Position: Deputy Director of Research and Innovation
Reports to: Senior Director of Innovation, Learning, and Impact
Organization Description:
The Voter Participation Center (VPC) is the nation's largest non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to registering and mobilizing voters from the New American Majority (NAM) – people of color, unmarried women and young people – who make up the majority of the potential electorate but have been historically underrepresented in political participation and power. Using direct mail, digital and social media outreach, guided by rigorous data science and experimentation, and working closely with a multitude of partner organizations, VPC connects with millions of voters each year, building the foundation for a more representative democracy.
Over 17 years VPC has helped more than 5.6 million people register to vote. In 2020, as COVID-19 shut down most forms of in-person voter contact, VPC helped more than 4.6 million people apply to vote by mail & cast ballots, registered more than 1.6 million people, and assisted millions of voters in voting early and safely to reduce pressures on polling places on Election Day.
VPC programs are flexible, nimble and scalable. VPC is driven by a commitment to constant research, testing, experimentation and evaluation, and thus offers many of the most cost effective, proven, high-impact programs in the civic engagement field.
The Center for Voter Information (CVI) is VPC's partner organization, and is a separate but affiliated 501(c)4 non-profit that works to engage both the NAM as well as members of the broader electorate who share their values.
Position Description:
The VPC and CVI seek an experienced, talented individual to join our Innovation, Learning, and Impact team as the Deputy Director of Research and Innovation.
The Innovation, Learning, and Impact team is relatively new to VPC/CVI and marks a further investment in a long-term commitment to fostering innovation and results-focused programs.
The Deputy Director will cultivate innovative program ideas, supporting the organization to generate insights, prioritize the right experiments and tests, and assess and develop initial learnings. The role will involve designing and leading research and innovation projects, drawing insights and analyzing data from internal and external sources, and engaging and partnering with experts inside and outside the civic engagement community. The successful candidate will be a collaborative teammate and excited by the possibilities (and inherent ambiguity) in stewarding innovation and building new organizational for VPC, CVI, and the civic engagement community.
This is an excellent opportunity for a creative thinker and researcher to play a leadership role in an organization committed to leveraging innovation and research to maximize its program impact.
Primary Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Managing and contributing to quantitative and qualitative research and innovation projects, including with external vendors
Synthesizing ideas, external theories, and key trends impacting the NAM in civic engagement and beyond to drive innovation within VPC and CVI
Formulating creative research questions, hypotheses, and research designs to create actionable insights for VPC/CVI programs
Providing analytics and metrics to support external communications and program decisions
Coaching staff and consultants on research and analysis
Communicating analysis plans, research findings, and program ideas to non-technical staff and external stakeholders through writing and graphics
Contributing to the building new research capabilities to effectively leverage data and insights into program design, such as external research agenda formation
Engaging experts and practitioners to discover and develop promising potential innovations
Monitoring academic and private sector innovation centers for opportunities to adapt and implement external innovations in VPC and CVI programming.
Skills and Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have:
At least seven years of experience conducting research in the social sciences, consumer marketing, political campaign research, or similar fields (can include graduate academic work)
An advanced degree in the social sciences or similar training and experience, including facility with qualitative, quantitative, and statistical methods
Experience designing and managing large research projects with multiple stakeholders
Knowledge of the legal and political issues surrounding voting rights and civic participation in the United States
A demonstrated commitment to and passion for erasing inequities and gaps in political participation in this country
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Excellent organizational, management, and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently in a team environment fostering positive partnerships, teamwork, and cooperation
Strong logical reasoning and analytical skills
An interest in or experience with consumer market research methods
A track record of getting results in a fast-paced environment
The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $100,000. This is a full-time position. Preference is for candidates in Washington DC, once the pandemic is over. Ability and willingness to travel will be required post-pandemic. VPC and CVI offer an excellent benefits package, including 100% coverage of healthcare premiums.
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three references. Interested Candidates can APPLY HERE. References are not contacted until you are notified.
VPC/CVI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We strongly value the leadership of people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and other traditionally marginalized communities, and encourage diverse candidates to apply.
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