Professional Research Assistant

About the University of Colorado - Denver
The University of Colorado Denver is the state's premier public urban research university and equity-serving institution. Globally connected and locally invested, CU Denver partners with future-focused learners and communities to design accessible, relevant, transformative educational experiences for every stage of life and career. Across seven schools and colleges in the heart of downtown Denver, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges through break through innovations and impactful research, and creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. For more information, visit ucdenver.edu.

A professional research assistant (PRA) works in a collaborative role with the principal investigator and contributes substantially to the investigation and analysis of the project. This position is grant funded with an anticipated funding end date of June 2026.

Our Funded Project: Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success: Denver Supportive Housing Models for Healthy Youth

The City and County of Denver and the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver will implement the Denver Supportive Housing Models for Healthy Youth. (The grant defines 'youth' as synonymous with 'young adults' and generally includes people chronologically aged 11 - 25 years. This is a large age range and therefore multiple plans will be presented.)

The project will engage in planning process for building local continuums of care that seek to prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and improve youth health, educational, and occupational outcomes. Generally, project activities include conducting research, convening, planning and ultimately proposing several models of supportive, neighborhood-based youth and family housing. Expected outcomes include further development of a youth housing continuum of care model that serves children and young adults in their communities, provides culturally and trauma responsive care, and adheres to the willingness of youth to seek housing and care in ways they suggest will best serve their needs in hyperlocal environments.

The planning process and convenings will follow an iterative, trauma responsive, asset-based methodology in line with evidence-based practices supported in research and practice. The primary goal of the planning process is to identify housing for young adults and their families in neighborhood-based locations with resources and essential services. Housing, especially affordable, accessible, and in safe places, near to a youth's current location are simply not available currently or unknown to municipal and nonprofit agencies. More specifically, one key deliverable of this planning grant will be an interactive Youth Housing: Safety Perceptions and Resources' tool that will geolocate resources, services, and agencies within census tracks / neighborhoods to model actual distances youth would need to travel to safe and supportive housing. The aim of introducing this map is to develop sheltering capacity within neighborhoods and school catchments that allow youth to remain in environments where they have protective factors, caring adults, or other assets to increase their likelihood of success and reduce the likelihood that they will be arrested, abused, trafficked, or homeless. Secondary goals of this planning process include identifying models for effectively managing, maintaining, and creating appropriate oversight of various forms of micro-housing solutions; convening partners to build buy-in and momentum in addressing youth homelessness; and, engaging youth and families to inform all goals in this process.

What you will do:

This PRA position will serve as a Community-Engaged Partnership Specialist and be responsible for stewarding relationships and potential collaborative projects with a variety of community-based stakeholders including nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, groups, and institutions, public sector institutions, community leaders and, in some cases, private sector and industry partners. The role is designed to lead the community engagement and feedback processes that comprise an asset-based, community-led young adult housing plan.

This role will likely be a great fit for individuals who:

* Have experience in working in youth services in Colorado,

* Thrive in environments where utilizing data to make decisions helps you succeed,

* Are a self-starter capable of meeting project goals with minimal supervision,

* Willing and able to spend their work time outside of traditional 9-5 business hours attending community events, meeting partners, or attending board meetings,

* Enjoys working in collaborative environments and actively problem solves with colleagues,

* Can engage in big picture thinking while understanding the minute challenges of implementing housing development and policy,

* Are familiar with the challenges and opportunities in the supply side components of housing provision in Colorado

You'll serve as the 'driver' for the following goals of the grant:

* Engage Youth and Families to Inform all Other Goals in the Proposal

* Convene Partners for equitable solutions that create buy-in, voice, and bias toward action

* Integrate Many Teams, Councils, and Providers

* Identify Models for Managing, Maintaining, and Oversight of Housing

* Engage Youth and Families to Inform all Other Goals in the Proposal

Grant goals you will directly contribute to:

* Co-locate Housing with Essential Services

* Assess Policy, Cost, and Zoning Opportunities and Barriers

* Develop an implementable plan to increase housing options for youth

* Innovate and direct community-based participatory action research with a team of PhD students, fellow researchers, practitioners, community partners, and young adults

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Criminal Justice, Nonprofit Studies, Urban Planning, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

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  MA in Public Administration, Public Policy, Criminal Justice, Nonprofit Studies, Urban Planning, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field.

  
  
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  Experience in Housing Research: Demonstrated experience in housing research, with a focus on youth housing, homelessness, affordable housing, or related areas.

  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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  Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and engage with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

  
  
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  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.

  
  

Track record of execution and change orientation: open-mindedness; focus on learning, assessment, constant improvement, and accountability; attention to detail.

Excellent organizational skills.

Ability to generate enthusiasm among practitioners in the field to work together on developing an implementable housing plan for young adults.

Strong skills in management, programmatic structure and process, documentation and assessment.

Collaborative work style, strong team player, inclusiveness and flexibility; ability to build collaborations with diverse communities.

Conditions of Employment

Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.

This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Employment Sponsorship

Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

As of 7/1/2023, The University of Colorado recommends employees be fully vaccinated from the COVID-19, but is not required. COVID recommendations and information can be found at: https://www.ucdenver.edu/coronavirus