Research Director, Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Research Director, Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice

Job Profile Title

Director C, Research

Job Description Summary

The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice is a national, interdisciplinary, data-driven research and policy hub that that builds on Penn’s inter-disciplinary excellence to pursue a systems approach to catalyzing long-term structural improvements to the US criminal justice system.

We are seeking a Research Director to develop and manage a rigorous research portfolio on prosecution and the courts, as part of the UPenn-DAO collaboration. This position will be based at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice in Philadelphia, with flexibility for remote work. The Research Director will work closely the Academic and Executive Director, as well as with Dr. Aurélie Ouss.

Job Description

Grant & Team Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the UPenn-DAO collaboration. Manage the overall execution of grants, including timelines, budgets, and reporting / deliverables

• Serve as a primary point of contact for funders, ensuring deliverables are met and communication is clear and proactive

• Support a multidisciplinary team including pre-doctoral fellows, PhD students, data analysts, and project management staff; directly supervise the Penn team project manager

• Develop and maintain systems for managing shared files and workflows across the Penn team

• Facilitate regular team meetings, including summer check-ins, to support collaboration and share learnings across projects

• Lead onboarding and training for new Penn team staff in coordination with the DAO

• Coordinate with institutional partners (DAO, UPenn) and other relevant stakeholders as needed

Research Leadership

• Provide high-level oversight, thought partnership, and guidance to Penn team members as research projects are developed and executed, including problem-solving and facilitating research needs

• Conduct independent research projects with members of the Penn-DAO team and external partners (e.g., professors at Penn or other institutions, Quattrone, etc.)

• Oversee the implementation of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), including initial design development, iteration, and coordination with implementation partners. Work with the implementation specialist / project manager to do this.

• Lead “Research to Action” collaborations with DAO, including overseeing creation of policy briefs and white papers

• Manage data governance, privacy protocols, and compliance with IRB requirements

Partnership Development

• Work with Aurélie to develop and refine the Penn team’s partnership strategies