LGBT Research Scientist

Rescue Social Change Group – San Diego, CA

The LGBT Research Scientist reports to the Behavior Change Officer and is responsible for designing and managing research projects, particularly those related to a campaign to reduce tobacco use among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) young adults. The LGBT Research Scientist also ensures that client projects contribute to an internal research topic and a publishing agenda when possible. These contributions support the establishment of a scientific foundation for Rescue SCG’s behavior change models by further understanding the mechanisms that affect behavior change.

LGBT Research Scientist

Rescue SCG is a for-profit behavior change marketing agency. Clients include local, state, and federal government organizations as well as not-for-profits, schools, and foundations mainly addressing tobacco use, with growing services in violence, binge drinking, and obesity prevention. Rescue SCG provides services in strategic planning, research, and marketing to execute behavior change programs nationwide. Rescue SCG efforts are primarily focused on youth and young adult populations to cause behavior change through education, policy change and/or culture change. Rescue SCG’s annual sales have grown over 100% in the past 3 years and are expected to more than quadruple in the next 2 years thanks to new, secured contracts. The Rescue SCG team is creative, and challenging industry standards to develop effective and sustainable solutions to public health issues.

Position Description:
The LGBT Research Scientist reports to the Behavior Change Officer, and is responsible for designing and managing internal and client-driven research projects, especially those related to LGBT populations. The job of the LGBT Research Scientist entails activities pertaining to, but not limited to:

Research Project Management:

• Design and lead qualitative and quantitative research projects, both for clients and for internal purposes, with significant responsibility for formative research work for a national tobacco prevention campaign targeting LGBT young adults;
• Apply best practices of experimental design to plan research studies;
• Lead onsite data collection when applicable;
• Work with non-traditional research partners such as bars and nightclubs for data collection;
• Work with traditional partners such as universities and schools for data collection;
• Lead instrument development in research projects;
• Develop participant recruitment strategies;
• Develop data collection and data entry management protocols;
• Develop data analysis plans;
• Lead data analysis and client-facing report development;
• Develop IRB protocols and manage submission processes;
• Manage client relationships for research projects to ensure overall client satisfaction;
• Coordinate project contractors, such as data collectors, statisticians, and/or technology partners.

Internal Research Agenda Contributions:

• Further Rescue SCG’s various behavior change models by identifying patterns across research projects;
• Stay up-to-date on research trends and be active in the research community at large to ensure that Rescue SCG’s quantitative practices remain innovative, unique, and of top quality;
• Prepare and submit abstracts for conferences;
• Prepare and develop manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

Employee Supervision:

• Hire and train new staff;
• Supervise junior team members including conducting performance evaluations;
• Coach and mentor junior staff;
• Train staff on focus group facilitation and standards and practices of research best practices.

Other:

• Represent Rescue SCG at approved conferences;
• Review grants and RFPs and contribute to proposal preparation;

Other duties as required.

Candidate Requirements:

Minimum Age:
Must be 21 y/o or older

Environment:
Must have valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and computer and Internet access. Must be available to work non-traditional hours such as late nights and weekends. All business-related environments are tobacco-free.

Physical Requirements:
Able to remain in a sitting position for prolonged periods of time and stoop, bend, reach, climb stairs, and move freely throughout the building for the performance of duties. Able to read from a computer or laptop monitor for several hours at a time including fonts of various sizes from a variety of sources. Able to travel nationwide as needed to meet with clients, coworkers, or attend meetings and seminars. Must be able to move boxed work documents (surveys & materials), up to 40 pounds, in and out of office for travel by car and by air.

Travel:
Within the U.S. 1 – 2 times per month on average with significant variability based on current research projects.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in public health, psychology, sociology or related social science AND 5 years of professional or post-graduate academic experience in developing, leading, and conducting social science research studies.
• Strong analytic skills with proven ability to contribute to methodology improvements.
• Strong experience with SPSS or a similar software package.
• Experience with qualitative data analysis.
• Ability to express research findings in a graphical format.
• Proven knowledge and familiarity with prevailing social and behavioral theories in public health.
• Basic understanding of youth and young adult cultures in U.S.
• Experience writing and publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Strong experience with data management.
• Experience training, mentoring, and managing others.
• Strong editing/writing skills for various client reports, marketing materials, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience directly in public health, marketing, and/or youth research.
• Perfectionist with ability to quickly identify and solve problems.
• Strong verbal communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships, and communicate with clients on delicate matters.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with attention to details.
• Successful grant writing experience.
• Experience presenting research findings at conferences.
• Background in research related to LGBT issues.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in high-stress, fast-paced environments.
• Ability to operate independently and manage projects from inception to completion.
• Ability to engage and influence team members while demonstrating professionalism.
• Passion, integrity, positive attitude, and mission-driven.
• Non-tobacco-use is highly preferred because we only have tobacco-free environments and also to be consistent with our tobacco prevention campaign goals.

Training:
A comprehensive training would be provided to the selected candidate. The training will be conducted at a Rescue SCG office and paid for by RSCG.

Position Location:
San Diego, CA or Washington, DC based on candidate’s preference and internal department planning.

Salary/Status:
FT Exempt Position. Salary Based on Salary History, Experience and Education Level

Benefits:
Eligible to participate in Performance-Based Bonuses and company benefit plans

Target Start Date:
ASAP

Apply Online

All applications must be submitted through Rescue SCG’s online careers system (unless you qualify to request a reasonable accommodation, as detailed at rescuescg.com/careers). Absolutely no applications via email, mail, fax or in-person delivery. No calls please. Send questions to careers@rescuescg.com.

Rescue Social Change Group is an EEO/Minority/Female/Disability/Protected Veteran Employer

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