Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work welcomes
applications for an Assistant Professor of Research position with
the Evaluation Lab, where community-engaged research, collaborative
partnerships, and meaningful social impact come together.
Position Overview
The Evaluation Lab at the School of Social Work (SSW) at Virginia
Commonwealth University (VCU) provides research and evaluation
services to SSW field agencies and community partners as well as
nonprofit organizations, government agencies and a variety of other
organizations. Our mission is to give back to our partners and work
collaboratively to address their needs; we offer our research
expertise while depending on knowledge, guidance and feedback from
our partners throughout the research process. Our services include
program evaluation, survey development and administration, grant
writing, data analysis, research dissemination, and more. The
Evaluation Lab is staffed with social work faculty and staff across
a range of expertise and alongside graduate and undergraduate
research assistants. For more information visit our website at
https://socialwork.vcu.edu/uncommon-strengths/evaluation-lab/
.
Founded in 1917, the VCU School of Social Work is a
long-established leader in social work education and research. With
BSW, MSW, and PhD programs, and both online and on-campus learning
modalities, we are one of the largest accredited, comprehensive
social work programs in the U.S. A preeminent urban public
university and health sciences center, VCU is one of only 28
Carnegie-designated Research Intensive (R1)
and Community
Engaged public universities nationwide. VCU is located in the
capital city of Richmond, recently ranked among the top 25 places
to live in the U.S. Our proximity to the state capital facilitates
collaboration with state and federal agencies and related
organizations. Faculty maintain dynamic relationships with
community agencies and research groups in the area and throughout
the U.S. and the world. To learn more about the School of Social
Work, please visit
https://socialwork.vcu.edu/
.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the Assistant Professor of Research
include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate closely with the Evaluation Lab on program
planning, budgeting, research activities, and evaluation
initiatives.
Plan, coordinate, and facilitate Evaluation Lab meetings,
activities, and project deliverables.
Assist with the day-to-day coordination of graduate and
undergraduate field placements and research training programs.
Contribute to the development and implementation of research
training curricula.
Coordinate and oversee student recruitment, selection,
placement, and training activities.
Ensure the timely completion of required regulatory
documentation and compliance processes.
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research and
evaluation activities, with an emphasis on community-engaged
research, knowledge translation, and science communication.
Pursue and contribute to scholarly activities, including
publications, grant development, and teaching opportunities.
Support and contribute to Evaluation Lab projects and
initiatives as assigned by the Dean.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
- Doctorate in social work, psychology, behavioral sciences, or a
related field.
- Experience with policy-related research, providing training and
technical assistance to local and state organizations (e.g.,
development of training modules), and program evaluation, including
conducting critical literature reviews, synthesizing
community-level demographic and socioeconomic information, and
developing policy recommendations.
- Experience working with foundations and engaging and
collaborating with community stakeholders.
- Experience mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate
levels and developing research-focused training plans and
curricula.
- Proficiency in computer applications, including statistical,
data management, and word processing software (e.g., Google
Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, REDCap, SPSS, or R).
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent time management, organizational, and project
management skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a
team.
- Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of
respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty,
staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a
commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications
- MSW with clinical and/or community practice experience.
- Knowledge of, and/or established relationships with, local and
state community agencies.
- Experience working in a fast-paced research environment.
- Familiarity with behavioral health research and
community-engaged research.
- Experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate
students, including managing evaluation- or research-focused
student field placements.
- Experience using administrative and research-related software
applications, such as Collegiate Travel Planners, Chrome River,
xTrain, and Articulate/Rise 360.
- Experience coordinating student travel and related
logistics.
Benefits : All full-time university staff are eligible for
VCU’s robust
benefits
package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual
and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning
and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,
employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities
for career development and advancement, and more.
Position Details
Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Rank: Assistant Professor
Tenure: Ineligible
Months: 12
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Amy
Adkins
Contact Email: adkinsae@vcu.edu