Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Research Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

As a Justice Research Supervisor, you are the cornerstone of our mission to advance fair and effective justice systems through evidence-based insights. This is not just a management role; you are a player-coach, a mentor, and a strategic thinker who guides a talented team of researchers in tackling some of the most pressing challenges in criminal and civil justice. You will be instrumental in designing, executing, and disseminating high-impact research that informs policymakers, practitioners, and the public. Your leadership will ensure our work is methodologically sound, ethically conducted, and ultimately, a catalyst for positive change. We are looking for a passionate leader who can translate complex data into compelling narratives and actionable recommendations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Research Analyst / Senior Researcher (Justice or Social Policy)
Lead Data Analyst (Government or Non-Profit)
Policy Manager with a strong research background

Advancement To:

Director of Research and Evaluation
Head of Policy and Research
Assistant/Deputy Director of a research-focused organization

Lateral Moves:

Senior Program Manager or Director
Principal Policy Advisor
Senior Consultant (Justice Sector)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Team Leadership & Mentorship: Supervise, train, and mentor a team of research analysts and associates, fostering their professional growth and ensuring high-quality work output through regular feedback and performance management.
Research Design & Strategy: Conceptualize, design, and direct sophisticated mixed-methods research projects that address critical questions in the justice system, from initial problem formulation to the selection of appropriate methodologies.
Project Management Oversight: Oversee the entire lifecycle of multiple complex research projects simultaneously, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and in full alignment with strategic objectives and grant requirements.
Advanced Data Analysis & Interpretation: Lead the team in conducting advanced quantitative and qualitative data analysis using statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS) and qualitative tools, and guide the interpretation of findings to extract meaningful, actionable insights.
Reporting & Dissemination: Author and meticulously edit comprehensive research reports, policy briefs, academic journal articles, and presentations that effectively communicate complex findings to a wide range of audiences, including policymakers, funders, and community stakeholders.
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration: Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key external partners, including government agencies, court administrators, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions, to facilitate data access and research partnerships.
Quality Assurance & Ethical Oversight: Establish and enforce rigorous standards for data quality, research integrity, and ethical conduct, including the protection of confidential information and human subjects, ensuring compliance with IRB protocols.
Grant & Proposal Development: Play a lead role in identifying funding opportunities and writing compelling grant proposals and responses to RFPs to secure funding for new and ongoing research initiatives.
Strategic Contribution: Actively contribute to the organization’s research agenda and strategic planning processes, identifying emerging trends and gaps in justice system research to guide future work.
Public Representation: Represent the organization and present research findings at national conferences, expert panels, legislative briefings, and community meetings to enhance the visibility and impact of our work.
Program Evaluation Leadership: Design and lead rigorous evaluations of justice system programs, policies, and interventions to assess their effectiveness, efficiency, and equity.
Data Governance: Oversee the development and management of data-sharing agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and data governance protocols with partner agencies.
Technical Guidance: Serve as the primary subject matter expert and technical advisor on research methods, statistical analysis, and data interpretation for both the research team and other departments within the organization.
Budget Management: Develop and manage project and departmental budgets, ensuring responsible fiscal stewardship and accurate financial reporting to funders and internal leadership.
Staff Development: Create and implement professional development plans for research staff, identifying training opportunities to build team capacity in new methodologies and technologies.

Secondary Functions

Develop innovative data visualization strategies to make research findings more accessible and impactful for non-technical audiences.
Conduct systematic literature reviews and environmental scans to keep the team and the broader organization informed about the latest research and policy developments.
Provide rapid-response research and data analysis to inform fast-moving policy debates or media inquiries.
Mentor interns and fellows, providing them with a substantive and formative experience in the field of justice research.
Collaborate with the communications team to translate research findings into compelling content for websites, social media, and press releases.
Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer emerging questions from leadership or external partners.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and infrastructure roadmap by identifying needs for new tools, data sources, or analytical platforms.
Participate in organizational strategic initiatives and cross-departmental working groups to ensure a research perspective is integrated into all aspects of our work.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced Statistical Analysis: Deep proficiency in multivariate statistical methods (e.g., regression modeling, survival analysis) and demonstrated expertise using statistical software like R, Stata, and/or SPSS.
Mixed-Methods Research Design: Proven ability to design and implement rigorous quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, including surveys, structured interviews, focus groups, and case studies.
Project Management: Expertise in managing complex projects from inception to completion, including proficiency with project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello) and methodologies.
Data Management & Governance: Experience working with and managing large-scale administrative datasets (e.g., court, corrections, or law enforcement data), including data cleaning, processing, and ensuring data security.
Qualitative Data Analysis: Proficiency with qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose) and techniques for thematic analysis and coding.
Scientific & Technical Writing: Exceptional ability to write clearly and persuasively for different audiences, from detailed technical reports and academic papers to accessible policy briefs.
Program Evaluation: Strong theoretical and applied knowledge of evaluation frameworks and methods (e.g., RCTs, quasi-experimental designs) to measure program impact and outcomes.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Supervision: Natural ability to lead, motivate, and develop a diverse team of researchers, fostering a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing work environment.
Critical & Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture, connect research to broader policy goals, and anticipate future challenges and opportunities in the justice landscape.
Communication & Public Speaking: Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and confidently present complex information to executives, policymakers, and the public.
Stakeholder Management: A high degree of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill to build and maintain trust-based relationships with a wide variety of internal and external partners.
Problem-Solving: A creative and analytical approach to overcoming research hurdles, from navigating data access challenges to adapting methodologies as a project evolves.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a dynamic environment, able to manage competing priorities and deadlines with a calm and focused demeanor.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required.

Preferred Education:

A Ph.D. or J.D. is strongly preferred, as it demonstrates a deep commitment to and advanced training in research, theory, or law.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Criminology / Criminal Justice
Sociology
Public Policy / Public Administration
Political Science
Economics
Statistics
Law (J.D.)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

A minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in applied social science research, with at least 2-3 of those years in a supervisory, mentorship, or lead researcher capacity.

Preferred:

Direct experience working with or within justice system agencies (e.g., courts, corrections, law enforcement, public defense).
A proven track record of securing grants or other funding for research projects.
A portfolio of published research reports, peer-reviewed articles, or other relevant publications.
Experience managing research contracts and relationships with external consultants or academic partners.