1) Research Associate
The Democracy Collaborative, a national research institute dedicated to the development of innovative strategies for the democratization of wealth, seeks an experienced research associate to assist our research department.
Application Deadline: February 12th, 2016
Salary: $42,000 to $52,000, depending on work experience and academic qualifications. Job includes a generous benefits package including health care, three weeks of paid vacation per year, and an employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan.
Length of position: Two-year commitment (contingent on satisfactory 90-day and annual review) necessary to ensure continuity of support. Position can extend beyond two years by mutual agreement.
Location: Currently Takoma Park, Maryland. As of June 2016, the position will be based in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.
Start date: March 1, 2015. Earlier or later start date will be considered
Overview:
The Democracy Collaborative is a national leader in equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development through its Community Wealth Building Initiative. This initiative supports a range of advisory, research and field building activities to transform community and economic development, including research, training, policy development, and community-focused work, to promote an asset-based paradigm of economic development and increase transformative strategies among community stakeholders, anchor institutions, and key policymakers. The Democracy Collaborative is also dedicated to identifying the economic, social, and environmental challenges facing the United States and the world, and proposing institutional and systemic alternatives.
This position would support The Democracy Collaborative’s research department through work on Community Wealth Building (community-wealth.org), systemic change (nextsystemproject.org), and other initiatives. The initial primary focus would be on understanding land ownership and housing policy in connection with community economic development, environmental sustainability, and systemic change. This position offers a unique opportunity to advance innovative, multi-sector policy and best practices that can have a transformative impact on local economies and low-income communities as well as engage with national and international discussion around social justice, alternative economics, and environmental sustainability.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Research, co-write, edit, and promote a report concerning community economic development, land ownership and use, and gentrification. Provide research and logistical support to a variety of projects focused on community economic development, Community Wealth Building, alternative political-economic theory, and systemic change. Research and write policy memos, briefs, reports, summaries, blogs and other publications. Assist in organizing logistics and planning content for conferences, webinars, and meetings of various sizes. Schedule and conduct one-on-one and focus group interviews. Update and write new content for the Community-Wealth.org website related to research conducted. Assist with other ongoing projects and research for papers and reports as requested by the Research Director.
Education/Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years relevant experience or Master’s Degree plus 2 years relevant experience. Background and understanding of Community Wealth Building. Experience and/or knowledge regarding the land use policies of state and municipal governments. Experience and/or knowledge in the fields of community-based economic development and/or land use, housing, gentrification, land trusts, etc.
Other Requirements:
Willingness to work flexible hours independently with clear deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Willingness to travel (with varying frequency). Strongly articulated interest in and commitment to sustainable and equitable development and positive social change. Demonstrated excellence in writing and communication. (Specifically, having the ability to convey relevant information concisely and clearly for multiple, distinct audiences.) Strong interpersonal communication skills and the capacity to work constructively in teams. Demonstrated experience with conducting research and interviews. An ability to work with diverse audiences, including local government, community-based groups, as well as anchor institution, philanthropic, nonprofit and business sectors.
The Democracy Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer—people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply; we are committed to a diverse workplace, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.
How to apply
Send résumé/CV with references, a detailed cover letter regarding your interest in and desire to make a contribution to the kind of work being done by The Democracy Collaborative, and a relevant writing sample to jobs@democracycollaborative.org including “Research Associate” in the subject line. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant. No phone calls please. We will contact all candidates who qualify for first-round interviews.
2) Research Assistant
Research Assistant (Gar Alperovitz, www.garalperovitz.com; The Democracy Collaborative: http:democracycollaborative.org/; Community Wealth:www.community-wealth.org)
The Democracy Collaborative, a national research institute dedicated to the development of innovative strategies for the democratization of wealth, seeks a skilled research assistant to help us advance our mission.
Application Deadline: February 12th, 2016
Salary: $38,000 to $45,000, depending on work experience and academic qualifications. Job includes a generous benefits package including health care, three weeks of paid vacation per year, and an employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan.
Length of position: Two-year commitment (contingent on satisfactory 90-day and annual review) necessary to ensure continuity of support. Position can extend beyond two years by mutual agreement.
Location: Currently Adams Morgan area of Washington, D.C. As of June 2016, the position will be based in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.
Start date: March 1, 2015. Earlier or later start date will be considered
Basic Function:
Provides research assistance in support of The Democracy Collaborative generally and, specifically, progressive political-economist and historian Gar Alperovitz, co-founder of The Democracy Collaborative and author of What Then Must We Do?[Chelsea Green 2013], America Beyond Capitalism [Wiley 2005], Just Deserts [New Press, 2008], Making a Place for Community [Routledge 2003], and The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb [Knopf 1995]. Undertakes short and long-term research assignments for Gar Alperovitz under the supervision of the Research Director. Also occasionally assists with research, writing, and media projects in support of broader work for The Democracy Collaborative.
Must be comfortable working almost exclusively in a support role. Must be pleasant and personable on a daily basis. Must be extremely reliable and present in our Washington D.C. offices on a full time basis (5 days a week, regular office hours). Must have good research, writing, and editing skills. Must have experience with archival research, index and citation searches, academic databases, and web-based research. Must have an exceptional attention to detail and accuracy. Must be able to research and write quickly, and under deadlines. Must be able to process and prioritize research and writing requests.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Research Assistance
At the request of Gar Alperovitz and or the Research Director, researches and collects documents and information from various sources (including government agencies, universities, libraries, newspapers, journals, non-profit research organizations, etc.) for short and long-term research projects on a broad range of topics including, but not limited to: social security; health care reform; tax policy; income distribution; public and nonprofit forms of business ownership; labor unions; energy and climate change; state, local, and federal economic policy; systemic change; economic and political theory and history; and other issues in American politics and economics. Collects and prepares data from various sources for qualitative (and occasionally quantitative) analysis. Compiles, reads, synthesizes, analyzes, and organizes written and electronic material into summarized form. Analyzes and produces written summaries of quantitative data. Provides writing and editing assistance for research products in preparation for publication. Provides general research on a variety of short-term projects.
Education/Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in a social science and 2 years of relevant work experience is required (e.g., policy work, research experience, and/or administrative work). Master’s degree is preferred. Evidence of previous work demonstrating reliability, a very high degree of accuracy, and attention to detail is critical.
Other Requirements
Familiarity and interest in left/progressive American politics, economics, and history broadly defined is required. A strongly articulated commitment to positive social change is required. Familiarity with the work of Gar Alperovitz and The Democracy Collaborative is important. At a minimum, must be proficient working in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Must have a knowledge of library and online research resources with capacity to conduct independent research desired. Must have a basic knowledge of computers, computer networks, and computer troubleshooting. Must be highly organized with an attention to detail; precision is critical. Must have strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to work in a support role. Must have an exceptional ability to synthesize information and write clearly and precisely without supervision.
The Democracy Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer—people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply; we are committed to a diverse workplace, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.
How to apply
Send résumé/CV with references, a detailed cover letter regarding your interest in and desire to make a contribution to the kind of work being done by The Democracy Collaborative and our co-founder Dr. Gar Alperovitz, and a relevant writing sample tojobs@democracycollaborative.org including “Research Assistant Job” in the subject line. Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant. No phone calls please. We will contact all candidates who qualify for first-round interviews.
