The Research and Evaluation Associate designs, executes, and facilitates systematic evaluation and research studies for exhibits, programs, and museum initiatives.

Performing the following may involve driving to various locations outside OMSI’s corporate headquarters:

• Support ethical treatment of human evaluation and research subjects. Complete related training as required.
• Help manage project budget and timelines as assigned.
• Develop the evaluation plan for individual projects. Design evaluation protocol and instruments.
• Coordinate and/or execute evaluation activities as assigned including literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, reporting, and dissemination.
• Liaison with external evaluators as needed.
• Serve as a team member of OMSI divisions, projects, and committees as assigned.
• This position is exempt, paid salaried
• This position is regular, full-time, scheduled for 40 hours/week

Working Conditions:

• Assume some evening, weekend, and holiday work.
• Physical Demands: 60% Sitting 30% Standing 10% Lifting/Carrying/Pushing/Pulling 5-10 Pounds
• Tasks generally require: Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left or right while eyes are fixed on a given point), Depth and perception (three dimensional vision, ability to judge distance and spatial relationships), Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eyes to bring an object into sharp focus). Accommodations for impaired visual abilities can be discussed.
• Work environment will occasionally include: proximity to moving mechanical parts and outdoor weather conditions, including wet, hot, and cold.
• The noise in work environments is: generally, moderate (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic, museum exhibits and crowds) and occasionally loud (examples: exhibit shop machinery).

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Participate with the interview process, training, and as a lead on projects, assigns the work and monitors the completion of work assignments from start to finish for paid and unpaid personnel.
• Proactively contribute to efforts of the division and OMSI. Serve in leadership roles as appropriate.
• Assume other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Evaluation and Visitor Studies Manager.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong customer service skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams.
• Ability to work under pressure with flexibility.
• Professional oral and written communication skills appropriate to the position. Ability to interface well with fellow paid and unpaid staff, audiences, and partners in professional, education, and evaluation settings.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to promote teamwork and collaboration, including ability to learn quickly and meet deadlines.
• Self-initiative to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of experimental design and data collection methods.
• Demonstrated knowledge of qualitative data collection methods and analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics.
• Basic understanding of audience research, cultural accessibility and physical accessibility and safety as well as demonstrated advanced knowledge in at least two of these areas.
• Basic understanding of museum experiences (exhibits and programs) and the science, technology, engineering, and math learning involved as well as demonstrated advanced knowledge in at least two of these areas.
• Hands-on experience with word processing, spreadsheet analysis, database management, statistical software, computer graphics, and electronic data collection tools and demonstrated proficiency with at least two of these software types.
• Understanding of confidentiality and protocol.

PREFERENCES:

• Nonprofit experience.
• Museum experience.
• Visitor Studies Association Competencies: http://visitorstudies.org/professional-development

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate research degree, preferably in sciences, behavior, museum studies, education, communications or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 4 years experience in evaluation of education programs, exhibits, survey research, or related work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 2 years of informal experience in behavioral research (e.g., literature searches, data collection, data management, data analysis, data interpretation, and data reporting).
• Minimum 1 year of coordination and project management skills.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working with the public, formal and informal settings.

PREFERENCES:

• Bilingual – Spanish/English.
• Experience working with volunteers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS/PREFERENCES; INCLUDING LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Pre-employment and/or pre-duty checks, such as criminal background check, reference checks, and requirements in the MVR Policy including passing Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check and Alcohol & Drug Test for non-CDL Drivers Policy, including pre-duty drug test.