[Hiring] Director of Research @NDWA

Role Description

As Director of Research at NDWA, you will lead the development and implementation of the organization’s research agenda, aligning with NDWA’s strategic goals and theory of change. This role is pivotal in strengthening NDWA's research capacity while ensuring our research directly informs advocacy, organizing, and policy development. You will lead rigorous research initiatives that use data collected via NDWA channels and by external sources to build a deeper understanding of domestic workers' experiences and evaluate the impact of policies and interventions intended to improve their lives. Working within the Policy & Advocacy department, you will also mentor and build a Research Team dedicated to understanding the experiences and amplifying the voices of domestic workers through rigorous research and insightful analysis.

Primary Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of NDWA’s research agenda and strategy that aligns with NDWA’s strategic plan, goals, and theory of change.
• Oversee the conduct of periodic online surveys for domestic workers via the organization’s digital media products (including La Alianza), as well as the analysis, interpretation, and communication of data from these surveys.
• Lead and design research projects as Principal Investigator, with a focus on policy impact evaluation and primary research on domestic worker conditions.
• Apply advanced quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze large datasets, including survey data, administrative data, and primary data collection.
• Produce rigorous, engaging research deliverables (e.g., reports, briefs, presentations, and other materials) that can easily inform multiple audiences, including domestic workers, philanthropic partners, academic and program partners, press, and other external partners.
• Lead the development and implementation of research standards and methodological best practices across the team, including establishing protocols for ethical research, data collection, and quality control that align with rigorous social science methods.
• Design and implement worker-centered research approaches, including participatory methods and feedback loops with domestic workers, to ensure research methods and findings reflect worker experiences while building research capacity across the team.
• Advise internal teams on strategies and methods to understand the characteristics and conditions of domestic workers.
• Build and maintain research partnerships with academic institutions, policy research organizations, and other external collaborators.
• Supervise a team of researchers.
• Manage team budget, structure, processes and resource allocation.
• Lead the development of research grant proposals and manage research project budgets, working in collaboration with development team and external partners.
• Work closely with organization leaders to ensure research informs NDWA's work.

Qualifications

• PhD in economics, sociology, public policy, or related social science field strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience conducting policy-relevant research using mixed methods approaches.
• Demonstrated expertise in quasi-experimental methods and analysis of large datasets.
• Proven track record leading complex research projects as Principal Investigator.
• Experience developing and implementing research standards and protocols in community-based settings.
• Strong quantitative skills with proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Stata, R).

Leadership, Management, and Collaboration

• Experience managing and mentoring junior researchers. Should demonstrate strong leadership skills, with an emphasis on mentorship, capacity building, and promoting a culture of data literacy and contextual analysis within the organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities, capable of working collaboratively across teams and with external partners. Must be skilled at building relationships, facilitating learning, and mobilizing diverse stakeholders around shared goals and strategies.
• Proven ability to build and maintain research partnerships across academic and community organizations.
• Track record of translating complex research for diverse audiences through publications, reports, and presentations.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.

Values & Understanding

• Deep understanding of domestic worker issues and commitment to worker-centered research approaches.
• Alignment with NDWA's vision and commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Additional

• Spanish proficiency is a plus.
• Ability to travel as needed.

How to Apply

Please apply directly to the job posting and send Resume and Cover letter. Applications will only be accepted electronically, and solicitations to individual staff are unlikely to be responded to.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NDWA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.