Data Collector - Casual

  • Contract

Company Description

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC has a commitment to promoting equity and access to high quality education and health services that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. EDC expresses its commitment to increasing equity through its strategies, services and products, which contribute to building capacity and transforming lives.

This is an intermittent, Casual position with an anticipated duration of 20 months. EDC casual employees generally work as needed.  A casual position receives statutory benefits of Social Security contributions, Medicare contributions, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and sick leave.  A casual position ends when work is complete.

Job Description

The School Improvement Portfolio (SIP), within the US Division has an opening for a Data Collector, a community-based position that will support an evaluation of educational services provided to youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

This position reports to a Principal Investigator, in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The SIP portfolio has a growing body of research and evaluation work related to racial and other equity issues in a range of educational settings. A staff with diverse backgrounds and perspectives is a competitive advantage that we value and promote as an organization. We endeavor to make our work and our work environment inclusive and culturally responsive to better the lives of the individuals and communities we serve. We are looking for candidates who share EDC’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and who understand the importance of cultural responsiveness in today’s context. Qualified candidates who have direct experience with or who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system are strongly encouraged to apply.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

The position will support an evaluation of educational services provided to youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The primary job activities include:

  • Traveling to Department of Youth Services (DYS) residential facilities as part of a research team conducting evaluation site visits.  
  • Explaining and administering a youth survey at each program on study-owned tablet, paper, or on DYS-owned computers.
  • Participating in recruiting formerly-incarcerated youth and their parents/guardians to complete surveys
  • Facilitating survey data collection amongst formerly-incarcerated youth and parents/guardians through study-owned tablets, online survey links, or paper surveys.

In the event of a COVID-related state shutdown, participating in creative and responsive administration of surveys with incarcerated youth, formerly incarcerated youth, and parents/guardians. This may include recording videos that introduce surveys, using video-conferencing platforms to administer surveys live. 

Qualifications

We are committed to cultural-responsiveness; qualified candidates who have direct experience with or who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system are strongly encouraged to apply. Because of the diverse cultural backgrounds of survey respondents, fluency in English and Spanish is required.

This position requires strong relationship-building skills; demonstrable initiative, perseverance, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. This job does not have a minimum degree requirement. Qualified applicants will have at least 5 years of experience in community-serving roles working with marginalized youth and families.

Skills:

  • Experience working with marginalized youth (required), especially youth involved in the juvenile justice system (preferred).
  • Experience working with the parents/guardians of marginalized youth (required).
  • Familiarity with research processes and principles, such as human subjects protections, or a demonstrated willingness to learn.
  • Flexibility
  • Creativity
  • Fluent in Spanish (required)
  • Ability and willingness to travel to DYS residential facilities across MA.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.