Director of Research

About First Place AZ

We are a trailblazing nonprofit organization advancing a new marketplace of inclusive housing, healthcare, employment and lifelong-learning options for adults with autism, neurodivergences and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). This position sits within First Place Global where we work nationally to develop the systems, standards and partnerships that drive market transformation. First Place-Phoenix, our flagship property, serves as a nationally recognized proof point and living R&D site informing our national work.

First Place AZ is an equal opportunity employer.

The Opportunity

The Director of Research is a strategic leadership position responsible for advancing our research agenda through applied inquiry, community-informed collaboration and translation of findings to diverse audiences. The director works across the full First Place AZ ecosystem, including First Place-Phoenix and other properties.

We generate practical insights that inform policy, professional standards and organizational practices. Our research spans the domains central to market transformation: housing and service models, financing decisions, policy frameworks and the direct-support workforce. This means identifying what people want and need, evaluating property models based on what works and for whom and what needs to work better and translating findings into tools and guidance that help communities move from possibility to implementation.

The agenda brings research, policy and practice together — treating them as interconnected levers of systems change rather than separate functions. Systemic change can include shifts in public policy and frontline program practices, multisector coalition building, professional training and practice standards, and other domains identified through ongoing learning and partnership. Your work will be grounded in continuous learning and real-world impact.

A central vehicle for this work is the Translational Research Collective (TRC), a multi-organization collaborative that brings together peer communities, practitioners and researchers to generate and share practice-based evidence. The Director provides leadership and coordination for TRC, maintaining coherence across partner organizations that are not under direct authority.

This work is grounded in a commitment to elevating the voices of individuals with autism, neurodivergences and I/DD and to promoting systemic change that supports independent living, self-determination and social inclusion.

The research approach is intentionally lean, agile and applied — prioritizing real-world utility. This role is ideal for a leader who moves quickly from insight to implementation, values usefulness over exhaustive study, and is energized by building a shared research agenda in alignment with organizational priorities and in partnership with community collaborators. It is not for someone primarily seeking to extend a personal research portfolio or publication record.

Who You Are

You are a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of disability rights, public policy and systems. You bring a nonpartisan approach to applied research. You combine analytical skill with purpose and pragmatism. You value learning through action and can make decisions with imperfect information when time and impact matter.

You are fluent in both qualitative and quantitative methods and skilled at translating findings into practical insights that inform programs, policy and practice. You know how to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. You understand that clear, consistent storytelling is part of how change happens—and that aligning data, message and mission is essential to building influence and trust.

You are energized by collaboration. You listen deeply to the voices of self-advocates, family members, organizational collaborators and communities. You work effectively across sectors and disciplines to build coalitions and shared agendas. You value inclusion while keeping work agile and actionable.

Above all, you bring a commitment to advancing autonomy, dignity and community participation to the greatest degree possible for those we represent and serve.

What You’ll Do

· Design and oversee applied research and rapid-learning initiatives that inform understanding of unmet needs and emerging or best practices in independent living and support services.

· Lead research initiatives from design through execution — setting methodology, managing data collection and analytic workflows to support data-driven decision-making.

· Uphold data integrity, validity, reliability and security across all research operations in compliance with applicable regulatory standards.

· Work with Associate Directors and trusted collaborators to design research frameworks, evaluation tools and knowledge-translation products that strengthen organizational learning.

· Build internal capacity by mentoring team members in applied research methods, quality-improvement processes and data-driven decision-making; model and teach these approaches with external partners to strengthen capacity across the field.

· Collaborate with universities, evaluation partners, think tanks and advocacy organizations.

· Evaluate the impact of organizational programs and use data to drive continuous improvement and policy recommendations.

· Lead the Translational Research Collective — convening partner organizations, stewarding a shared research agenda and ensuring that rapid-learning projects generate products of practical value to the broader field.

· Translate complex research into accessible formats for diverse audiences, including self-advocates, families, practitioners and policymakers.

· Develop concise, practice-ready products — briefs, dashboards, toolkits — that help stakeholders act quickly on findings.

· Oversee the growing portfolio of the First Place Housing Market Analyses, including managing contracts, assessing financial feasibility and estimating project costs.

Leadership & Collaboration

· Serve as a thought leader and spokesperson for the organization on issues related to applied research agenda and findings.

· Work cross-functionally with program, communications and development teams to integrate research and policy efforts.

· Supervise staff, interns or consultants as needed to execute research and policy initiatives.

· Foster a culture of disciplined experimentation and continuous improvement within the research and policy team.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role supervises the Associate Director of Applied Research and supports them to lead and mentor their respective team members.

What You’ll Bring

• PhD degree in Public Policy, Social Work, Disability Studies, Sociology, Public Health or related field.

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in public policy, research or advocacy, preferably in the disability or human services sector with demonstrated success in applied or translational research environments as well as supervising teams and collaborative projects.

• At least 5 successful research or program funding proposals within the past five years where you were part of the leadership team for the proposal and the subsequent project.

• Strong knowledge of disability rights, inclusive housing, Medicaid policy and systems of support for adults with autism, neurodivergences and/or I/DD.

• Proven experience designing or managing applied research and translating findings into actionable policy, program or systems recommendations.

• Experience leading or coordinating multi-organization research collaboratives, including managing relationships and maintaining methodological coherence across partners without direct supervisory authority.

• Excellent written, visual and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex findings clearly and compellingly to diverse audiences.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion and the principles of self-determination and independent living.

• Experience working with or alongside individuals with autism, neurodivergences and/or I/DD, including self-advocates and family members.

• Familiarity with participatory, community-based or quality-improvement/continuous-improvement approaches to learning and evaluation.

• Experience establishing relationships with relevant legislative or regulatory bodies.

• Experience developing dissemination products and strategies that move research into practice.

• Commitment to developing internal leadership and strengthening a pipeline of emerging leaders within the organization.

What To Expect

The position takes place in both an office environment and within the community. Exposure to varying temperatures and weather elements can apply. The noise level ranges from quiet to moderate.

The position may require the following requirements:

· Ascending/descending stairs.

· Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments.

· Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

· Constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer.

· Communicating with others to exchange information so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

· Demonstrating integrity, respect, kindness and excellence in work and interactions.

· Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

· Moving about accomplishing tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

· Communicating with others to exchange information.

· Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

· Lifting objects up to 25-50 lbs.

· Operating a motor vehicle.

• *All potential employees of First Place will be required to pass a thorough criminal background check, drug screening and any other offender/registry clearances as identified and deemed appropriate by the organization.