Director of Strategic Research : District of Columbia, New York
Director of Strategic Research
Preferred location Brooklyn, NY or Washington, DC
The Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action (CPD/CPDA) is seeking a full-time Director of Strategic Research to help shape and execute the research components of our campaigns for economic justice, immigrants’ rights, and racial justice.
The Center for Popular Democracy/CPD Action builds organizing power and transforms the local, state, and national policy landscape through deep, long-term partnerships with leading community organizing groups and labor unions nationwide. CPD/CPDA collaborates with partners to build their internal strength, infrastructure and capacity – and to envision, run, and win campaigns to move a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial justice agenda at the city and state level.
About the Position
The Director will lead the strategic development of CPD/CPDA’s research agenda and collaborate closely with CPD/CPDA’s Senior Management Team on the development of new work areas. The Director will supervise, and work closely with, a team of researchers in performing exploratory campaign research, data gathering and analysis, creation of campaign materials (including major reports, data briefs, testimony, regulatory comments, and other materials for CPD/CPDA and our partner organizations), and community education materials.
Primary Responsibilities
- Identify opportunities for high-impact research that drives campaign momentum forward, working collaboratively with CPD/CPDA campaign staff and affiliates.
- Oversee project/publication planning and execution, and coordinate research support as needed across departments and throughout the CPD network of community organizations.
- Build research analysts’ capacity to: develop sophisticated analyses using a broad range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies; deliver excellent written and oral communication; and coordinate research content and report releases with advocacy goals and communications strategies.
- Provide regular supervision and feedback as well as periodic performance reviews.
- Create and maintain strong, meaningful relationships with CPD affiliates and allies including policy organizations, grassroots organizations, think tanks and academics.
- Provide expert communications on strategic research, including government testimony, public speaking, and print and broadcast media interviews.
- Fundraising, including grant writing and reporting, building strong relationships with foundation staff and individual donors, and locating new sources of funds.
CPD/CPDA is currently involved in over 40 active campaigns and projects. Examples of recent research can be found on our website (populardemocracy.org) in areas including:
- Challenging discriminatory policing policies and practices;
- Fighting overly aggressive immigration enforcement policies and advancing an affirmative agenda for immigrants’ rights, including municipal ID, language access, state citizenship, and non-citizen voting;
- Advancing next-generation wage and hour standards like sustainable scheduling, the right to full-time hours, and a right to earn sick leave;
- Designing policy solutions to help organize low-wage workers in industries including fast food, logistics/warehousing, retail, car wash, childcare, and others;
- Securing access to affordable, safe housing for urban communities and ensuring that states provide affordable housing region-wide;
- Advancing ambitious climate justice policies rooted in the priorities of low income communities and communities of color, such as cap & div policies;
- Pursuing a vision of quality public education for all, including accountability of charter schools and expansion of the community school model; and
- Building a stronger and more inclusive democracy by protecting the right to vote and winning pro-democracy reforms including automatic and same-day voter registration, ex-offender re-enfranchisement, redistricting and campaign finance reforms.
- Building political and organizing power to resist Trump’s attacks on workers, immigrants, communities of color, women and Muslims.
Job Requirements
- A demonstrated commitment to social justice issues, and a sophisticated analysis of racial justice as an imperative within both program areas and research products, as well as internal relationships and structures.
- A strong track record of managing high-quality policy reports from concept stage through public release.
- An advanced degree in public policy, social sciences, or another relevant field, or equivalent experience outside of academia.
- Familiarity with socioeconomic and political data sets and statistical methods and ability to assess and troubleshoot data approaches and findings; expertise in quantitative analysis preferred.
- Ability to conceptualize high-impact new projects and research agendas, policy priorities and content, and new work areas in alignment with evolving strategic goals and a changing political landscape.
- At least 7 years’ experience in public policy, and at least 3 years with base-building community or labor organizations.
- At least 2 years’ experience as a supervisor of research staff and manager of research projects in a public policy setting.
- High level strategic thinking.
- Fundraising knowledge, experience, and success.
Generous salary and benefits package, based on experience.
How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter through our hiring portal: https://cpd.hiringthing.com/job/46553/director-of-strategic-research
CPD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.
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