Senior Researcher (6610U) #76263

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

The Possibility Lab at the University of California, Berkeley is a team of policy researchers and practitioners who partner with government and community to design, pilot, and scale data-driven innovations for the public good. We're a mix of faculty, full-time staff, and students who value integrity, rigor, curiosity, and communication. Together, we celebrate our wins, learn from our missteps, and help each other, and our partners, find solutions. Through our work, we are prototyping ideas with impact that can move us towards an equitable, sustainable future.

At the Possibility Lab, we believe that communities need to have a voice in the policies that affect them. We are part of a national movement to mobilize rigorous community-engaged, data-driven innovation for the public good. By facilitating on-going partnerships between public sector changemakers and academic research teams, we're able to undertake big questions that cut across traditional boundaries.

Projects cover a range of topics, including housing and public health policy, with a focus on data-driven public policy that is co-designed in collaboration with government and community partners. Visit https://possibilitylab.berkeley.edu/ for more information.

The Possibility Lab seeks an experienced Senior Researcher to lead the California Inclusive Engagement (CalEngage) initiative. The position will provide leadership and vision for the initiative, as well as manage projects and research design for partnerships with high-level state partners. The day-to-day responsibilities of the position include designing and executing complex research projects, managing high-level partnerships and stakeholder engagement, coordinating timelines and deliverables, and supervising research staff and student researchers. This work involves overseeing all stages of collaborative and applied research, and project management.

The First Review Date for this job is February 27, 2025

• Provides thought-leadership and technical guidance to research and facilitation team to design, implement and evaluate instruments, tools and training. Designs, coordinates and conducts research studies of broad complexity and impact.
• Manages high-level external partner relationships. Provides project management of assigns projects. Gathers, compiles and interprets community-engaged research data. Contributes to formulation and prioritization of interventions based on data. Provides consultation, mentorship and technical guidance on this work.
• Drafts, edits and finalizes reports, policy briefs and articles with both academic framing and practical implications of research findings. Develops presentations of research findings. Make presentations of research findings.
• Provides team leadership in evaluating and refining investigation methods. Leads investigations / studies for local or external constituents. Evaluates investigation methods and makes improvements as necessary.
• Designs research conducted as field experiments. Designs studies and data collection tools in partnership with government and non-government partners. Provides expert guidance on the research design most appropriate for project/program. Works collaboratively with government and non-government partners.
• Provides technical assistance on data management and use of research data to analyze and interpret findings. Manages data to ensure replicability of research findings. May document or develop procedures to institutionalize best practices in data management, data analysis and findings.
• Maintains professional expertise and conducts training on scientific research methods. Initiates internal trainings and mentorship of expertise in research methods. Makes presentations and attends conferences and events to collaborate with peers.
• May lead other research staff. Helps train, guide and mentor project team members. Promotes team building and cohesion. Provides constructive feedback to team members.

• Advanced ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing.
• Advanced project management and organizational skills. Ability to lead and influence within and external to project team.
• Advanced research skills at a level to evaluate alternate solutions and develop recommendations.
• Advanced ability to think creatively to recommend action steps or strategize solutions relative to research.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Experience working with or in California state government.
• Significant experience in community engagement, group facilitation, and community- engaged research data collection.
• Significant experience with diverse civic technology, tools, and platforms.
• In-depth knowledge of community-engaged research gained from experience in designing and implementing community-engaged research experiments.
• Masters's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

This is a 1-year, full-time contract position. Extension is possible with continued funding. This position is eligible for up to 50% remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.

This position is eligible for full UC benefits. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $109,200 - $131,000, annually.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative Action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.