years of leadership experience in related role.
• Ph.D. Preferred.
• Experience and/or credentials in using data management systems, for data entry, extraction, and analysis, is of special interest (e.g., Microsoft Excel, SPSS, Nvivo, Tableau, ARCGIS, and other tools).

Eligibility Requirements:

• This position is remote. This position may not be filled or performed in Colorado at this time. Relocation assistance is not available. Successful candidates must show proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

To Apply:

Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

Download Description

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is a data-driven, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports the implementation of policies and programs that help Texans obtain effective, efficient mental health care when and where they need it. The Institute’s vision is for Texas to be the national leader in treating all people with mental health needs.

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and provides full and equal employment opportunities to all employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, age, citizen status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.