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Social Development Research Group Endowed Director

Employer
University of Washington
Location
Washington, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Date posted
Apr 7, 2021

The University of Washington School of Social Work seeks a distinguished prevention scientist to fill the position of Social Development Research Group Endowed Director. This is a full-time faculty position in the School of Social Work at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, depending on qualifications. Candidates must be eligible for tenure at the School of Social Work, University of Washington.

The Social Development Research Group (SDRG) is a national and international leader in prevention science and one of several vibrant research centers within the School of Social Work. Its mission is to understand and promote healthy behaviors and positive social development among diverse populations using prevention science principles and knowledge gained through rigorous research. SDRG couples scientific rigor and strength with an emphasis on real-world intervention. The position of Director offers a unique opportunity for an accomplished senior scholar to provide strong management and leadership in the continued development of SDRG. The successful candidate will help to guide and grow SDRG’s innovative research collaborations, dissemination of science and programs, and technical assistance for its evidenced-based programs in communities, as well as continue SDRG’s leadership in advanced technologies for conducting high-quality social science research. The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader with the ability to build partnerships with multiple constituencies and funders, and to advance UWSSW and SDRG as national and international centers of excellence and innovation in social work and prevention science.

The successful candidate will also bring depth to the School’s teaching mission, including a commitment to social justice and ability to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The School is committed to promoting social and economic justice for poor and oppressed populations and enhancing the quality of life for all. This social justice mission leads us to invest in recruiting colleagues who, in their practice, scholarship, and research, demonstrate experience with, knowledge of, and sensitivity to the needs of culturally diverse populations. Applicants should have the skills to engage our diverse student body and a broad range of community partners.

Qualifications: Candidates must have an earned doctorate in social work or an affiliated social, behavioral, or health science discipline. The successful candidate will merit appointment at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor at the School of Social Work. An MSW is preferred but not required.

Salary for this nine-month position is competitive. Inquiries can be directed to the Co-Chairs of the Search Committee, David Takeuchi (dt5@uw.edu) and Jennifer Bailey (jabailey@uw.edu). Please send a letter of application outlining research, teaching, and practice areas, grant experience, a curriculum vitae, the names of five references, copies of teaching evaluations, and samples of scholarly work (up to three) to: Don Berg, Human Resources Manager (bergd@uw.edu).

Application deadline is April 16, 2021 or until the position is filled.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. The School of Social Work is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

About The Social Development Research Group

SDRG is a nationally and internationally recognized, interdisciplinary team of 35-50 staff, including 10-15 Ph.D. researchers. For over 40 years, SDRG has investigated and endeavored to promote healthy behaviors and positive social development in children, youth, and adults. In a typical year, SDRG operates under 15-20 grants and contracts, with annual awards totaling $5-8 million. A recognized leader in the field of prevention research, SDRG conducts research on factors that influence development; develops and tests the effectiveness of interventions; studies service systems and seeks to improve them; advocates for science-based solutions to health and behavior problems; promotes innovative and evidence-based practices; and disseminates knowledge, tools, and expertise produced by its research. We actively partner with community, school, and human service organizations to implement evidence-based interventions that improve health and well-being among those served.

SDRG is organized into four core areas: (1) Science and Research, (2) Dissemination and Implementation, (3) the Survey Research Division, which provides high-quality data collection services to SDRG researchers and many others, and (4) Administration, which provides critical support to the entire organization. SDRG’s Dissemination and Implementation core houses the UW Center for Communities that Care, which provides training and technical assistance to communities and other organizational partners in the implementation of preventive interventions. This core also functions as the Prevention Technology Transfer Center for the Northwest Region of the United States, providing workforce training for substance use prevention to professionals in four states.

 

In addition to active involvement in the School of Social Work as a tenured faculty member, the successful candidate for this position will be expected to:

  •  Promote the work, mission and values of SDRG; bring ideas, vision, and energy to maximize the potential of SDRG members; and keep SDRG on the cutting edge of prevention science and intervention
  •  Serve as a leader in the field of prevention science through knowledge of a range of research topics spanning etiology, intervention, and dissemination
  •  Demonstrate an understanding of how prevention affects health disparities and vulnerable populations; partner with diverse communities and public systems to promote the use of research knowledge and effective preventive interventions; and provide leadership in ongoing efforts to improve race equity in prevention research and intervention
  •  Generate, secure, and manage research funding
  •  Build cross-disciplinary collaborations within the UW and beyond to further prevention science knowledge and impact
  •  Engage schools, families, and communities while recruiting and preparing sites for research participation
  •  Work collaboratively with SDRG members to promote and facilitate teamwork; mentor new and existing scientists, intervention specialists and practitioners, and core leaders; and guide ongoing strategic planning across the four cores
  •  Lead the SDRG executive committee in making decisions important to the organization’s direction and structure
  •  Be the face of the organization, maintaining current and cultivating new relationships with NIH, foundations, the university, and private, public, state, and local partnerships in order to achieve organizational goals
  •  Be a confident, personable, adaptable and responsive leader, with the ability to support and implement organizational core values, foster cohesiveness amongst group members, and make tough decisions while maintaining strong relationships
  •  Demonstrate commitment to testing interventions using appropriate research methods
  •  Lead the organization’s efforts to disseminate evidence-based preventive interventions and provide training and technical assistance for high-quality implementation and practice

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