Research and Data Associate, Family Court Programs

The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms around the world. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities. Nationally and internationally, the Center performs original research and provides consulting services to justice innovators.

The Strong Starts Court Initiative is a special infant-focused court model with an emphasis on supporting Family Court-involved families with children under the age of three. Strong Starts aims to increase communication and collaboration between all parties and create family-need-specific service plans that promote success and well-being, while keeping the infant’s needs, and voice, at the center of planning.  Strong Starts has expanded to all five New York City boroughs and Westchester County. For more information about Strong Starts, please visit www.courtinnovation.org/programs/strong-starts-court-initiative.

The Center’s Data Analytics and Applied Research Team is seeking a Research and Data Associate for Strong Starts and possibly other Family Court-based programs. This position offers an opportunity to conduct on-the-ground research and data analysis on innovative court projects and, more generally, to manage program outcomes and policy implications through data tracking and analysis. The successful candidates must bring a real interest in this work and have a strong preexisting skill set in using SPSS or other statistical software, along with a basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodology.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Query, download, code, clean, merge, and analyze data from program database;
• Produce regular statistical reports and analysis (e.g., regarding program volume, service linkages, or outcome metrics) for program staff, funders, government officials, court stakeholders, and others;
• Respond to ad hoc data and information requests from internal and external stakeholders;
• Assist with the creation of and amendments to data tracking and reporting tools with operations staff and the technology department;
• Develop data collection protocols and training materials and hold data entry trainings for program staff at various operating sites; promote universal and standardized data collection;
• Design and conduct research and evaluation projects involving both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in collaboration with senior research and program staff;
• Monitor national data reports on infants and toddlers in the child welfare system for national standards and benchmarks;
• Support efforts to disseminate information to funders, child welfare system officials, government, and elected officials on the impact of specialized, local infant-toddler courts;
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have a Master's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree plus one to two years of relevant research and data experience, preferably as a child welfare researcher or data analyst. Familiarity with relational databases is preferred. Experience using statistical software syntax is required (SPSS, SAS, Stata, R; Python). Database management experience preferred; familiarity with Salesforce platform and experience querying/exporting data are plusses. Experience with data visualization is a plus. Experience using basic quantitative and qualitative methods is required. Candidate must be a skilled communicator (written and oral) and able to interact effectively and maintain relationships with members of the judiciary, court staff, community-based organizations, child welfare stakeholders or criminal justice personnel, and members of the public. Knowledge of and strong interest in child welfare is a must. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of issues related to child abuse/neglect, infant mental health, and/or systems that interface with court-involved families. The successful candidate must also bring a passion for improving the justice system.

Position Location: Based in Midtown, NYC, with travel as needed to program sites throughout New York City and Westchester.

Compensation: Salary range starts at $61,560 and is commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package including comprehensive health, dental and life insurance, four weeks paid vacation, paid sick time, WageWorks, Flexible Spending Account plans for health and dependent care, a 403(b) retirement plan and a 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match.

The Fund for the City of New York/Center for Court Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.

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