The Inequality team at the Institute for Policy Studies is hiring! IPS is a progressive think tank dedicated to building a more equitable, ecologically sustainable, and peaceful society. We believe progress occurs when people and movements come together to act on powerful ideas based on equity, peace, and the protection of our planet. Since 1963, we have been challenging corrupt power structures that undermine a true democracy. Today, we are uniting people and movements around real, transformational change through independent research, networking across issues, and visionary platforms.
IPS is strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and other groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.
Open Positions
Boston Inequality Policy Researcher
Boston Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator
Washington DC Inequality Data Researcher
Boston Inequality Policy Researcher
Reports To: Director, Program on Inequality
Salary: $50,000 – $55,000, depending on experience. See benefits below.
Position Overview: Full-time position at New England IPS office in Boston, MA.
The IPS Program on Inequality and the Common Good works to reverse the maldistribution of income and wealth that is undermining our democracy, fraying our social fabric, and destroying our planet. What we do:
- Partner with grassroots and policy organizations to develop and advocate for policy changes that reduce inequality and the concentration of wealth and power
- Publicize the latest statistics, research, and analysis through our Inequality.org web site and accompanying weekly newsletter.
- Conduct in-depth original research, with particular expertise on drivers of economic inequality that range from tax policy and executive pay to Wall Street speculation and low-wage employers to the racial wealth divide.
Disrupt the narratives that legitimate our current levels of extreme inequality by unpacking common myths, building powerful counter-narratives, and enlisting business leaders and high net worth individuals to challenge the inequality status quo.
PROGRAM FOCUS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Inequality Policy Researcher would initially work on several program areas:
Luxury Housing Research and Disruption. Wealthy investors from around the world are disrupting local real estate markets by moving billions of capital into luxury real estate. Assist in the research of city and state reports addressing these issues, working in partnership with local housing advocacy groups. Work with local jurisdictions to advance public policies to increase ownership transparency and tax luxury housing and vacancies.
Assist Hidden Wealth Working Group. Provide research and policy development assistance to international working group of scholars and activists concerned about growing problem of hidden wealth and the uses of trusts, shell companies, and offshore transactions to avoid taxes and accountability.
Reports and Policies to Reduce Concentrated Wealth and Power. Assist with production of regular reports on billionaires and concentrated wealth and power, such as Billionaire Bonanza. Work to advance tax policies to address extreme inequalities of wealth and power.
Racial Wealth Divide. Research reports and policy initiatives related to closing the racial wealth divide.
See our reports on the racial wealth divide.
Top Heavy Charity and Philanthropic Reform. Work to support advocacy efforts to reform philanthropy and address abuses caused by concentrated wealth and power.
Assist with other research topics and write for wide variety of audiences on these matters.
Required
- Educational background in economics, public policy, statistics/mathematics, computer science, or another social science field.
- Strong computer skills and experience with statistical software, such as Tableau, STATA, R, Excel, SPSS, and GIS.
- Excellent organizational skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to present data in visually compelling ways for a general audience.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, but also able to collaborate and work as part of a team and with diverse partners.
- Experience with and demonstrated commitment to economic justice and racial and gender equity.
- Familiarity with the key drivers of inequality in the United States and globally.
BENEFITS
Excellent benefits including generous vacation, 403(b) plan upon hire, fully paid dependent health insurance, fully paid life insurance, fully paid long-term disability, optional short-term disability, direct deposit, and flex time.
TO APPLY
Please email your cover letter, resume, and a 1-3 page writing sample in a single PDF file to: apply@ips-dc.org by October 15 with “Inequality Policy Researcher-Boston” in the subject line. Interviews will take place in October.
Due to the large volume of applications, only applicants moving on to the next round will be contacted by the Search Committee. No phone calls, please.
IPS is strengthened by the diversity of our staff and board, and we actively welcome applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ candidates, and candidates who hold other historically marginalized identities.
Applicants are asked to fill out a confidential survey to assist in evaluating our applicant pool.
Thank you very much for your interest in working with us.
Boston Administrative Assistant and Events Coordinator
Reports To: Program Director of the IPS Program on Inequality and the Common Good
Salary: $44,000-$47,000 (plus benefits below)
FTE: Two year position with full benefits and the possibility of renewal contingent upon funding
Position Overview: IPS is a progressive internationalist think tank dedicated to building a more equitable, ecologically sustainable, and peaceful society. In partnership with dynamic social movements, we work to turn transformative policy ideas into action. As Washington’s first progressive multi-issue think tank, IPS has served as a policy and research resource for visionary social justice movements for over five decades — from the anti-war and civil rights movements in the 1960s through the environmental, women’s, anti-corporate and other movements to the anti-war and global justice movements of the 21st century.
The New England office of IPS, located in Boston, hosts the Institute’s Program on Inequality and the Common Good, an initiative that focuses on the dangers growing economic inequality poses for our democracy, economy, and civic life. The Program maintains a robust online presence centered around the Inequality.org website and a weekly email newsletter, develops educational tools for strategic social justice constituencies, and supports short- and long-term public policy campaigns aimed at reducing inequality.
IPS-New England seeks to hire a high-energy, entrepreneurial and detail-oriented individual for the position of Administrative Assistant & Events Coordinator. This is an entry-level, salaried two-year position with full benefits and the possibility of renewal contingent upon funding. This person will work out of the Boston office in Jamaica Plain and report to the Program Director of IPS’s Program on Inequality and the Common Good.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the Administrative Needs of IPS-NE Staff. Provide administrative support, as needed, to other staff colleagues at IPS-New England office.
- Manage Operations of IPS-NE Office. Oversee operational needs of the IPS-NE Office, including ordering supplies, managing and trouble-shooting technology (computers, printer, phone system, etc.), coordinating the office calendar, and maintaining a welcoming office environment.
- Liaise with IPS-DC Office. Create bi-weekly paperwork shipments including checks for deposit, payment & reimbursement requests, and other. Coordinate with DC to ensure smooth inter-office operations.
- Coordinate Inequality Program Interns and Volunteers. Oversee recruitment and hiring of seasonal interns and volunteers for all projects.
- Assist with Fundraising Efforts. Track incoming donations, enter data into database, and generate timely thank-you notes and other correspondence. Assist with prospect research, generate donor reports, and assist with other fundraising activities as needed/requested.
- Oversee Database. Use our database system (in transition from Luminate to EveryAction) to manage contact relationships, create and send e-mail marketing communications, and track fundraising data. Develop training for Boston staff; serve as the Boston Office’s “go-to” person for database technical assistance; make recommendations regarding database improvements/changes.
- Produce Programmatic and Donor Events. Play a significant role in the planning and execution of 1-2 donor events per year.
- Coordinate the JP Forum. Plan, promote, and produce periodic events for the Jamaica Plain Forum, a public speaker series, in consultation with the Director. Liaise with speakers, secure co-sponsors, develop outreach materials and social media announcements, ensure good turnout at events, coordinate volunteers, and conduct appropriate follow-up.
Required
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, both written and verbal, and a high comfort level representing the organization at meetings and public events.
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team in a fast-paced work environment
- Two years experience working in social change organization or nonprofit sector organization
- Self-motivated and resourceful. Demonstrated ability to problem solve and “think on your feet” in tricky situations
- Demonstrated capacity to inspire and support others
- Strong collaborator with an ability to adapt quickly to changing situations
- Experience improving systems and processes to make them more efficient and effective
- Positive attitude and a good sense of humor, along with a commitment to excellence
- Commitment to the IPS mission and vision
- Commitment to the IPS working agreements for all staff, including a culture of strong interpersonal communication, feedback, integrity, inclusiveness, and anti-oppression principles.
Preferred, but not required
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- Experience working in EveryAction and/or another donor database
- Experience working in a virtual environment, collaborating with team members in different physical locations
BENEFITS Excellent benefits including generous vacation, 403(b) plan upon hire, fully paid dependent health insurance, fully paid life insurance, fully paid long-term disability, optional short-term disability, direct deposit, and flex time.
TO APPLY Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references in a single PDF File to “Search Admin/Events” to apply@ips-dc.org by October 22, 2019. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls please.
IPS is strengthened by the diversity of our staff and board, and we actively welcome applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ candidates, and candidates who hold other historically marginalized identities. Applicants are asked to fill out a confidential survey to assist in evaluating our applicant pool. Thank you very much for your interest in working with us.
Washington DC Inequality Data Researcher
Reports To: Global Economy Program Director
Salary: $48,000 – $52,000, depending on experience. See benefits below.
Position Overview: Full-time position in Washington, DC.
The Inequality team at the Institute for Policy Studies strives to help reverse the maldistribution of income and wealth that is undermining our democracy, fraying our social fabric, and destroying our planet. What we do:
- Partner with grassroots and policy organizations to develop and advocate for policy changes that reduce inequality.
- Publicize the latest statistics, research, and analysis through our Inequality.org web site and accompanying weekly newsletter.
- Elevate the profiles of diverse champions in the battle against extreme inequality by disseminating their stories, strategies, and lessons through the media.
- Conduct in-depth original research, with particular expertise on drivers of economic inequality that range from tax policy and executive pay to Wall Street speculation and low-wage employers to the racial wealth divide.
- Disrupt the narratives that legitimate our current levels of extreme inequality by unpacking common myths, building powerful counter-narratives, and enlisting business leaders and high net worth individuals to challenge the inequality status quo.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Produce research tied to advocacy campaigns
- Work with an IPS team to analyze data for reports, interactive graphics, social media shareables, and other materials that are useful for the key campaigns of low-wage and immigrant worker organizations and other social movement groups working to reverse extreme inequality.
- Fact-check data in reports, op-eds, fact sheets and other products.
Provide research support for Inequality.org and a related weekly newsletter
- Take primary responsibility for maintaining and expanding the “Facts” section of the site, which features Tableau charts on the latest inequality-related data on income, wealth, global, gender, race, health, and climate change.
- Help with posting and other web site maintenance tasks and find ways to incorporate data into blog posts.
Required
- Educational background in economics, public policy, statistics/mathematics, computer science, or another social science field.
- Strong computer skills and experience with statistical software, such as Tableau, STATA, R, Excel, SPSS, and GIS.
- Excellent organizational skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to present data in visually compelling ways for a general audience.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, but also able to collaborate and work as part of a team and with diverse partners.
- Experience with and demonstrated commitment to economic justice and racial and gender equity.
- Familiarity with the key drivers of inequality in the United States and globally.
BENEFITS
Excellent benefits including generous vacation, 403(b) plan upon hire, fully paid dependent health insurance, fully paid life insurance, fully paid long-term disability, optional short-term disability, direct deposit, and flex time.
TO APPLY
Please email your cover letter, resume, and a 1-3 page writing sample in a single PDF file to: apply@ips-dc.org by October 15 with “Inequality Data Researcher” in the subject line. Interviews will take place in October.
Due to the large volume of applications, only applicants moving on to the next round will be contacted by the Search Committee. No phone calls, please.
IPS is strengthened by the diversity of our staff and board, and we actively welcome applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ candidates, and candidates who hold other historically marginalized identities.
Applicants are asked to fill out a confidential survey to assist in evaluating our applicant pool.
Thank you very much for your interest in working with us.