Job Announcement: Research Associate
Applications due April 29, 2024
Position Overview
The Coalition of Communities of Color’s Research Justice Institute is seeking an outstanding researcher to join our team as a Research Associate. The ideal candidate will have strong writing and communication skills and be committed to working with communities of color.
As Research Associate, you will help lead and support a wide range of research projects and activities, such as collecting and analyzing qualitative data, directly engaging community members, and drafting reports and literature reviews. At any one time, you may be working on issues including health, environmental justice, education, transportation, and beyond. You will develop a strong understanding of how to apply a framework for research equity and justice when working on these issues.
In addition to leading and supporting research through its various stages – research design, data collection and analysis, and reporting – you will build out the public presence of the Research Justice Institute by launching and creating our new blog, drafting research briefs that are accessible to our communities, and convening a network of BIPOC researchers.
Experience with using and analyzing qualitative data and outstanding writing skills are essential for this role. You will have many opportunities to grow your expertise and apply it to community data both locally and across Oregon.
This is your chance to be part of a close, highly collaborative team that is deeply committed to research equity and justice. You will have an unparalleled opportunity to learn and grow your expertise about community data and research justice for BIPOC communities. Your research contributions will enable us to take action for systems change as we take on urgent issues, build capacity among our BIPOC partners and community members, and use our research to move policymakers and institutions toward racial equity.
Download a detailed job description here.
About the Coalition of Communities of Color and the Research Justice Institute
Formed in 2001, the Coalition of Communities of Color is an alliance of culturally-specific community-based organizations engaged in collective action for racial justice. We work to improve outcomes for communities of color through advocacy, environmental justice, and research. Learn more about the Coalition of Communities of Color and our member organizations.
Your Role
Research and analysis: Your role will focus on a wide range of research projects and data analysis, all in close collaboration with the research team. Your work will help power our research projects by:
Co-constructing every aspect of the research process, from project design and data collection methods to community involvement and sharing our research with key audiences
Leading or co-leading parts of the components of the research and data lifecycle
Conducting qualitative analysis for research projects
Drafting elements of our research reports
Completing literature reviews and searching for data on topics to inform our current and upcoming research projects
Engaging and recruiting community members and partners to participate in our research and data collection efforts
Building the Research Justice Institute’s public presence: You will increase the impact of our work and amplify the visibility of our research by:
Launching and leading our new Research Justice Institute blog, generating original content addressing key research justice and equity issues
Drafting new community briefs to more effectively communicate our research projects to the public and the communities we serve and the broader public
Leading CCC’s BIPOC Research Network: You will build and strengthen relationships between CCC and BIPOC researchers, data workers, evaluators, students, and community outreach/engagement experts across Oregon by:
Managing and administering the new CCC BIPOC Researcher Network, including establishing a member database
Regularly communicating to the network and public communicate through our website content
Convening members of the network at annual gatherings
Qualifications
A successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
Bachelors or Masters degree in a social science or humanities discipline and/or 2–4 years work experience leading and supporting research projects that engage the public and in particular, communities of color
Clear, concise, and accessible research writing, with the ability to produce high quality research reports
Excellent project management skills with ability to lead implementation of major projects and work on multiple projects simultaneously
An understanding of how institutional use of data and research can benefit or harm communities of color
Ability to effectively communicate with partners verbally and in writing
Ability to work closely with colleagues in a dynamic environment
Commitment to racial justice and building power for communities of color
These qualifications are a plus:
Familiarity with quantitative data systems methods and analysis as well as the role of community-based data
Knowledge of conducting, visualizing, and explaining qualitative data analysis
An understanding of how institutional use of data and research can benefit or harm communities of color
Experience working with culturally specific community based organizations, local government, and nonprofit partners
Compensation
This is a full time, exempt position with a salary range of $65,386–$74,467. CCC works to provide our staff with support for their health and wellbeing and recognize the value of their work through the following benefits:
Paid time off: 15 days paid vacation in the first year of employment, increasing with tenure at the organization; 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and one week office closure in December.
Insurance: Medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance for the employee, with 100% of premiums paid by CCC.
Additional benefits: Flexible Spending Account (health savings and daycare), Transportation Savings Account, Employee Assistance Program, monthly phone and transportation stipends, and full reimbursements for the employee’s Paid Leave Oregon contributions. Employees may enroll in a matching 401k retirement plan after one year of employment.
CCC also provides resources to support the training, skill-building, and professional development of our staff.
Work Environment
CCC had a hybrid work schedule, with our office located in downtown Portland. You must live in or be willing to move within commuting distance of the office.
To apply
Please send a cover letter (no more than two pages) and resume to HR@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org, with the subject line “Research Associate — [First and Last Name].”
Please label your application materials with the following format: "[First and Last Name] - Resume" and "[First and Last Name] - Cover Letter."
Applications are due Monday, April 29. You will be contacted if selected for an interview.