Director of Applied Research & Systems Change

First Place AZ; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

First Place AZ seeks a Director of Research to lead applied inquiry across housing and services for adults with autism and I/DD. You will guide a lean, real-world research agenda, translate findings for diverse audiences and drive systemic change through partnerships with universities, policy makers and practitioners.

You will supervise teams, collaborate across programs, and ensure data integrity while delivering practice-ready tools and policy recommendations that advance autonomy and

Qualifications

• PhD required and extensive experience in public policy, research or advocacy.
• Strong background in applied or translational research and supervising teams.
• Ability to translate complex findings into actionable policy and practice.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee applied research and rapid-learning initiatives informing independent living and support services.
• Lead research initiatives from design through execution with data collection and analytics
• Uphold data integrity, validity, reliability and security across research operations
• Develop research frameworks and tools with collaborators to strengthen organizational learning
• Mentor staff in research methods and data-driven decision-making across the field
• Collaborate with universities, evaluation partners and advocacy organizations
• Evaluate impact of programs and drive policy recommendations
• Lead the Translational Research Collective and manage partner relationships
• Translate complex research into accessible formats for diverse audiences
• Develop concise, practice-ready products like briefs and dashboards
• Oversee the First Place Housing Market Analyses portfolio and cost estimation

Skills

Qualitative & quantitative methods

Data-driven decision making

Public policy knowledge

Communication to diverse audiences

Leadership & mentoring

Education

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

Job description

First Place AZ seeks a Director of Research to lead applied inquiry across housing and services for adults with autism and I/DD. You will guide a lean, real-world research agenda, translate findings for diverse audiences and drive systemic change through partnerships with universities, policy makers and practitioners.

You will supervise teams, collaborate across programs, and ensure data integrity while delivering practice-ready tools and policy recommendations that advance autonomy and