Overview
The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life prepares Tufts students to become active citizens and community leaders. As the only university-wide college of its kind, its mission is to engage Tufts students in meaningful community building, public service experiences, and transformational learning. It conducts groundbreaking research on young people’s civic and political participation and forges innovative community partnerships. Tisch College is a national leader in civic education, whose model and research are setting the standard for higher education’s role in civic engagement.
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) is a research-based think tank that studies how young people in the United States learn to become active participants in our democracy. CIRCLE studies a broad range of topics, from K-12 civic education, youth organizing, youth and civic media, to community characteristics that promote civic development. The central focus of its work is on expanding access to civic learning and engagement opportunities, especially for marginalized youth.
Because of CIRCLE’s explicit focus on improving civic education and engagement for young people of color and other underserved youth, and because of Tisch College and Tufts University’s foundational commitments to diversity and inclusion, candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences are especially encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do
This is a part-time limited term position of 15 months with the possibility of extension.
This research position is focused on elections. The major responsibilities of the Research Assistant for Elections are to: 1) Contribute to development of and support implementation of any election related capacity building and listening efforts, 2) Coordinate efforts to manage CIRCLE’s election data, and 3) Aiding CIRCLE research.
The Research Assistant supports CIRCLE’s overall research impact work by participating in aspects of research and communications such as advising on partnership development, developing content based on research, supporting the translation of research into accessible forms. The researcher will work closely with organizational leaders and Program Managers to build responsive election-related strategies/inquiries, support rural community partners by advising on meeting plans, do research and facilitate conversations about the research. They will develop public records using election data, participate in regular editorial/content meetings, prepare, and give presentations about CIRCLE research findings, speak to press about CIRCLE’s election-related data and analyses. The researcher will manage election data, advise on project development, assist in producing written reports/memos to stakeholders, and attend project and staff meetings.
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of related experience.
- Experience working with groups of people representing diverse social identities and political perspectives
- Strong interest in pathways to civic and political engagement for young people
- Strong technology skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, graphics)
- Ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders and audiences, including practitioners, reporters, scholars, and young people through various modes of communication,
- Experience interpreting statistical data, using, or conducting research, evaluation or data in communications, strategy, or tactics,
- Ability to write and communicate using statistical data, knowledge of the basics in how data can be analyzed and how to frame requests of data analysts,
- Unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and understanding of how these commitments apply to work,
- Excellent oral and written communication skills,
- Demonstrable ability to take initiative and work with tight and sometimes shifting timelines as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous experience working in higher education a plus
- Experience helping to convene or lead professionals, youth, or youth groups
- Experience with community/youth organizing (including but not limited to issue advocacy and movement efforts), youth voice in policymaking and/or electoral engagement
- Experience or ability to approach inquiries and conversations with other orgs in a responsive way: with humility, as a listener, and with the goal of relationship-building
- Experience in settings where the experiences and voices of marginalized communities are centered,
- Experience with or demonstrable interest in the role of research and data in civic engagement and social change efforts
- Comfort with multiple projects, delegating and receiving tasks and making decisions about research and analytic design choices with minimal guidance
- Ability to work collaboratively with CIRCLE colleagues from varied backgrounds and to interact with practitioners of diverse backgrounds, views, and positions.
Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Part-time, 17.5 hours a week.
Pay Range
Minimum $23.40, Midpoint $28.08, Maximum $32.75
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
