Correlation Research Division: Associate Director Position

Job Title

Correlation Research Division (CRD) Associate Director

Job Description

The role of the Correlation Research Division (CRD) associate director is to support the Director of Correlation Research in representing and administering the charter, commission, and priorities set forth by the Correlation Executive Committee (CEC) of the Church. The CEC charter and commission, and priorities are:

Correlation Research Charter and Commission

Provide independent research so that Church programs, products, and initiatives are designed and implemented to meet the needs of members and nonmembers.

Is responsible for research review and oversight, including:

• Providing timely, relevant, and reliable information to General Authorities and Church Administrators.
• Coordinating all contact with the field for research purposes, including contracting.
• Conducting a regular assessment of Church programs, initiatives, and products.
• Conducting or managing the outsourcing of all product outcome research.
• Conducting or coordinating all types of research under the guidelines established by the CEC.

In carrying out their role associate directors split their time carrying out four major responsibilities as outlined below.

Responsibilities

Strategic planning and operations improvement (30%)

• Participates in leadership council which reviews, approves, and oversees all strategic, operational, and administrative activities of the division.

• Under the direction of the division director and managing director, works closely with the other associate directors to:

  • Propose short and long-term strategic plans for accomplishing the charter and commission of the Research division and the priorities of the CEC.

  • Manage the prioritization and implementation of the strategic plan and key strategic initiatives by developing detailed implementation and risk mitigation plans and policies, supporting execution, and monitoring adherence.

  • Develop communication strategies to ensure awareness and understanding of policies, guidelines, and process improvement plans at every level of the division.

  • Track and report (through reports and dashboards) the progress for all strategic initiatives for the purposes of accountability, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the work of the division.

People management and development (30%)

• Build the capacity of staff by working with managers to develop and implement a system to evaluate and address the skills, experiences, and professional development needs of team members

• Ensure and promote succession planning

• Foster a dynamic learning environment that integrates partner and team feedback to support continuous improvement, collaboration, experimentation, agility, inquiry, and accountability.

• Define direction for team members, including modeling and applying the leadership pattern, communicating team goals, emphasizing the organizations mission, vision, and guiding principles, and ensuring that the team is collectively focused on the most important issues.

• Coordinate with other associate directors around staffing changes, recruitment, hiring, training, and orientation, and other people management issues of all division staff

Research portfolio management [Research operations management] (30%)

• Provide guidance and prioritization of work, ensure teams are working together productively, help teams effectively address challenges that come up, and find ways to monitor and improve the overall quality of the research and information [or the services and support] provided by the team.

• Hold teams accountable for the cost, timeliness, relevance, and reliability of the research [or the timeliness, relevance and reliability of services and support] and that projects are completed in a way that conforms with current policies and guidelines, identifying opportunities for improvement (in teams efforts or in the policies and guidelines themselves)

• Develop and manage research budget for research portfolio.

Partner communication and coordination (10%)

• Provide expert consultation to general authorities, councils, committees, departments to facilitate a global strategy for initiatives and products

• Facilitate regular data sharing and opportunities to understand the role of research across the organization

Qualifications

Education: Master's degree or PhD and/or equivalent years' experience in the social sciences, economics, business or related fields

Work Experience: Eight or more years of professional experience in applied research or closely related field with extensive experience in managing internal and external research teams.

Competencies

Strategic thinking and planning: Capacity to think strategically (and conceptually) about problems and issues and work through, select, and implement solutions that align with the organizations mission and vision and supports leadership priorities.

Adaptability and problem-solving: Ability to adapt to changing priorities and conditions, demonstrate a degree of comfort with rapidly changing ambiguous contexts and an ability to craft a clear path forward in these environments, and to effectively address challenges that may arise.

Leadership and management: Proven ability to lead and manage teams of researchers with diverse backgrounds, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment and motivating and encouraging team members to contribute to innovative approaches to accomplishing and sharing research.

Process and resource management: Experience in managing research processes and ensuring the efficient allocation of resources for the successful completion of research projects.

Relationship-building and collaboration: Skilled in building and maintaining strong trusting relationships, quickly establishing credibility and rapport with wide array of partners and stakeholders, and working closely with and mobilizing people at all levels towards collaborative goals.

Mentorship and staff development: Adept at mentoring and nurturing the professional growth of research team members, guiding them in their career development, and enhancing their skills and expertise.

Communication and presentation skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present research findings and provide insightful analysis to diverse audiences.

Strong research and consultation skills: Demonstrated expertise in designing, conducting, and analyzing complex qualitative and quantitative research projects and providing constructive consultation on research needs and application of research.

Work Arrangement

Flexible work arrangement allows two days remote work each week. Must reside in Utah.

About Us

Church employees find joy and satisfaction in using their unique talents and abilities to further the Lord's work. From the IT professional who develops an app that sends the gospel message worldwide, to the facilities manager who maintains our buildings— giving Church members places to worship, teach, learn, and receive sacred ordinances—our employees seek innovative ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. They are literally working in His kingdom. Only members of the Church who are worthy of a temple recommend qualify for employment. Apart from this, the Church is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on any basis that would violate U.S. or local law. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, national origin, color, gender, pregnancy, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other legally protected categories that apply to the Church. The Church will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities.