Overview
Join our team of energetic, dedicated and civic-minded/public service-focused Research Associates!
The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) is seeking two talented public policy and public management professionals to fill a key position for the strategic management and policy team at CGS. Our associates design research frameworks, conduct research and analyses, facilitate meetings, deliver training, administer projects, and serve as a collegial analyst for a range of governmental client projects. Associates write and communicate the results of their project research and initiatives for CGS clients that include units of local, state and federal governments, policy and administrative professionals, and, academic and civic audiences.
The Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University is a public service and applied research organization. Its mission is to be a leader in providing services that advances the capacity of governments and public decision-makers at all levels. The Center’s work also contributes to the economic well-being of the State of Illinois and the development of effective and efficient policies to manage and evaluate government programs and services.
Position Summary
The range of professional activities is broad, depending on the needs of specific projects. The majority of projects will be focused on state and local organizational analyses, strategic planning, community development, public policies, social and demographic data analysis, and similar policy and public administration technical assistance projects. Associates work in teams with the guidance of senior staff to frame and conduct research, perform analysis, and undertake authorship of reports and presentations via quantitative and qualitative analysis. Projects frequently include field work, field research, group presentations and facilitation of meetings that include opportunities for travel and external work at times that are required to accommodate government official schedules.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Conducts research independently in a specialized skill set/knowledge base area.
- Conducts research by preparing literature reviews, assisting with the collection, entering and cleaning of data and descriptive results.
- Coordinates the ordering, inventory, and maintenance of equipment, instruments and data collection and analysis tools; and other materials needed for related activities.
- Participates on research teams.
- Develops a network of contacts within content area for possible promotion to O&E Research Specialist.
- Independently performs surveys, interviews or uses other methods according to established research and partnership expectations.
- Determines research activities and literature review based on specialized skill set/knowledge base.
- Researches available software/datasets that will address research criteria; coordinates the acquisition of the software/datasets; masters the use of them for research purposes.
- Performs data analysis and documents results.
- May assist with study protocol development.
- Applies established methods to recurring types of problems.
- Maintains detailed records of results.
- Summarizes research, testing, results in written reports.
- Prepares data for papers, grants and other documents
- Completes required documentation for regulatory agencies
- Prepares data, analysis, lit reviews and other materials; prepares drafts of research proposals for submission to external funders.
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
N/A
Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
N/A
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
N/A
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)
- BA/BS in social/behaviorial science or related field
- Five years of related experience
- Applied knowledge of functional concepts, practices and procedures
- Demonstrated skill set/knowledge of specialized subject matter
Additional Requirements (SPS)
N/A
Preferred Qualifications (SPS)
- Master’s in social/behaviorial science or related field preferred
