Research Director

Public Citizen•Washington, DC

4d•$109,492 - $133,598

About The Position

Public Citizen is a national, non-partisan, public interest group with more than a million members and supporters. We hold the government and corporations accountable with campaigns and advocacy before Congress, administrative agencies, and the courts. As Public Citizen’s division fighting for a fairer global economy, Global Trade Watch has worked for decades to expose and challenge trade policies that put corporate profits over people. Under Donald Trump, that mission faces a new urgency. Twice, Trump has won elections in part by exploiting working people’s real frustrations about an increasingly complex and unequal global economy, yet his trade agenda serves only himself and his billionaire allies. Global Trade Watch seeks to hold him accountable, resist efforts to return to the failed policies of the past, and advance a vision for global trade that uplifts workers across borders, protects the planet and promotes equality and human rights. We seek a research director to conceive, initiate, and manage investigative research projects, write time-sensitive reports and other materials, and produce economic and legal analyses in support of our public education and advocacy campaigns. General Description: The Research Director works with the Global Trade Watch (GTW) Director and Deputy Director to plan and implement all research strategies, projects and materials in support of Global Trade Watch’s program and goals. The Research Director creates academic-quality research materials that are widely used by policymakers, civil society organizations, activists, press and scholars in the United States and abroad, often defining major trade and globalization debates. The Research Director also identifies emerging issues and trends relevant to Global Trade Watch’s mission to help guide the program’s strategic direction.

Requirements

Education: College degree required, and other advanced degree strongly preferred, ideally in law and/or economics.
Knowledge: Familiarity with a broad range of public policy issues including trade, investment and finance issues and food safety, environmental and other regulatory policy; familiarity with the legislative process, political environment and media relations.
Experience: 10 years of demonstrated research and writing experience, particularly on economic and legal issues, political candidates and corporate wrongdoers.
Skills: Outstanding analytical thinking and oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of computer-assisted reporting techniques, database development and management, and relevant markets and research tools. Knowledge of public records, especially regarding campaign finance and lobbying. Strong sense of how to use research to affect public policy debates and advance public interest advocacy campaigns.
Capabilities: High energy, enthusiasm, persistence, and attention to detail. Ability to work independently and balance multiple priorities under pressure to produce excellent material in a deadline-driven advocacy environment.
Conditions: Creative and collaborative spirit with passion in and commitment to the public interest. Some travel may be required.

Responsibilities

Develop and successfully implement a short- and long-term research agenda to support GTW’s policy and campaign goals through economic analysis, interpretation of international trade and investment law, and reviews of relevant literature.
Track, analyze and produce understandable materials on trade flows, tariffs, and supply chains in support of GTW campaigns. Investigate policy issues, markets, corporations, individuals, political fundraising, lobbying, and trade associations by using traditional investigative methods such as database searches, FOIA requests, and interviews.
Keep the GTW team informed of developments and strategic opportunities related to a diverse set of issues related to globalization, international trade, investment arbitration and dispute settlement and provide research and analytical support for GTW’s organizing efforts.
Produce research-related writing and analytical projects, including reports, legislative analysis, data/graphics projects, memoranda, fact sheets, articles, op-eds and comments to government agencies in support of various campaigns and programs.
Conduct rapid response operations to counter misinformation and educate the press.
Oversee maintenance and development of in-house databases, such as outcomes of various trade agreements on different states and sectors, trade job-loss, congressional votes, WTO dispute settlement, investor-state arbitration.
Supervise and review the research work of other GTW staff assigned to research projects as well as research interns to ensure clear priorities and quality control.
Maintain and expand relationships with academic, government and other researchers and scholars in the United States and abroad.
Act as a media and public spokesperson for Global Trade Watch. Represent Global Trade Watch at conferences and other public speaking venues.
Act as a facilitator for exchange of research-related information between GTW and other Public Citizen divisions and liaise with Public Citizen’s General Counsel for libel reads of GTW public materials.
Other duties as assigned.