22577BR

Achievement & Assessment Inst

Position Overview

Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS) promotes learning and improved outcomes for all students and their educators. Our primary focus is supporting students with disabilities and struggling learners. We create technology-based learning and assessment systems that are accessible and academically rigorous. 

We specialize in map-based learning systems, informed by research on skill development, assessment design, and teacher professional development. Every program and project in our diverse portfolio of operational and grant-funded research strategically aligns with our student- and educator-focused mission. Our work is also supported by multiple strategic partnerships with organizations that share our focus and commitment to quality learning experiences for all students. 

In addition to grant-funded research projects, ATLAS develops and delivers state assessments. Our largest assessment system is the Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) Alternate Assessment System. DLM alternate assessments are designed to assess students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in English language arts, mathematics, and science. We also offer custom social studies alternate assessments. Our broader state assessments include the Kansas Assessment Program and the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment.

As an organization, ATLAS is committed to creating policies and practices that foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment in which all employees feel they belong and can succeed.

ATLAS is seeking a Senior Research Associate to lead and contribute to research, evaluation, dissemination, and proposal development across multiple projects. The Senior Research Associate will lead the design, planning and implementation of research and evaluation projects and will provide methodological expertise for a range of projects across the center. Additional responsibilities will include contributing to proposal development for external funding opportunities, developing technical documentation and disseminating project findings, and other duties as assigned. Critical to the role is the ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively with colleagues, and be responsive to project needs. The successful candidate has a proven ability to independently manage multiple tasks and projects with competing priorities and deadlines and write for diverse audiences.

This is a full time, 40 hours per week position. Our staff is predominantly working remotely at this time but may work on site as needed or desired. We will consider an exclusively remote staff person outside of the Lawrence, KS area for this position.

KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 72 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees educational and professional development opportunities. KU is a great place to work! See benefits.ku.edu for more details.

Job Description

60% - Lead the design, planning, and implementation of research and evaluation projects with diverse purposes and audiences. Conceptualize research studies, develop and manage research and evaluation plans and timelines, and monitor integrity of data collection and use of protocols and procedures. Conduct quantitative and/or qualitative analyses and interpret results.

20% - Collaborate with other staff to develop technical documentation and disseminate project findings. This includes scholarly journal articles, briefs, and other products for a variety of audiences, along with presentations to external groups.

10% - Collaborate with colleagues, both as a lead and as support, to develop proposals for externally funded initiatives aligned with ATLAS priorities. Serve as key personnel on funded projects.

5% - Consult with other ATLAS staff on research and evaluation design, instruments, and data collection and analysis for a range of projects related to ATLAS’ technology-based learning and assessment systems. Provide input on research studies, and review and critique analyses, technical reports, manuscripts, and other materials from other researchers.

5% - Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• This position will require attendance at regularly scheduled meetings, onsite or through telecommunication platforms.
• We will also consider an exclusively remote staff person outside of the Lawrence, KS area for this position.
• A telework position may be required to travel to Lawrence or other locations up to four times per year.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in educational psychology, educational research and evaluation, or other closely related field
• Minimum of 5 years additional postdoc experience designing and conducting educational research and evaluation projects
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and/or qualitative research methodology as demonstrated by application materials (i.e., publication and presentation history) and interview.
• One year of experience in at least one data analysis program (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R)
• Experience writing technical reports, manuscripts, and other dissemination products
• Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines, including adapting in response to changes in work priorities and processes, as evidenced in application
• Experience applying detail-orientation and strong organizational skills, as evidenced by application materials
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, as evidenced in application materials and interview.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year of experience conducting applied research and evaluation on technology-based learning and assessment systems in pK-12 education
• Demonstrated methodological expertise in a specialized area within research design and data analysis (e.g., power analysis, mixed methods)
• Effective oral and written communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences, as evidenced in written application materials and interview
• Strong problem-solving skills as evidenced by application materials and interview
• Experience working on a grant-funded project and/or managing externally funded research or evaluation projects.
• Record of published research on a topic related to student learning and cognition, and/or assessment in pK-12 education
• Knowledge of educational methods for disadvantaged populations, such as students with disabilities

Additional Candidate Instruction

A complete application consists of: 

• Online application
• Cover letter highlighting qualifications and including specific examples of experience 
• Resume or vita 
• Names and contact Information for three (3) professional references 

For candidates who are interviewed, an additional task will be required.

Review of applications begins on 7/20/2022 and continues as needed to collect a pool of qualified applicants. To ensure consideration, apply before the application review date.

Advertised Salary Range

Minimum: $65,000; commensurate with experience

Application Review Begins

20-Jul-2022

Anticipated Start Date

08-Aug-2022

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Employee Class

U-Unclassified Professional Staff

Conditions of Employment

Contingent on Funding

Work Location Assignment

Telework

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).