The Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services

 

Research Associate

 

 

Salary range - $60,000 - $65,000

FLSA Status - full time, exempt

Location – remote (must reside in greater Houston area)

 

Background: The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) is Texas’ leading network of mission-driven organizations that have embraced the call to serve vulnerable children, youth and families in their communities.  TACFS members across Texas work to prevent and address child trauma through services including prevention and early intervention, family preservation, residential/foster care services, adoption, post-adoption, youth runaway and transition services, mental health, education, substance abuse and other programs designed to promote safety and reduce risk for children, youth and families.   

Our mission is to work collectively to support and strengthen children, youth and families in communities across Texas. TACFS’ vision is to build a vibrant, strong, and unified network of child, youth, and family-serving community providers providing high-quality services across Texas. 

 The TACFS team proudly encompasses the values of being: 

  • Collaborative 
  • Forward-thinking 
  • Honest Brokers 
  • Inclusive 
  • Reliable 
  • Solutions-Focused  
  • Thoughtful 

The organization was established in 1975, but we are continuously evolving and changing in response to the dynamic nature of the work we do.  Our overall strategic aim is to support our members so they can do what they do best…care for children and families.   

The Research Associate position will support, facilitate, and coordinate the day-to-day implementation of CourtCare, a research study examining the effectiveness of a judiciary intervention for children in the Permanent Managing Conservatorship of the state. This position will support all aspects of the CourtCare study statewide and lead data collection in the greater Houston area.

 

 

Reporting: The Research Associate will work under the direction of the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation and will work collaboratively with the entire TACFS team as well as key stakeholders at the University of Texas at Arlington, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Children’s Commission, and other project partners.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities: The Research Associate is primarily responsible for day-to-day management and support of the CourtCare study, under the supervision of the Principal Investigators, including:

  • Project operations:
    • Administrative coordination and organization of study logistics and timelines 
    • Ensuring IRB and grant requirement compliance
    • Contributing to the development of study protocols
    • Participant recruitment and tracking
    • Creating monthly summary status reports
    • Data collection, data management, and data analysis

 

  • Collaboration and engagement:
    • Stakeholder engagement and communication
    • Planning and supporting quarterly advisory board convenings
    • Supporting training and deployment of data collection personnel across study sites

 

  • Other duties as assigned

 

Required Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated understanding of theory and processes related to social science research for casual inference (quasi-experimental designs), including sampling, reliability and validity, and research ethics
  • Minimum of two years of experience supporting research in a real-world setting
  • Four-year degree in public policy, social work, public health, psychology, sociology, social science, research and evaluation, education, or a related field
  • Commitment to maintaining confidentiality other ethical research practices
  • Detail-oriented with strong project management skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate work and projects with various external parties
  • Demonstrated success leading projects and collaborations
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated competency in group facilitation and public speaking
  • Adaptable, goal oriented, and a “quick study” who can work independently
  • Enjoy developing strong working relationships with various internal/external individuals and groups

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree or higher in one of the fields listed above
  • Demonstrated understanding of the state’s complex foster care system, including the role of the judiciary in child welfare legal cases
  • Experience conducting interviewer-administered surveys
  • Proficiency in statistical data analysis

 

This is a full-time position, with a flexible, accommodating work environment and some travel within Texas required. The position works remotely but must reside in the greater Houston area. Some nights and weekends are required to attend meetings and events. This is a grant-funded position. TACFS offers a competitive benefits package and has an unlimited paid time off policy.

TACFS values our employees and aims to provide compensation and benefits commensurate

with experience. TACFS is an equal opportunity employer. TACFS does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, business need and available funding.

 

**Please note, a cover letter is required to apply for this position. We understand that AI platforms such as ChatGPT are able to produce cover letters and other written work. Since strong written communication is a critical aspect of this role, we ask that your cover letter reflect your own original writing without AI assistance. By submitting a cover letter, you acknowledge you have not used any AI program to create it. 

 

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