Translational Research Specialist

The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver (DU) was created under the leadership of the Governor’s Office to unlock data-informed solutions to our most pressing social problems. Working together with a broad range of government and community partners, we conduct research with rigor to obtain the best available evidence to inform policies, programs, and investments. Our goal is to leverage data to inform policy and practice, set the wheels in motion to achieve and sustain change, and position our partners to pursue additional, meaningful change for the communities they serve with the guidance of eight essential elements.

The Colorado Lab works closely with a network of affiliated researchers throughout the state and nationally. Colorado Lab staff are required to possess a solid intuitive understanding of rigorous research methods and why they work, strong written and oral communication skills for explaining technical topics to non-experts, and coding skills necessary to manage and analyze data efficiently. Staff members are expected to engage in a collaborative learning environment where employees are highly responsive to each other as well as to government and research partners. Staff hold themselves and each other responsible for completing high quality, well-documented work in a timely fashion.

Position Summary

The Colorado Lab seeks to hire a Translational Research Specialist. This position will report to the Executive Director of the Lab, with day-to-day supervision provided by a Project Director or Sr Project Director. This role sits at the intersection of evidence generation and evidence mobilization. The Translational Research Specialist contributes to the full arc of research—from visioning and executing on components of studies to moving evidence into action across Colorado’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The position is integral to advancing the Lab’s Mobilize Evidence for Impact pillar by supporting translational opportunities, converting research products into actionable formats, and facilitating evidence use in decision-making spaces.

Funding for this position is secured through June 30, 2028 with the possibility of an extension based on funding.

Essential Functions

Conduct Evidence-Building Research and Evaluation

• Support translation of policy and practice questions into research designs; support development of data collection instruments and analytic plans.
• Execute on quantitative research design and analysis tasks, including: manage and clean datasets; perform descriptive and inferential analyses (e.g., regression, ANOVA) with well-documented, replicable code;
• Execute on qualitative research design and analysis tasks, including protocol development, conducting interviews, and coding of data.
• Evaluate dissemination and impact of research translation models and activities, and document learnings for cross-project transferability
• Support early steps to building evidence, such as theory of change development, fidelity monitoring, and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Develop documentation to support replicability; provide technical assistance to partners during study execution.
• Shepherd projects through the Institutional Review Board process.

Lead Project Management for Research, Evaluation, and Translational Activities

• Proactively manage project components involving multiple partners, tight deadlines, sensitive data, and potentially high-profile or politically sensitive topics.
• Create and manage work plans; recommend deviations from project plans as appropriate; help keep project teams organized and on track.
• Collaborate on the development of grant proposals; contribute to project scoping, budgeting, and reporting.
• Document processes for research translation activities and maintain templates, with the goal of replicability and scaling.

Translate Research into Decision-Ready Products and Communications

• Consult with Project Directors to identify how new deliverables can be tailored to diverse audiences and align with emerging policy or budget windows.
• Convert existing Lab research products into actionable formats tailored to decision-maker audiences (e.g., evaluation reports into legislative memos, findings into story walks or visual displays, data summaries into budget decision items).
• Develop knowledge products—including policy briefs, rapid-response memos, data visualizations, and presentations—that pair rigorous evidence with clear interpretation and specific recommendations for action.
• Apply a nonpartisan approach to research interpretation and presentation of findings to promote credibility and utility across decision-making spaces and leadership changes

Identify and Develop Translational Research Opportunities

• Support the annual discovery sprint process to surface time-sensitive policy and practice opportunities for research translation, including interviews with Project Directors and select external partners.
• Apply the Lab’s translational research readiness rubric to score and prioritize opportunities, considering policy/practice windows, evidence maturity, decision proximity, relational capital, and strategic fit.
• Help Project Directors develop mental models for mobilizing research within project workplans; support identification of braided funding opportunities for translational activities.

Facilitate Evidence Use Through Partnerships and Convenings

• Support partner meetings, convenings, and policy events to translate Lab findings for decision makers—acting as an honest broker between research teams, agency partners, policymakers, and nonprofits.
• Support planning and execution of research and action exchange events (e.g., Family Impact Seminars) or similar events that promote evidence-informed dialogue between researchers and policymakers.
• Assist Project Directors with legislative outreach and help steward long-term relationships with government partners, community organizations, and researchers
• Using the principles of evidence-based decision making, provide technical tools, coaching, and facilitation to bridge the gap between evidence building and evidence use for state agencies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated passion for improving government performance and addressing complex social problems.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.
• Persuasive and strategic communication skills—written, oral, and visual—with demonstrated ability to translate technical findings into clear, compelling narratives for policymakers, practitioners, and lay audiences.
• Exceptional project management capabilities with a track record of managing multiple complex priorities, partners, and deadlines in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in science communication, research translation, or knowledge mobilization—including converting research products into actionable formats for decision makers and facilitating nonpartisan dialogue.
• Familiarity with knowledge translation frameworks and the research-to-policy literature (e.g., knowledge-to-action cycle, implementation science, use of research evidence)
• Track record of building trust and navigating complex organizations, including productive engagement with government partners and senior leaders.
• Self-motivated with strong attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and orientation toward balancing rigor, timeliness, and relevance.

Required Qualifications

• Masters Degree in psychology, public health, human development, public policy, sociology or anthropology, prevention science, or related field
• Graduate-level coursework in research methods, statistics, econometrics, or psychometrics
• At least five years of relevant work experience, two of which must be at the Colorado Lab or a similar organization in an applied research or evaluation setting
• Prior experience with project management of research and evaluation projects
• Experience working with large administrative datasets
• Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language (R, Stata, SAS, Python).
• Experience working with government and the policymaking process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Post-master’s coursework or training that is relevant to position (e.g., project management, science communication)
• Experience working with local, state, or federal government.
• In-depth knowledge of at least one major area of domestic social policy
• Experience with qualitative data collection involving policymakers, executive branch staff, and/or legislative staff
• Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce), survey tools (e.g., REDCap), or data visualization software

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Must be based in the Denver region with a balance of virtual and in-person work.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 10, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number
The salary grade for the position is 12.

Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $86,500.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.