Senior Research Analyst

Political Research Associates is seeking a Senior Research Analyst to  join a team of researchers who investigate, expose, and make strategic recommendations for counteracting bigoted and authoritarian movements and government repression and their impact on culture, policy, and social justice organizing. This role will focus on threats to reproductive justice and advise reproductive justice practitioners.

WHO WE ARE:

Political Research Associates is a social justice research and strategy center devoted to supporting organizations, civic leaders, journalists, and social sectors that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We provide changemakers with strategic insights and actionable research in order to identify, disrupt, and compete with movements and institutions that undermine democracy, justice, and human rights.

PRA produces investigative reports, articles, and tools; publishes the peer-reviewed magazine The Public Eye; advises social justice movement organizers; and offers expert commentary for local and national media outlets. Our core issue areas span reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, racial and immigrant justice, civil liberties, and economic justice. Our office is located in Somerville, Massachusetts.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Senior Research Analysts (SRA) inform change makers, journalists, scholars, and the general public through research, writing, briefings and presentations, and serving as strategic thought partners. SRAs are also project leaders, providing direction and proposing work in their area of expertise and otherwise advancing PRA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.

This Senior Research Analyst position is primarily responsible for the following:

Research threats to reproductive justice at the intersection of race, misogyny, and bodily autonomy using primary and secondary source data from organizations that oppose or pose existential threats, as well as examining related legislation, policies, and cultural phenomena.
Communicate your strategic insights and original analysis to reproductive health, rights, and justice practitioners, other PRA partners, and the wider public via articles and reports, presentations, and media engagements.
Engage with and inform organizers and leaders in the Reproductive Justice and broader gender and social justice movements; form and engage with an advisory group; and lead or participate in relevant convenings.
Design research projects that enhance opportunities to weaken reproductive justice antagonists and expand the power and effectiveness of proponents. Innovate new areas of work that align with PRA’s strategic plan. Collaborate with colleagues in the research team and others across the organization.

This Senior Research Analyst position reports to the Research Director or Deputy Research Director and does not have supervisory responsibilities.

WHO YOU ARE & KEYS TO SUCCESS:

To be successful in this job, you will excel in four areas:

Authentic and accountable: You bring at least 5 years direct experience working with BIPOC-led reproductive justice organizers and advocates and are familiar with the broader landscape of U.S. racial, gender, and social justice organizing. You have extensive relationships with social justice movements and communities most targeted by the Right. Your research is grounded in deep study of the opposition’s strategies and keen awareness of the experiences of the communities most harmed. A good listener, you value others’ perspectives and are practiced at aligning multiple parties around reproductive justice goals. Racial, gender, and economic justice are elemental to your understanding of social justice.
Research vision and goal-setting: You are equipped to anchor assigned research area. You are experienced researching and writing about threats to reproductive justice, including attacks on abortion and contraception access, and how the opposition interacts with issues including race, government repression, economic issues, law enforcement, geography, immigration, education access, employment, ability/disability, and civic engagement. You quickly grasp the subtleties of complex issues, know how to identify patterns and synthesize information, and thrive on formulating insightful, pragmatic research conclusions.

Strategist’s mind: You believe in the importance of identifying our opponents’ strategies, strengths, and weaknesses in order to develop effective countermeasures. You are motivated by the opportunity to use research and education to strengthen the reproductive justice movement and weaken its opponents. You plan ahead and are able to adapt to the evolving needs of the field. You have a successful track record of taking a concept from idea to implementation.

Savvy and compassionate communication: You have a successful track record of clear writing and compelling presentation of your research findings, including action recommendations. You will propose mission-driven work plans to address key threats and reach target audiences. You are able to demonstrate your past experience with media relations, writing, public speaking, and other forms of communication. You organize and share information effectively and take pride in providing clear, helpful information. You are open to feedback and are committed to the highest level of accuracy and attention to detail in your work.

SALARY, BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Salary: This is a full-time salaried position ($75,000-$80,000/year).

Paid Time off:

Paid Vacation Leave: 15 paid vacation days per year
Paid Holidays:  3 PRA Holidays + 12 Choose-your-own Holidays
Paid Office Closures: 5 day Winter Break
Paid Health & Wellness Leave: 6 hours accrued per pay period up to 200 hours
Additional: 4-day/32-hour work week pilot starting in Spring 2023. Eligible for 2 month paid sabbatical after reaching 5 years tenure. Civic Duty Leave; Bereavement Leave; PFML

Other Benefits:

100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. PRA also offers a 5% employer contribution of salary towards a socially responsible retirement fund, anniversary bonuses, as well as fabulous colleagues in a collaborative working environment and $1000 professional development.

This job is covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, CWA Local 32035.

Location:

Remote or Greater Boston area. This position is eligible for full telecommuting or you can choose to work from our office in Somerville, Massachusetts. Relocation assistance is provided. PRA’s office hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET, but we offer flexible schedules to all employees.

Political Research Associates is committed to hiring someone with the right mix of experience (both traditional and nontraditional), social justice commitment, and potential to grow with us. We strongly encourage people from communities most negatively affected by right-wing ideologies & campaigns to apply, particularly: people of color; immigrants; women and feminine-identified people; lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and Two-Spirit people; genderqueer, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people.