Senior Research Analyst

Institute for Justice

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Institute for Justice’s Strategic Research team uses empirical research skills to advance individual rights, creating data-driven research utilized by journalists, lawmakers, advocates, and courts to expose government abuse and achieve reform. The team is seeking entrepreneurial researchers for leadership roles, with the title negotiable based on research and managerial experience. The Strategic Research team produces social science and policy research that is actively used, not just stored. This research is integrated with IJ’s litigation, communications, activism, and legislative outreach efforts. Their studies have been cited by prominent entities like the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court, published in peer-reviewed journals, and featured in leading news outlets. Their work has contributed to significant outcomes, including certifying a victorious class action lawsuit against Philadelphia’s civil forfeiture practices, recovering wrongfully seized cash by the IRS, rolling back unnecessary occupational licensing, dismantling restrictive campaign finance laws, and protecting programs that enable parents to choose schools for their children.

Requirements

Strong background in research design and statistical analysis, preferably including managing project teams.
Ph.D. in social sciences or statistics with an emphasis on research methods, applied statistics, or applied economics; or master’s degree in applied statistics or applied economics with three years’ experience.
Experience conducting original analytical research, such as with a policy institute, in a legislative, executive, or regulatory role, or through a university-based research center.
Strong skills with statistical software such as Stata.
Proficient in using descriptive and inferential analysis to answer research questions.
Demonstrated ability to generate research ideas, develop research plans, and manage projects to completion.
Capable of identifying relevant scholarly and non-scholarly literature to generate research ideas and solve methodological problems.
Experience managing junior researchers and ensuring accurate and high-quality products.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially for non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Self-motivation and enthusiasm for collaboration.
Passion for IJ’s mission of championing property rights, economic liberty, free speech, and educational choice.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Python, R, or GIS is helpful.
Experience with both original data collection (whether through public records requests, web scraping, document review, or other means) and use of datasets from government or non-governmental sources preferred.

Responsibilities

Developing and executing research plans on a wide range of cutting-edge topics, such as civil forfeiture, occupational licensing, qualified immunity, zoning/housing, and 4th Amendment rights.
Working closely with IJ attorneys and researchers to generate research questions that advance our issues and to identify the strongest methods to answer them.
Finding datasets or creative ways to build them, as well as managing data collection.
Manipulating and analyzing large datasets with both descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as drafting and managing surveys.
Mining research literature for new ideas, potential collaborators, and methodological insights.
Leading both solo and team projects.
Managing and mentoring junior researchers and assistants to maintain high standards of accuracy, methodological rigor, and integrity.
Ensuring research findings reach key audiences, such as journalists and lawmakers, to bring important issues to prominence and create policy change.
Writing clear, accessible reports for general audiences, as well as articles for peer-reviewed journals.
Conducting media interviews; testifying before legislatures and city councils; writing media materials, such as op-eds and letters to the editor; speaking at public events.
Strategizing with IJ’s communications, legislative, activism, and research teams to maximize distribution and impact.