Senior Research Officer - [Archived Advertisement]

Senior Research Officer

Location: Parramatta
Employment type: Temporary full-time role up to 11 months with the possibility of an extension
Salary: $120,859 pa to $133,183 pa, plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.

Your role

This senior research role provides you with an exciting opportunity to apply your research experience and skills to the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study (POCLS) of children in out-of-home care.

The POCLS is a prospective longitudinal study that collects information about a cohort of 4,126 children and young people who experienced out-of-home care (OOHC). It links first-hand accounts from children, young people, caregivers, teachers and caseworkers with data on children and young people’s child protection backgrounds, OOHC placements, health, education and offending held by multiple government agencies.

This Study provides a strong evidence base to inform policy, practice and professional development, to improve decision making and supports for children and young people who cannot live safely at home.

What you’ll do

As part of a small, dedicated research team in the Family and Community Services Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR) directorate, you will be responsible for work related to ethics, sample recruitment, qualitative data coding, support for external researchers analysing the POCLS data, and knowledge translation (written and oral presentations).

The Senior Researcher will primarily:

• ensure the ethics approved project protocol and human research ethics committee’s guidelines are up-to-date and followed
• manage sample recruitment and retention strategies such as keeping the study participants database up to date, the production of a participant postcards, and newsletters
• undertake data preparation work such as coding qualitative data
• review or undertake analysis projects jointly with a statistician on the team
•  produce evidence to action notes and slide decks from research papers to summarise how the POCLS findings may be translated into policy and practice
• facilitate communication and knowledge translation activities including round tables, Lunch & Learn webinars, conference presentations, and other
• work closely with the POCLS Project Manager, analysts and researchers, and the POCLS governance working groups, to keep the Study robust and contemporary
• monitor the impact of POCLS evidence to action activities
• draft research grant applications.

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. You will be doing work that really matters.

FACSIAR’s vision is to support the NSW Government to achieve the best outcomes for children, families and communities through evidence-based decision making. Our work helps us to understand the areas of Children and Young People, Aboriginal People, Child Protection, Domestic Violence, OOHC, Social Housing, Homelessness, Disability, Ageing and the human services sector’s resourcing and business operations. For more information about FACSIAR visit https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/resources/research/FACSIAR

The POCLS is a small team in FACSIAR responsible for the study design, data collection, analysis, knowledge translation and supporting governance groups. For more information about the POCLS visit www.facs.nsw.gov.au/resources/research/pathways-of-care

What we’re looking for

We are looking for a motivated high performer who has:

• Tertiary qualifications in applied research or statistics, social sciences, health sciences or a related discipline; and/or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience with demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development
• Very good written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in undertaking research, especially in relation to research methodologies, implementing surveys and ethics
• An understanding of research results, research partnerships and knowledge translation
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Organisational and administrative skills
• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and with stakeholders
• Evidence of Aboriginal cultural capability
• An understanding of social policy research and statistical analyses
• An understanding of the child protection and out-of-home care system and funded human services sector (or ability to quickly gain such understanding)
• An understanding of the NSW Government and DCJ’s key services and client base (or ability to quickly gain such understanding)

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Monday, 25 March 2024 at 11:59 pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Marina Paxman on 0437 771 674 or via: marina.paxman@dcj.nsw.gov.au

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please call Anjy Fayad on 02 9765 3042 or via anjy.fayad@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.