for Children
Position Description
Senior Research Scientist
Location: Seattle, WA
At Committee for Children, we have the privilege of working each day to help young
people become the architects of a better tomorrow. Since 1979, we’ve grown from
our grassroots beginnings into a global nonprofit. We serve diverse communities
by advocating for policies to enhance, gathering research to support, and
developing educational programs to advance the safety and well-being of
children through social-emotional learning (SEL). We’re best known for our
innovative approach to school-based SEL: our Second Step® family of programs
blend research and rigor with intuitive design to help young people build
strengths that will help them realize their goals throughout life.
To achieve our vision of safe children thriving in a just and peaceful world,
we’re committed to helping build an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive
society that supports the positive development of every child. We’ve set a
North Star goal to positively transform the social-emotional well-being of 100
million children annually by 2028, and in pursuit of that goal, we’re looking
for a Senior Research Scientist to join our team.
As the Senior Research Scientist, you will provide research expertise for product
development projects. This person will use their expertise in SEL, education,
and intervention to inform product development, carry out field tests and
research studies on products, take on organization-level commitments and
research responsibilities, and contribute to internal and external thought
leadership. The successful candidate will apply a diversity, equity, and
inclusion lens to all aspects of their work.
Primary Responsibilities
Provide research expertise for product development projects:
Provide framework for literature and guidance as needed to junior team members who
conduct literature reviews. Where possible, ensure literature reviews include
studies with culturally and ethnically diverse samples, the effects for
subgroups on study findings, and/or are conducted by a culturally and
ethnically diverse group of scholars
Translate current research into school-based prevention programs with a focus on
equitable practices that benefit all students
Develop Theories of Change for products that include demographic subgroups, cultural
relevance, and classroom climate and culture as mediators and moderators
Use the Theory of Change to inform an intervention scope and sequence that includes
culturally relevant approaches and considers equity issues
Assist product teams to incorporate research appropriately into programs
Write reports of research for stakeholders (with guidance) that include discussion of
subgroup effects (or where there was inadequate data to detect subgroup
effects) and any potential sources of bias in the assessments used
Plan, design, implement, and manage scientifically rigorous
applied research and evaluation studies of our SEL and organizational products:
Actively work to recruit diverse samples
Conduct observations, surveys, interviews, and focus groups to iteratively test
prototypes of products during the product development phase so as to provide
feedback and guidance for revisions
Collect feedback from leaders, teachers, students, and user data from the platform
after products are released to inform continuous improvement of lesson content
and implementation supports
Create instruments that are unbiased and follow data collection procedures that are
inclusive
Qualifications
Doctorate in education, social work, sociology, psychology, public health, or a
related social science discipline
At least 3 years of experience in applied research or program evaluation
Experience translating research into interventions or programs
Experience applying a cultural and equity lens to past projects or research
Experience working within cross-functional teams and contributing to
collaborative and diverse research teams
Expert knowledge of SEL intervention research, education research,
teacher training, or implementation science
A publication record with at least 3 publications and including one first-author
publication, preferably in prevention or intervention
Experience developing collaborative external relationships and
partnerships
Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite
Experience using analytical software programs such as
SPSS, NVivo, or Dedoose
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong technical writing and communication skills
Experience working on and contributing to diverse, collaborative teams
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to get along with others
Strong time-management and organizational skills, including thinking logically, following
directions, and meeting deadlines on multiple projects
Ability to maintain detailed, accurate records
Enthusiasm for learning new skills and accepting challenges
Ability to develop expertise in new areas quickly
Organization-Wide Commitments
The ideal candidate must be committed to embodying our mission, vision, and values
of Excellence, Integrity, Equity, Innovation, Transformative Impact, and
Authentic Relationships. They must also demonstrate a commitment to supporting
a culture of belonging by actively participating in organization-wide learning
and development focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion and by rooting
their work in equity and inclusion.
What We Offer
This role will offer some amazing opportunities to add value, contribute, and make a
difference while enjoying new challenges, a collaborative and diverse team, and
professional development opportunities. Committee for Children offers competitive
benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and retirement with generous
employer match. We also offer commuting, wellness, and staff-development
benefits. Located in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, our headquarters offer a
modern workspace with views of Puget Sound and the Space Needle. All employees
are currently working 100% remote until mid-September 2021. For most roles,
teleworking options are available to work from home up to 3 days per week.
For more than 40 years, Committee for Children has been helping children learn,
grow, and thrive by teaching them how to understand emotions, build meaningful
relationships, and resolve conflicts. We believe that if you make a positive
impact on enough children through social-emotional learning, then the ripples
will help a family, a school, a community, and ultimately, the world. We
believe that successfully ensuring the safety and well-being of all children
will require the involvement of our greatest thinkers. That’s why we bring
together diverse opinions and viewpoints—from educators, philanthropists,
community activists, scientists and researchers, private-sector executives, and
behavioral specialists. Come join the effort. And let’s grow kinder together.
Committee for Children is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to
cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are
welcomed and respected. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, without
regard to race, color, age, disability, gender identity, marital status,
national origin, genetics, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation,
veteran status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
How to Apply
Committee for Children has retained the services of Insight Executive Search to assist
with recruitment for this position. For additional information,
please contact:
Aaron Schmidt, President
Insight Executive Search