Research Associate

About the Job

Position Overview

The Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) seeks a part-time (0.75 FTE) Research Professional 6 to lead evaluation projects across a variety of contexts, with a primary focus on education and community settings but also extending to other areas. These projects serve non-profits, schools, higher education institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and faculty initiatives, while supporting the University’s and CAREI’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Evaluator will design and implement evaluations using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches for both short- and long-term projects. Responsibilities include developing proposals and grant applications; creating evaluation plans, logic models, and theories of change; tailoring data collection instruments; and managing individual and team projects from start to finish. This includes analyzing large, complex data sets; producing reports and presentations; coordinating staff and consultants; and maintaining communications, timelines, and budgets. The Evaluator will also collaborate with clients to build evaluation capacity. The Evaluator’s work will require designing and applying a range of evaluation frameworks and approaches—process, implementation, developmental, and outcome-focused—in response to partner needs, with a commitment to rigorous and impartial evaluation.

The ideal candidate will have extensive evaluation expertise and experience in PreK-12, higher education, and community-focused evaluation. Candidates should be detail-oriented, highly organized, and skilled in communication, grant writing, and proposal development. They must be able to work independently, make project-level decisions, and manage multiple simultaneous projects. The position reports to the Associate Director of Effective Practices and Evaluation.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and / or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to an offer. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

Job Responsibilities

Evaluation Implementation and Analysis (45%)

• Organize and Analyze Data : Organize, code, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources—such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations—to meet the evaluation's requirements and identify patterns, themes, and actionable findings.
• Perform Quantitative Data Analysis : Apply core and advanced statistical methods—including descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and regression—to accurately analyze quantitative data. Use statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R) to manage and interpret complex datasets, ensuring valid, reliable, and insightful evaluation results.
• Summarize and Communicate Findings for Diverse Audiences : Summarize detailed literature reviews, evaluation plans, logic models, and findings from qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches through written reports, executive summaries, and oral and visual presentations. Ensure that all communication of results is accurate, clear, and meaningful, and carefully tailored to the varied expertise and needs of diverse client audiences.

Project Management and Coordination (25%)

Proposal Development and Evaluation Design (20%)

Quality Assurance and Capacity Building (10%)

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

About the Department

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range : The salary range for this position is $61,217.26 – $72,750.00. Final salary offers will be based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

Time Appointment Category : 75% Appointment

Position Type :   P&A Staff