Senior Research Analyst

101940BR

Campus: Tempe

Senior Research Analyst

Job Description

The Global Futures Laboratory of Arizona State University is currently looking for a Senior Research Analyst to support Impact Water – Arizona. Impact Water – Arizona plays a vital role in ASU’s Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, fostering community awareness and involvement to tackle water challenges and propel solutions in the state. By collaborating across diverse expertise and resources, the program is sparking knowledge, inspiring engagement, and instigating transformative change for a more secure and resilient water supply.

The Impact Water – Arizona program directly funds projects and supports ASU faculty and staff in implementing engagement activities and developing use-inspired research and tools to address Arizona’s water challenges. Spearheaded by the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, the program operates in partnership with the Kyl Center for Water Policy and the Decision Theater.

We are seeking a Senior Research Analyst to conceptualize and implement strategic initiatives, manage, and conduct research, develop communications related to water and natural resources and implement community-centered and knowledge-driven groundwater workshops. This role requires knowledge of Arizona water policy and management, excellent communication skills, strong research skills and the ability to interface effectively with units throughout the university, the AWII team, external agencies, and key stakeholders. The successful candidate will be skilled at project management and consensus building.

Job Family: Research & Laboratory

Department Name: AZ Water Innovation Initiative

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

VP Code: KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE DEV

Scope of Search: Open

Grant Funded Position: This is a grant funded position. Continuation is contingent on future grant funding.

Salary Range: $60,610 – $83,600 per year; DOE

Close Date: 12-June-2024

Category: 02

Essential Duties

• Plan, organize, and facilitate community-centered groundwater workshops across various regions.
• Conduct thorough research on each community, including local water issues, demographic data, and relevant stakeholders.
• Identify and analyze emerging trends and issues in water and natural resources to inform strategic planning.
• Design, manage, and conduct comprehensive research studies on water and natural resource issues, with a focus on Arizona water policy and management.
• Based on research and analysis, design workshop content that is informative, engaging, and responsive to community needs.
• Research methods and facilitate consensus-building processes to ensure stakeholder buy-in and collaborative decision-making.
• Monitor and evaluate project outcomes, implementing improvements as needed.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data from various sources, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
• Produce reports, and white papers to communicate research findings effectively.
• Assist with the development of clear, concise, and impactful communication materials related to water, including articles, presentations, and educational content.
• Collaborate with communication teams to ensure consistency and clarity in messaging.
• Oversees the evaluation of projects’ effectiveness to develop and implement the goals and objectives of the program.
• Oversees improved methods of program/project delivery.
• Build, sustain, and enhance relationships with units throughout the university, the AWII team, external agencies, and key stakeholders.
• Cultivate relationships with funders, academic and industry partners and policy-makers to engage them in substantive partnerships
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and influencers in policy initiatives to improve water stewardship
• Design, coordinate and conduct research on water issues, including collecting documents and compiling and analyzing data from various sources, conducting qualitative surveys, leading focus groups and synthesizing key findings
• Select, hire and supervise
• Attend water policy-related events

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field AND three (3) years of experience in research, information analysis or program evaluation; OR, Any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications

• Professional experience in water outreach and communications
• Background in water resources and an understanding of Arizona’s water issues
• Familiarity with water innovation and impact initiatives
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and collaboration with government agencies and other water-related organizations
• Demonstrated knowledge of academic research environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data collection and analysis methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Experience working in a diversified environment and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state water resources
• Experience in organizational and project management skills.
• Evidence of effective communication and interpersonal abilities
• Ability to develop proposals for external funding of projects.
• Skill in planning, budgeting, implementing and evaluating projects.
• Knowledge of processes to conduct needs assessments.
• Skill in designing training materials and presentations to meet needs assessed.
• Ability to implement training, session reviews, and follow-up procedures.
• Knowledge of processes for dissemination of results through presentations, reports, and publications.
• Evidence of effective communication.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and establishing and facilitating work teams.

Working Environment

• Climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of being in a stationary position.
• Constantly detects and operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.
• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
• Ability to clearly communicate and exchange accurate information to perform essential duties.
• Expected to be responsive to customers, engaged in work production, resourceful, flexible, and respectful of others.
• May drive University vehicle and/or cart to campus site.
• Occasional travel to off-site events, conferences, or workshops, including some weekend and weeknight engagement.

ASU is a diverse enterprise with a wide variety of work and learning modes, locations, and a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and employee work-life balance. We are determined to maintain our position as an employer of choice in a competitive labor market, as such the following options may be offered dependent on department needs:

Flexible work options

• Alternative work schedules can include four, 10-hour workdays in a workweek; a nine-day, 80-hour schedule over two workweeks for exempt employees only; and staggered start and stop times.
• Hybrid work is an arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location. Dean or vice president-level approval is required.

Department Statement

The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory™
Since 2004, ASU has become a global leader in sustainability efforts—creating the Global Institute of Sustainability, launching the first School of Sustainability in the U.S., deploying the largest solar energy portfolio of any university in the U.S. and more.

The emergence of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University is the next step in our continual evolution. It represents the urgent belief that we can and must make a meaningful contribution to ensuring a habitable planet and a future in which well-being is attainable.

Using the model of the multi-focused National Laboratories, the Global Futures Laboratory is creating a platform for an ongoing and wide-ranging exchange across all knowledge domains to address the complex social, economic and scientific challenges spawned by the current and future threats from environmental degradation. This platform positions a new world headquarters for an international network of scientists, scholars and innovators, it lays the foundation to respond to existing and emerging challenges and it uses innovation to purposefully shape and inform our future.

The Global Futures Laboratory provides key engagement spaces for scientists, educators and leaders across ASU and around the world to address critical issues related to the future of planet Earth. Rather than solving problems after they arise, we seek to design a future in which humanity not only survives, but thrives. For more information, click here. 

Arizona Water Innovation Initiative: Generating solutions for water and climate resilience
The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative is a statewide project led by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory in collaboration with Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Through this initiative, ASU works with industrial, municipal, agricultural, tribal and international partners to rapidly accelerate and deploy new approaches and technology for water conservation, augmentation, desalination, efficiency, infrastructure and reuse.

The state of Arizona invested $40 million in ASU to lead this multi-year initiative that helps ensure a regional thriving future with a secure future water supply. The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative expands the work ASU is already doing in hydrology, engineering, policy and management throughout Arizona and across the Southwest and scales those advancements to implement evidence-based solutions.

Learn about our first year accomplishments and future plans in our 2023 Arizona Water Innovation Initiative Year in Review.

ASU Statement

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation’s fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU PD at 480-965-3456.

Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.

Employment Verification Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Instructions to Apply

Application deadline is 3:00PM Arizona time on the date indicated.

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.

Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.

ASU does not pay for travel expenses associated with interviews, unless otherwise indicated.

Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

IMPORTANT NOTE: What is the meaning of “equivalent combination” in the minimum qualifications? It means one year of higher education or 24 credit hours, is equal to one year of experience. For example, a four year Bachelor’s degree is equal to four years of experience.