Position Description:

Purpose

This position will be an employee of the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin but the work location will be at the Department of Corrections’ Research and Policy Unit in Madison. Under the general supervision of the Director, Research and Policy Unit, Office of the Secretary, this advanced level position performs complex research for the Department of Corrections (DOC).  The Research and Policy Unit works with cross-divisional staff at the agency to provide statistical information on offender populations, program performance indicators, and policy impact analysis. This type of information may be requested or used by internal management staff, as it is fundamental to planning, evaluating and implementing operations that are effective and efficient.

Position Duties:

The position is a technical expert responsible for independently designing, conducting and coordinating research and evaluation of department-wide policies, correctional programs, and initiatives. To carry out the responsibilities of the position, the incumbent applies advanced statistical analysis to large, complex datasets; uses statistical software packages for data manipulation; applies advanced research and evaluation theory, design and methodology; interprets results and prepares written and oral reports.  The position performs statistical research that supports department-wide policy analysis, planning, and program evaluation in the context of promoting ongoing data-driven decision making at an organizational level.  The position spends time researching or otherwise maintaining an awareness of best and emerging practices in the corrections and the criminal justice field in order to inform decision makers and facilitate adopting new or improving current policies, and practices throughout the department.

Typical analysis includes, but is not limited to: determining drivers of the prison population; assessing trends and patterns in admissions and releases to prison and community corrections supervision; analyzing rates of technical violations of supervision; assessing sentencing patterns as they relate to length of stay; and reporting recidivism rates.

The position provides high level consultation to executive management and policy makers, as well as serves as a department liaison with state or national academic or policy research institutes. While functioning independently as part of the DOC Research and Policy Unit, the position also works collaboratively with division-level budget staff and information technology staff to complete shared or non-routine tasks.  This position shall comply with the Department’s administrative rules and the agency’s policies and procedures including those related to the Department's overall Reentry philosophy of using evidence-based strategies, practices and programs which target an offender’s individual criminogenic needs and risk level.

This position will include monthly travel from Madison to Milwaukee to attend relevant meetings at the Comprehensive Injury Center and will also include occasional travel to other locations to attend conferences or other meetings.

Goals and Activities

50%

1. Oversee, direct and complete the design and implementation of research studies, including selection of appropriate methodologies which are used to assess the impact and effectiveness of DOC programs, initiatives, or policy.
   
2. Consult with executive and program management  staff to precisely define the program, policy or research questions and corresponding analysis so that efforts result in relevant information used to make program and policy improvements.
3. Design and conduct research to determine the effectiveness and impact of Wisconsin correctional programs and policies.
4. Perform a variety of complex analyses of factors affecting department initiatives, including, but not limited to cost/benefit analysis, population forecasting, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and program process and outcome studies.
5. Identify and design appropriate methods for collecting and processing quantitative and qualitative data and decide what studies should be conducted or reporting systems developed.
6. Assist other departmental units to implement adopted policies by identifying analytic techniques, and preparing other staff to use the appropriate techniques.
7. Administer a research and statistical analysis program, involving the collection and analysis of a wide range of complex data, including extensive use of SPSS, R, Excel or other statistical analysis software.
8. Collect necessary data and information; choose, adapt, develop and apply analytical and statistical techniques; draw defensible conclusions or findings.
9. Ensure data quality by  working with information technology and records staff to improve data reliability by analyzing information systems, developing detailed system specifications and serving as a liaison between users and information technology staff in testing and debugging changes, and interpretation of data reported.
10. Develop and implement recommendations to address problems related to data quality and accuracy.
11. Conduct descriptive analyses of state corrections data. This includes preparing data for analysis and working with program and division staff to ensure the use of common definitions and accuracy in analysis and interpretation. 
12. Respond to complex data and information requests, as requested by the Office of the Secretary, other DOC staff, and external organizations.
13. Provide technical support and direction to program administration and staff in the appropriate use and interpretation of DOC or other data used by the department.
14. Provide expert consultation and guidance about data presentation and documentation, measurement, research methods, survey operational procedures and survey question design and sample weighting.
15. Translate complex analysis into findings or conclusions, and if appropriate, provide recommendations that are concise and audience-specific.
16. Prepare reports and effectively communicate evaluation findings, results, and if appropriate, recommendations through a variety of methods to state policy makers, practitioners and stakeholders.
17. Ensure that all data, reports, presentations and other materials adhere to the highest level of methodological rigor and accuracy. 
18. Represent the department on statewide and local committees/workgroups and participate in meetings with public and private entities, as requested by the Office of the Secretary.

30%

1. Serve as a technical expert for the executive team, department and program managers on matters related to research, and the development of agency-wide and program-specific performance measures.
2. Work with existing databases to analyze, interpret and present data. 
3. Collect and analyze program performance data.
4. Interpret research and evaluation efforts that are relevant to department programs and policies, including conducting literature reviews and identifying best or promising practices. 
5. Identify, analyze and evaluate emerging issues relating to corrections and the criminal justice system.
6. Serve as the department’s representative and liaison to federal or national organizations – such as the Association of State Correctional Administrators, Performance-Based Measurement System - that are establishing standards for common definitions, counting rules, and reporting methods related correctional performance measures. 
7. Provide expert consultation to executive and program management to define and develop key performance indicators and corresponding methods needed for data collection, analysis, and presentation of the measures.
8. Coordinate multiple data collection efforts for one or more research or program performance measure projects, which may include collaborating with other agencies or institutions.
9. Produce a variety of written deliverables (i.e. reports, memos) that are audience specific and effectively communicate information using narrative and graphics intended to bridge complex research findings with operational practices and policies.

 

15%

1. Develop and promote the department’s research and evaluation agenda to help executive staff and department managers understand and determine the effectiveness of existing programs, policies and department-wide initiatives.
2. Lead processes with executive team, department managers, and program staff to analyze program and department-wide research needs, including the design of methodology, key research questions and hypotheses.
3. Serve as liaison with key research partners to leverage research resources and improve connections between the department’s research agenda and external researchers’ agendas.
4. Make effective recommendations on the use of internal and external contracted research and evaluation resources.
5. Provide support to external evaluators and researchers, such as coordinating access to data as needed.
6. Serve as a resource to the department’s Research Review Committee to assist in assessing whether data and research requests from internal and external parties should be approved or denied.
7. Provide high level consultation to management, serving as the key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including department management, other state and federal agencies, legislative leaders, and interest groups.

Preferred Schedule:

Position Requirements:

Specifications:

Education: Master’s Degree or PhD, or equivalent experience in a related field

Experience: At least 2 years of experience in the implementation and/or evaluation of research projects, which includes experience with advanced data analysis, and preparation and dissemination of research reports. Experience in public health or in criminal justice or corrections strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of conducting research and using advanced statistical analysis, and advanced knowledge of research theory, evaluation design and methodology, and using quantitative and qualitative data.

Knowledge of methods to conduct interviews to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts, draw conclusions, devise solutions to assigned problems and make recommendations.

Knowledge in the use of information systems; data extraction, preparation and analysis; and report generation.

Knowledge of Business Objects or other tool sets used to access data warehouses.

Knowledge of Department of Corrections policies, rules, directives and procedures.

Knowledge of the criminal justice system.

Skill in developing deliverables for executives, program managers and policy makers, including demonstrated experience in publishing written research or evaluation reports.

Skill in effective project management including the coordination and implementation of complex research and evaluation projects.

Skill in using statistical and database applications, such as SPSS or SAS.

Skill in effective written and oral communication to a wide range of diverse audiences including executives and managers, policy makers, researchers and practitioners, and the general public.

Ability to work independently and make complex decisions within the scope of their responsibility.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working and professional relationships.

Background Checks – Employment in this position is contingent upon successfully passing

• Background check and criminal history check
• Upon hire, all new employees are subject to fingerprinting at the DOC.
• In addition, upon commencement of employment, employee will be required to participate in DOC-mandated orientation and training.

About MCW
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is one of the largest healthcare employers in Wisconsin. We are a distinguished leader and innovator in the education and development of the next generation of physicians, scientists, pharmacists and health professionals; we discover and translate new knowledge in the biomedical and health sciences; we provide cutting-edge, collaborative patient care of the highest quality; and we improve the health of the communities we serve.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.