"Research Director, Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice"

Job Description Summary

The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice is a national, interdisciplinary, data-driven research and policy hub that builds on Penn's inter-disciplinary excellence to pursue a systems approach to catalyzing long-term structural improvements to the US criminal justice system.

We are seeking a Research Director to develop and manage a rigorous research portfolio on prosecution and the courts, as part of the UPenn-DAO collaboration. This position will be based at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice in Philadelphia, with flexibility for remote work. The Research Director will work closely the Academic and Executive Director, as well as with Dr. Aurelie Ouss.

Job Description

Grant & Team Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the UPenn-DAO collaboration. Manage the overall execution of grants, including timelines, budgets, and reporting / deliverables
• Serve as a primary point of contact for funders, ensuring deliverables are met and communication is clear and proactive
• Support a multidisciplinary team including pre-doctoral fellows, PhD students, data analysts, and project management staff; directly supervise the Penn team project manager
• Develop and maintain systems for managing shared files and workflows across the Penn team
• Facilitate regular team meetings, including summer check-ins, to support collaboration and share learnings across projects
• Lead onboarding and training for new Penn team staff in coordination with the DAO
• Coordinate with institutional partners (DAO, UPenn) and other relevant stakeholders as needed

Research Leadership

• Provide high-level oversight, thought partnership, and guidance to Penn team members as research projects are developed and executed, including problem-solving and facilitating research needs
• Conduct independent research projects with members of the Penn-DAO team and external partners (e.g., professors at Penn or other institutions, Quattrone, etc.)
• Oversee the implementation of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), including initial design development, iteration, and coordination with implementation partners. Work with the implementation specialist / project manager to do this.
• Lead "Research to Action" collaborations with DAO, including overseeing creation of policy briefs and white papers
• Manage data governance, privacy protocols, and compliance with IRB requirements

Partnership Development

• Work with Aurelie to develop and refine the Penn team's partnership strategies and priorities
• Scope new research partnerships and opportunities to expand of our work, including with other District Attorney's offices and policy partners
• Represent the Penn-DAO collaboration in external meetings, conferences, and workshops
• Package and share out learnings from the Penn team's embedded model to support similar collaborations in other jurisdictions

Qualifications

• PhD in criminology, economics, public policy, or a related field
• 3-5 years of experience managing complex research projects, including some experience conducting and overseeing significant policy-relevant research and publications; 5+ years preferred.
• Deep understanding of the criminal justice system and criminal justice policy, in particular around prosecutors and the courts. Philadelphia-specific knowledge and experience is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both academic and practitioner audiences. Ability to translate complex research findings into key takeaways for diverse audiences
• Experience working with or within public sector agencies (especially prosecutor's offices, courts, or other justice system stakeholders). Ability to navigate bureaucratic systems and build trust with government partners
• Track record of research using causal inference methods (e.g., diff-in-diff, instrumental variables)
• Experience developing and implementing RCTs with policy partners. Preference given to RCTs in the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of social service administration in the criminal justice system and experience working with vulnerable populations; for example, social work experience.
• Experience working with large administrative datasets and ensuring data security/compliance
• Strong team management and mentorship skills. Track record of helping junior scholars and students conduct research and be successful in non-research / policy settings.
• Successful track record of using research to drive change

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Law School

Pay Range

$93,500.00 - $150,000.00 Annual Rate