Job Details
Description
Position: Research Director
Department: Research
Reports to: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-Time
Union Status: Management, Not Union-Eligible
Salary: Range $110,000 to $130,000
About Us
The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a strong voice for transgender people in our nation's capital. NCTE advocates for policy change at federal, state, and local levels and works to increase societal understanding and acceptance of transgender people. NCTE has a serious commitment to approaching and engaging in its work with an awareness of how racial and economic justice is intertwined with transgender justice, and a commitment to ensuring that policymakers and society understand the connection as well. Launched in 2017, the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund (NCTE Action Fund) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit advocacy organization fighting for transgender equality at the local, state, and federal levels, and is affiliated with NCTE. The two organizations share resources and staff, including this position.
NCTE and the NCTE Action Fund recently announced a merger with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) to form a larger and stronger combined organization, Advocates for Transgender Equality (A4TE) and Advocates for Transgender Equality Education Fund (A4TE Education Fund). As NCTE is the current hiring entity, the Director of Research will continue employment with A4TE and A4TE Education Fund with no disruption as the organization changes its name.
Position Summary
The Director of Research is responsible for the successful strategy, design, and execution of a robust program of research to increase knowledge of the experiences and needs of transgender communities and advance transgender rights. This includes charting the organization's overall vision and approach to research-related initiatives while managing the department's independent projects and collaborating with external researchers, data scientists, partner organizations, and other stakeholders on data-driven campaigns and other research-related activities. This role will also involve regular engagement with a wide range of cross-movement advocates, attorneys, and policy experts to advance the organization's mission and goals in a variety of forums, building and nurturing relationships with new and existing partners, and elevating the voices and leadership of transgender people.
Duties and Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the research team in developing and driving the organization's short and long-term scientific goals and priorities. Maintain overall vision for the department.
- Serve as the lead researcher for the organization and maintain an active portfolio of research projects while supporting the department's staff in executing their own body of work. This includes staying abreast of current literature on transgender issues and populations, conducting independent analyses, and authoring written products for publication (including in peer-reviewed journals, as appropriate).
- Manage the department to effectively execute the organization's research-related goals, in service of the overall mission. This includes developing a strategy for building a team of researchers and related staff as funding allows.
- Develop and maintain adherence to strong data security policies and procedures to protect research participants and the integrity of the department.
- Maintain awareness of the organization's current policy priority areas and issue campaigns and identify opportunities to inject new or existing research to improve outcomes.
- Lead and/or manage the research team in developing materials for policymakers and the public, such as reports, fact sheets, and data visualizations. Work closely with appropriate communications and marketing staff to align on messaging and branding.
- Leverage research networks, national coalitions, and partner relationships to increase the impact of our research portfolio. Work with the Director of Federal Policy and the Director of State Policy and Engagement to engage professional and intergovernmental associations, academics, and grassroots activists in educational opportunities to disseminate research findings.
- Regularly advise other department directors and senior leadership on key research-related developments, news, and events. Collaborate with the Executive Director and other program directors as appropriate to develop strategic responses and identify opportunities to disseminate the organization's research products and develop new projects.
- Act as a spokesperson for the organization's research agenda within the scientific community, with policymakers, with press, and at public events.
- Supervise research department staff. Oversee consultants and vendor relationships as needed. Ensure that all supervisees have reasonable work plans and goals that reflect the organization's strategic plan and values, including values of racial and economic justice, and nurture our organizational culture of sustainable excellence and collaboration.
- As a member of the management team, provide vital input for short and long-term strategic and operational planning within the organization. Serve as a model contributing to a cohesive staff culture based on trust and respect.
- Work with senior staff and organizational leadership to track progress towards internal goals and evaluate organizational impact, in line with our strategic plan.
- Work closely with the Finance team to ensure that the work this position supervises does not exceed the allotted budget, applicable laws are complied with, and that, as a supervisor, human resources best practices are being followed.
Leadership and Management - Assisting in the drafting and oversight of the Research Team budget and supporting the creation and implementation of staff and team-wide policies and procedures.
- Contribute to the Research Team by participating in hiring processes and consulting on department policies, procedures, and infrastructure.
- Assist the Advancement, Public Education, and other Departments by providing updates about organization's research strategies and progress.
- Assist the Advancement Department with data collection for donor and funder proposal development and reporting.
- Public speaking in fundraising, media, and public education activities related to organization's research work.
- Other duties as assigned, including special projects as needed.
Required Qualifications and Skills We acknowledge that applicants from communities that have been historically marginalized are less likely to apply for positions unless they feel that they completely meet all qualifications listed in a job description. We understand that an ideal candidate might not completely meet the criteria listed above or be equally proficient in each area; we especially encourage applicants who are impacted by our work to submit their application anyway.
- Research Experience: At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in leading a research portfolio. An ideal candidate has more than five years of experience. A strong knowledge of at least one of the following areas: civil rights; health care; criminal justice; data collection and survey administration; poverty and economic security. Experience conducting large-scale research projects and familiarity with analysis of government datasets is preferred. Education or training in law, public policy, or related fields is a plus. Doctoral or Master's degree in social science or related field required.
- Leadership: Previous leadership experience-at least 7 years in a leadership or management role. Experience working at or in partnership with nonprofits a plus.
- Supervision and Management Experience: A minimum of 5 years of supervision, which includes successfully managing and developing a strong team of permanent, full-time employees. Academic researchers with experience leading multi-year projects with staff are considered candidates for this role.
- Organizational Experience: Direct experience in social justice, organizing, and/or movement building organizations. Experience with racial justice, centering anti-Blackness, intersectional analysis, trans, youth organizing, immigrant rights, disability justice, and/or LGBTQ movements.
- Trustworthy & Collaborative: Excellent relationship and trust building capabilities and a demonstrated track record building, leading, and managing teams; serving as a coach and mentor to staff across a range of areas. An earned reputation for being trustworthy, with excellent judgment and discretion. Kindness and strengths-based leadership: someone who sees value in every person and communicates respect and encouragement to people at all levels; a passionate investment in the well-being and success of staff. A willingness to accept input and feedback from colleagues at all levels of the organization.
- Communication Skills: Demonstrates strong persuasive, accessible, and analytical writing and editing for a variety of audiences. Excellent research, analysis, and public speaking skills. Ability to communicate complex policy analysis in an accessible manner.
- Responsive Problem-Solving Skills: Agile project management skills, ability to develop and implement new strategies and procedures, and meet multiple competing deadlines. Strong strategic thinking and analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Understanding of Transgender Justice: A deep and nuanced understanding of issues affecting transgender people as well as an understanding of how racism, classism, and other systems of inter-connected oppressions affect trans people. Strong belief in Advocates for Trans Equality's mission and the people who are driving the work forward.
- Understanding of Racial and Economic Justice: Ability to utilize a dynamic understanding of the impact of racial and economic justice and systems of inter-connected oppressions to improve equity in operations and organizational decision-making.
- Self-Direction: Initiative and ambition to ensure that all projects are moving forward. Ability to adapt as needed, self-manage, and prioritize between and manage multiple demands.
- Optimism: A positive and productive attitude to problem-solving within the context of intense social justice work. Optimistic and resourceful, with strong self-awareness, cultural competence, emotional intelligence, and humility; grounded and flexible with a high degree of integrity and transparency.
- Strength and Persistence: The ability to be exposed to transphobia and other kinds of discrimination or stress on a daily basis and keep fighting hard for transgender equality.
- Prioritization and Detail Orientation: Ability to set and meet goals, prioritize, plan, manage, and complete work on deadline and in optimum quality. Excellent planning, forecasting, strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Technological Knowledge: Experience in all areas of MS Office 365 and collaborative tools, such as Slack, Asana, and Zoom. Must have strong competencies in use of statistical analysis software, such as STATA, R, or other package. Must be able to work on PC platform.
Salary, Benefits and Location Salary for this role is $110,000 to $130,000.
This is a full-time, exempt, position that is not union eligible. This full-time position is 40 hours/week, typically Monday through Friday. All internal meetings take place between the core hours of 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, but staff have the flexibility to begin their day earlier (e.g. 8:00 a.m. ET) or end their day later (e.g. 6:30 p.m. ET).
NCTE and Advocates for Trans Equality offer a robust benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid?medical, vision, dental, and life insurance; employer contributions to spousal and dependent healthcare; employer contributions to retirement plan; remote work stipends; access to gender-affirming healthcare pool; name change support; generous time off, including paid holidays, paid vacation, sick time, and office-wide closures; wellness hours; volunteer hours; healthcare flex spending account; pre-tax commuter benefits; and professional development stipend.
The Director of Research position is remote within the contiguous United States. Location near a major airport is required. Occasional travel may be required.
Application and Timeline: Apply via our Applicant Portal at:
Please, no calls. For more information about timeline and what to expect during the application process, see
Equal Opportunity: We are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and disrespectful or other unprofessional conduct based on age, citizenship, color, creed, physical or mental disability, economic status, education, ethnicity, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, health status including HIV status, height, housing status, marital status, matriculation, national origin, physical appearance, race, religion, political affiliation, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, union membership, veteran status or other unlawful factors. This policy applies to all employment practices including, but not limited to recruiting, hiring, benefits, promotions, training, disciplinary action, and termination.
We are committed to creating a diverse staff made of people who are kind, optimistic and committed to social justice from all segments of transgender and allied communities.
Transgender people, including non-binary people, people of color, people who were formerly incarcerated, and people with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
We provide reasonable accommodations for the application, interview, or any other aspect of the employee selection process to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us via our confidential medical email at ...@transequality.org, so your request can be handled appropriately and confidentially.