Research Administrator

The Public Interest Network•Denver, CO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Interest Network is hiring a Research Administrator who will work closely with leadership staff to develop our in-house “think tank,” which is dedicated to re-orienting America’s political and cultural conversation around the problems that accompany economic growth. According to a recent study in Nature, the combined mass of man-made things now outweighs all life on Earth. We already produce more food than we can eat and more clothes than we can wear. But as humankind finally transcends material scarcity and its attendant hardships, our institutions and habits of thought have not kept up. Our continued, blind pursuit of limitless economic growth and job creation, done in the name of overcoming scarcity, now threatens our survival and flourishing more than it aids it. Among the alarming downstream consequences of our profoundly outdated priorities: climate crisis, the destabilization of work and identity in an economy increasingly capable of meeting material needs with less human labor, the rise of populists both on the left and the right urging a return to an unrecoverable past, and a collapse of faith in politics to solve today’s challenges. It’s time to change our thinking and ask big questions, like: Why do we still treat economic growth as synonymous with progress, even as its costs overwhelm its benefits? What if the real challenge of automation is not job loss, but our inability to imagine a good life beyond traditional employment?

Requirements

You’re interested in solving big problems. You have a strong affinity for our vision of a new politics that faces today’s challenges head on.
You’re proactive. When you see a problem to solve or something to be done, you do it.
You’re smart, detail-oriented, and organized. You can manage multiple projects and you thrive when under a deadline.
You’re open-minded. You can get your head around complex issues, are willing to have open dialogue about problems, and are okay working with people whose viewpoints may differ.
You’re accountable. You respect goals and deadlines.
You're ready to put in the hard work to start from scratch with just an idea and help turn it into a lasting institution.

Nice To Haves

Ideal candidates will have 1-3 years of experience, but entry-level candidates with a passion for our issues, mission, and values are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Procuring, organizing, and archiving useful resources for research projects.
Keeping track of various think tank projects, and providing regular updates to leadership.
Building our list of potential contacts and collaborators, like-minded organizations, and relevant conferences.
Exploring potential funding opportunities and presenting findings to leadership staff.
Coordinating weekly team calls and ad hoc meetings and retreats.
Maintaining the team’s budget and processing expenses.
Potential additional projects such as helping to create and curate a monthly publication or managing an intern program.
Working with other departments and teams in The Public Interest Network as needed to provide organizational support.