Post Doc Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Evaluation and Data Support for Youth Camp Initiatives

Location:

Salt Lake City, UT (Hybrid options available; position is not remote).

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support a multi‑year evaluation of the Character at Camp Initiative, a large grant‑making project from the American Camp Association that seeks to bolster camps' capacity to support character development, broadly conceived. The role will coordinate training and technical assistance for camp professionals, manage data collection processes, support conceptual design, and contribute to research translation and dissemination efforts.

Full‑time, 12‑month appointment with potential for renewal. Currently funded through 2029. Competitive salary and benefits package. Target start date: between January and June 2026.

• Develop and deliver training materials and presentations to prepare grantees for evaluation activities.
• Attend grantee cohort meetings to provide support and guidance.
• Lead training for camps focused on data use and interpretation for program improvement.
• Coordinate data collection efforts, including surveys and interviews, across multiple sites.
• Serve as a liaison with camps, the ACA (American Camp Association), and other stakeholders to ensure smooth communication and logistics.
• Prepare and distribute evaluation materials to participating sites.
• Support data verification processes for accuracy and completeness.
• Contribute to process improvement efforts to enhance evaluation workflows.
• Support dashboard development and data visualization for reporting and decision‑making.
• Assist with instrument development and refinement, including survey instruments and observational tools.
• Help maintain project vision and coherence across components.
• Coordinate across project activities to ensure alignment and integration.
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development.
• Support refinement and updating of the overall evaluation approach.
• Assist with qualitative data analysis, interview case selection, or quantitative methods such as instrument validation, psychometric analysis, data cleaning, and codebook creation.
• Engage in dissemination efforts, including reporting to advisory boards and camps, preparing formal reports, academic publishing, and conference presentations.
• Generate own research projects that align with the overall research plan.

• Ph.D. in Human Development/Developmental Science;
  Education;
  Psychology;
  Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; or related fields.
• Proficiency in data management and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, R, SPSS, or Stata).
• Mixed‑methods research experience (qualitative and quantitative).

• Familiarity with summer camps or similar youth‑serving organizations.
• Experience developing training materials and facilitating workshops.
• Experience with program evaluation, especially in youth development or outdoor education settings.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, multi‑stakeholder environment.

• Requisition Number: PRN
  43854B
• Department: 00198 – Parks Recreation and Tourism
• Work Schedule:
  
  Full Time
• Location:
  
  Campus (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Pay Rate Range: DOE / DOQ
• Close Date: 6/1/2026