Employment Opportunities - Senior Researcher (Quantitative)

Would you like to work on the world's largest ever survey of legal needs?

The Foundation works to improve access to justice, particularly for disadvantaged people. The survey aims to provide comprehensive empirical data to inform legal service provision to meet community need.

We are looking for a Senior Researcher to assist in project leadership who has excellent research qualifications in the social sciences, demonstrated sound quantitative social science research skills, and proven experience using statistical packages.

Attractive salary. Flexible, family-friendly workplace. Full-time preferred, part-time and secondment considered.

Applicants should address the selection criteria below. Applications, including a curriculum vitae, should be received by Monday 19 May 2008, via email to

or mail to:

Job description

The Senior Researcher (Quantitative) works as a team leader designing, conducting and writing up socio-legal research studies in the Foundation's research program.

Initially, the Senior Researcher will assist in the leadership of a large-scale, national telephone sample survey of legal needs. Following the legal sector's enthusiastic response to the Foundation's NSW survey of legal needs (Justice Made to Measure), which was published in 2006, Legal Aid provided funding for the Foundation to conduct a national Legal Needs Survey across every state and territory of Australia. The survey is the largest ever legal needs survey conducted anywhere in the world, comprising over 20,000 interviews. It will inform policy on access to justice issues and the provision of legal services across Australia.

The Senior Researcher may also contribute to other projects undertaken or supported by the Foundation.

Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience

Responsible to: Principal Researcher

Duties:

Provide leadership in the planning, design, conduct, analysis, writing, reporting, documentation, administration and management of quantitative research studies in collaboration with other research staff
Contribute as a member of research teams, participating in quantitative research design, literature review, data collection, data analysis, and drafting of reports, papers, correspondence and other communication
Supervise researchers and assistants as required
Participate in the ongoing review of research plans and reports, including proofreading and/or editing research reports and other materials to the highest possible (and publishable) standard
Assist the Principal Researcher with the management and coordination of the Foundation's research program, as required
Assist the Principal Researcher with the provision of internal and external advice on research and statistical methods, as required
Work effectively with key staff across the organisation, including engaged external consultants, to ensure a common focus for the successful conduct and completion of the Foundation's research projects
Work with the Director, Principal Researcher and other Senior Researchers to ensure that the Foundation's research skills and capabilities are appropriately developed and maintained
In conjunction with other staff of the Foundation, establish and foster relationships and networks across community, legal, academic and other areas to ensure the success of the research program of the Foundation
Deliver presentations in relation to projects undertaken as required
Keep up to date with issues and trends in the justice area and in the area of research techniques, and exchange relevant information with other members of the research staff
Comply with Law and Justice Foundation procedures and policies
Carry out other tasks as required to assist in the operation of the Foundation, including the review of research grant proposals
prepare and present papers at appropriate conferences
prepare papers for publication in the applied and academic literature.

Skills/Selection Criteria

Essential

Tertiary qualifications in the social sciences or other relevant discipline with an honours research degree or equivalent research experience
A minimum of 4 years' proven relevant experience in the effective planning, design, conduct, statistical analysis, write-up, management and leadership of complex, multi-faceted quantitative research projects
Demonstrated experience in:

designing research studies and statistical analyses to address specific research questions
independently conducting and interpreting statistical analysis, using statistical packages such as SPSS and spreadsheet packages such as EXCEL
managing project timelines and meeting deadlines
producing authoritative, credible, high-level research reports to a standard suitable for publication
communicating at a high level - both in writing and speaking
working harmoniously with others

Ability to:

liaise, consult and negotiate at a high level with major legal stakeholders and other agencies
work under pressure and manage changing priorities
be a highly dynamic and effective team leader and staff supervisor
independently design, conduct, analyse and write up policy-relevant social research

Desirable

Post-graduate degree in the social sciences or relevant discipline
Experience in large-scale survey design, analysis and interpretation
Legal qualification or experience in the application of social science research methodology to socio-legal research or sound knowledge of the justice system
Experience in the use of qualitative research methods (eg semi-structured interviews, focus groups) and qualitative data packages (eg NVivo)
A record of publications in peer review journals
Attendance at continuing education programs, focusing on development of research skills and techniques