Equity First Post-Doctoral Fellow

Chapin Hall is seeking an Equity First Post-doctoral Fellow who will work collaboratively with Chapin Hall staff in a 2-3 year post-doctoral position. The Fellowship is one of a series of Chapin Hall commitments to promoting and prioritizing racial equity in our work with government, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations. Chapin Hall is committed to addressing challenges faced by children, youth and families and recognizes that racially biased laws, policies, and practices in public systems have resulted in inequitable treatment among Black, Latino/a, and Native American families. We especially encourage Black, Latino/a, and Native American applicants. Please see our Racial Equity Principles and Equity First Summer Associates Program for more.

Chapin Hall’s Equity First Post-Doctoral program is designed for recent doctoral graduates in social work, public policy, psychology, statistics, public health, sociology and other related fields. The Fellow will work alongside Chapin Hall research and policy experts to conduct research, analyze data, and examine and propose equity-centered policy, practice, and program solutions – all with an aim to better serve families and young people.  This is an ideal opportunity for an individual seeking a post-doctoral opportunity in applied research (outside of traditional academic settings). Applicants should bring strong quantitative and/or qualitative research competencies, interest in human services including child welfare and interest in conducting racial-equity centered research, in working with multidisciplinary teams, and a desire to make real-world change.

The Fellowship offers mentorship and professional development opportunities, as well as opportunities to contribute to Chapin Hall’s broad array of partnerships with public agencies in states, counties, and municipalities. In addition to research, Fellows will also pursue grant and business development opportunities, lead or co-author publications, and translate and disseminate the work to a range of audiences. Upon completion of the Fellowship, the individual will be prepared to continue to pursue an applied research career in a non-profit policy research organization, or local, state, and federal government agencies.

Chapin Hall embraces a “Work from Anywhere” approach which offers flexible remote work from anywhere in the United States. Chapin Hall also offers in-person opportunities for staff to build: 1) connections, 2) team cohesion and creativity, and 3) a sense of belonging to the organization. All staff are expected to travel to and engage in a minimum of two annual 2-day “All Hall Convenings” featuring shared learning, teamwork, and fellowship. Reasonable accommodations are made for those who require modifications.

The successful applicant is expected to work normal business hours and must have flexibility in their work schedule to accommodate business demands.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participating in existing research projects at Chapin Hall by integrating racial equity principles, best practices, and research methods into the work.
• Under mentorship, developing an independent research agenda and portfolio centered around racial equity.
• Working with colleagues and partners to design formative, experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations. These include impact, implementation, and mixed-methods evaluations of complex social and economic interventions, especially related to preventing child welfare involvement.
• Collecting, analyzing, and integrating qualitative and/or quantitative data, e.g., through surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory action methods (the researcher’s methodological focus will depend to some extent on their skillset, but we encourage and support enough proficiency and professional development across methods to work effectively as part of the team).
• Facilitating community-engaged research in intervention development and evaluation; mentoring and supporting young adult researchers with lived expertise.
• Developing research and Institutional Review Board protocols.
• Contributing to the development of research funding proposals, publications, and conference presentations.
• Performing project management tasks, peer reviews, and an array of collegial support.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• A doctoral degree in social work, public policy, psychology, public health, sociology or another relevant field.
• Knowledge relevant to the implementation of child welfare processes, practices, and policymaking that improves outcomes for children, youth, and families.
• Experience conducting analyses of quantitative or qualitative data in human services research projects or related fields.
• Knowledge of statistical packages such as R, Stata, or SAS, and/or qualitative software such as ATLAS.ti, or NVIVO, or other data analytic software is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively manage key partner relationships required.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to translate and convey complex concepts and study findings in oral and written communications required.
• Project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent tasks required.
• Problem-solving and analytic skills required.
• Experience with community engagement and participatory action research approaches preferred.
• Demonstrated capacity for working in a collaborative research environment on multidisciplinary teams required.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative required.
• Demonstrated judgment and discretion in the handling of sensitive information required.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to operate a computer extensively for four (4) or more hours per day.
• Must be able to travel locally and out of state occasionally.
   
   

Pre-employment background checks are required for all Chapin Hall positions. Formal expressions of interest are accepted online only. A cover letter, resume, writing sample, and reference contact information are required to be considered for this position. Individuals in need of reasonable accommodations to complete the application process should contact Human Resources by calling (773) 256-5157, or by sending an email to recruiting@chapinhall.org.

Chapin Hall is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that values and actively seeks diversity in its workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, status as an individual with disability,  ancestry, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Per U.S. Department of Labor regulations, Chapin Hall offers visa sponsorship in limited instances for hard-to-fill specialty occupation roles. If you have questions about visa sponsorship at Chapin Hall, please reach out to humanresources@chapinhall.org

Regarding the salary range

Chapin Hall adheres to a competitive market-aligned salary structure for all its administrative, policy, and research roles. Starting salaries within posted ranges are determined by the Chapin Hall Human Resources Department using a consistent, rigorous, and equitable review process.

Benefits
 Chapin Hall provides a strong benefits program that addresses the diverse needs of our staff. The Chapin Hall Benefits Program offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options that allow you to design your own plan, to balance individual needs with affordability and support long-term financial stability for staff and their family. Our benefits include comprehensive health plans, paid time off, sick time, parental leave and retirement options. For more information on our benefits please visit our Chapin Hall Website.