Research Associate
About The Position
The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) is a not-for-profit, grant making organization that believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks a Research Associate for the Presidential Initiatives team. Program Overview: The Foundation’s Presidential Initiatives support a wide range of creativity, culture, and knowledge production and dissemination in defined topical areas. Our current initiatives are grounded in the arts and humanities and address some of the most pressing issues of the day. Across our grantmaking, we partner with organizations, governments, and community-based groups to advance projects that elevate multivocal perspectives, facilitate creative expression, and nurture human potential. Specifically, the Presidential Initiatives portfolio includes three defined initiatives: The Monuments Project, a five-year commitment to transform the United States commemorative landscape. A multi-year effort to build sustainable cultural infrastructure in Puerto Rico, through support for the arts, humanities, and cultural heritage. Imagining Freedom supports artistic and humanistic work that centers the voices and knowledge of people who have experienced the impacts of incarceration. The Office of the President also shepherds a handful of exploratory or discretionary grants each year. Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Presidential Initiatives, the Research Associate prepares research-based analysis of topics related to the program’s grantmaking; provides writing and analysis for correspondence, presentations, strategic memorandum, and reports; and collaborates with other research related functions across the Foundation. They may also assist in the review and preparation of materials in the grantmaking process and coordinate with external consultants who are conducting research on behalf of the program. This role will include occasional travel for site visits and research, meetings, and programs nationwide.
Requirements
- Commitment to the Foundation’s mission, core values, and focus on social justice. Demonstrated experience regarding the commemorative landscape, criminal legal system, and/or the arts and cultural landscape of Puerto Rico.
- Experience designing research projects that involve data collection and analysis, including
- A demonstrated ability to use quantitative and qualitative research methods and relevant analytical tools (e.g., relational databases, CSV/spreadsheet formats)
- Demonstrated computer skills including competency with MS Office and familiarity with digital data management, visualization, and analysis applications (Fluxx, Power BI, ArcGIS StoryMaps, etc.), or a willingness to learn and experiment is desirable.
- Strong oral, written, and visual communication skills
- Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work with minimal direct supervision on multiple projects and matters at once while maintaining congeniality.
- An orientation toward self-starting, proactive anticipation of team needs, and creative problem solving.
Responsibilities
- Prepare carefully developed, concisely written, and clearly illustrated analytical and evaluative reports regarding Presidential Initiatives’ existing and prospective grantmaking.
- Conduct quantitative and/or qualitative research in connection with past, current, and new program grantmaking, initiatives, and strategies.
- Occasionally prepare briefing materials and reports for the Presidential Initiatives Program Director, Foundation Vice President, President, and program team, as assigned.
- Co-create and coordinate special research projects to inform grantmaking and other strategic initiatives.
- Develop and coordinate research to inform site visits, and convenings.
- Participate in meetings with current and potential grantees.
- Collaborate with other research-related functions and working groups across the Foundation (e.g., the Office of Learning and Evaluation) on organization-wide research and records management projects.
- Coordinate with Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning on general records keeping/management work, such as electronic filing, maintaining grant records, and responding to requests for information.
- Co-develop and coordinate research-related work with external consultants.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
