Assistant Director for Community-Engaged Research

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Job Description:

DIVISION: Academic



DEPARTMENT: Center for Social Impact



POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Assistant Director for Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) will join a vibrant team committed to the purpose of higher education to contribute to the public good. The Assistant Director will work closely with the Center for Social Impact Director and Faculty Chair for CEnR to design and facilitate research with community partners (i.e. non-profits, government, schools, etc.) that addresses community-identified needs and to advocate for the importance of CEnR to Fairfield University’s academic mission and to addressing pressing social challenges. CEnR projects will partner the knowledge resources of the University with those of the community to create positive social impact and provide students with opportunities to apply and build research skills. The Assistant Director will be the primary point of contact for community and campus partners, responsible for brainstorming research ideas with community partners and recruiting faculty and students with the technical expertise to contribute. The Assistant Director will provide supervision and research methods training to graduate and undergraduate research fellows, coordinate student-faculty-community partner research teams, lead aspects of research projects, and collaborate with key campus partners, such as the Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab. As an integral member of the Center for Social Impact team, the Assistant Director will work collaboratively to advance the strategic priorities of the Center and integrate work across its three main programs: Community-Engaged Research, Community-Engaged Learning, and Humanitarian Action in support of the Center’s mission to connect community and campus to create high impact academic opportunities that address local, national, and global challenges and develop individuals committed to creating a more just and equitable world.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in social sciences, public policy, educational research, or related field with strong focus on research required.

EXPERIENCE: Three to five years of experience conducting multi-disciplinary, mixed-methods research in education, government, and/or community-based agencies.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL NEEDED:

• Strong research skills and knowledge of qualitative, quantitative, spatial, and/or participatory methods and approaches;
  
  
• Experience with qualitative, quantitative and/or spatial analysis tools such as NVIVO, SPSS, GIS, etc.;
  
  
• Commitment to community-building, social justice, and social change work;
  
  
• Ability to work with diverse populations and to build connections and partnerships across stakeholder groups (community, students, faculty);
  
  
• Willingness to learn new skills and tools;
  
  
• Creative thinker and innovative problem solver;
  
  
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and project teams;
  
  
• Interest in serving as educator and mentor to faculty, student, and community researchers;
  
  
• Working knowledge of and strong commitment to research ethics, including Institutional Review Board processes
  
  
• Highly collaborative and affinity for teamwork;
  
  
• Working knowledge of Census data and state and local databases a plus;
  
  
• Knowledge of local communities (i.e. Greater Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut) a plus
  
  

UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS:

• Community-Engaged Research Graduate Assistants
  
  
• Community-Engaged Research Fellows
  
  

REPORTS TO: Director, Center for Social Impact

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Design and implement multi- and inter-disciplinary research projects with community partners, students, and faculty for the purpose of advancing social impact goals Work with the Director and other University leaders (e.g. University Counsel) to navigate the financial, legal, and risk management aspects of establishing research partnerships Develop and sustain relationships with and across stakeholders including, community partners, faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students Partner with the Office of Research and Grants and other campus partners to advance CEnR across the University Cultivate the interest of faculty, students, and community partners to participate in CEnR Work with academic departments and programs to integrate CEnR into the curriculum (e.g. capstone courses, internships, research methods, etc.) Supervise students in diverse roles including graduate assistants, undergraduate research fellows, and provide mentorship to students engaged through course work Provide research methods training to faculty, students, and community partners Contributes to the strategic priorities of the Center for Social Impact

• participates in departmental/staff and Advisory Board meetings
  
  
• contributes to strategic planning and implementation
  
  
• collaborates with Center team on collaborative projects and initiatives
  
  

Participates in the professional development of the department. This involves:

• Seeking out and participating in professional development directly related to the strategic priorities of the Center for Social Impact, including diversity, equity and inclusion and Jesuit mission and identity
  
  
• promoting efficiency and collegiality throughout the University community
  
  
• serving as a responsible committee representative as requested
  
  
• communicating effectively with supervisor concerning pertinent matters
  
  

Promotes safe and secure working conditions. This involves:

• promoting the proper utilization of equipment, tools, and materials
  
  
• notifying supervisor immediately regarding any unsafe working conditions
  
  

Compensation Range: $62,000-$68,000.

Performs other related duties as dictated by responsibilities or directed by supervisor.

**Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.**

Category:

Academic - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, Veterans, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with a disability.

Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the "My Experience" section where it says to upload a Resume/CV. You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section. You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all documents available before applying. Faculty Positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email the additional documents to the applicable contact in the job description. Staff positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email them to hr@fairfield.edu