Position Summary

Job description

The Strategy & Research Team drives all aspects of Mind the Gap’s core program and R&D strategy. Working collaboratively within and across teams at MTG, each Strategy & Research Team member will be responsible for contributing to the following core team responsibilities:

Designing, executing, and evaluating MTG’s core program strategy

• Developing and implementing processes for program and geography selection
• Identifying, building relationships with, and understanding the organizations and programs MTG is considering recommending
• Constructing learning and evaluation strategies with recommended organizations
• Reporting the impact of cycle and longer-term funding strategy
• Communicating the rationale behind our core program recommendations to non-technical audiences

Designing, executing, and evaluating MTG’s R&D strategy

• Developing and implementing processes for identifying opportunities to improve the evidence-based infrastructure across the progressive ecosystem
• Working with research partners to design and oversee implementation of research projects
• Sharing findings from research projects internally and across the progressive ecosystem
• Communicating the rationale behind our R&D recommendations to non-technical audiences

Beyond the general responsibilities of the team, we expect the Analyst to play a key role in evaluating and distilling different forms of (primarily quantitative) social science research to inform MTG’s program recommendations, and to support the cross-organization operationalization of grantmaking.

Job requirements

Members of the Strategy & Research Team will regularly draw on the following skills, though you should consider applying even if you have some but not all of the below:

• Passion for using evidence and analytical thinking to maximize the impact of short- and long-term electoral efforts
• Strong analytical orientation, including the ability to evaluate and synthesize diverse sources of (primarily quantitative) social science research, think in expected value terms, and weigh different forms of uncertainty against each other
• Creativity and strategic thinking, including an ability to look across the political landscape and identify high-leverage areas for program and research funding
• Detail orientation and an ability to manage multiple complex, fast-moving projects at once
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and time-management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate and develop trusted, respectful relationships with senior leaders from other organizations
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a small, close-knit team
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion both in the workplace and outside of it
• Unwavering commitment to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and rigor

Other valuable qualifications for all team members include:

• Familiarity with the progressive political landscape, including but not limited to experience allocating resources across federal and state landscapes, knowledge of how campaigns (and campaign cycles) work, and an understanding of the state of the progressive political research and evidence base
• Existing relationships with a range of political and civic engagement campaigners and donors
• Comfort weighing in on design, implementation, and interpretation of randomized controlled trials and other common quantitative social scientific research methods
• Understanding of federal and state campaign finance laws regulating political contributions and related activities

Beyond the general skills that each team member will draw on, we expect that the Analyst will have at least 2 years of work experience, with a background using quantitative analysis to inform strategic decision making.

Logistics

• We are a fully-remote organization with staff located across the continental US.
• Benefits include 100% premium-covered health and dental care, vision care, unlimited paid time off, and 401K retirement savings with 4% match.
• We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. After submission, select applicants will be invited to complete a skills-based assessment and participate in multiple interviews. We strongly encourage applicants to apply by October 26, 2021.