Social Scientist
About the role
Organizational Overview
Do you want to help ensure that every organizer, advocate, and changemaker in the progressive movement has what they need to create bold, people-powered change? Join us in making that vision a reality.
Launched in 2018, The Movement Cooperative (TMC) is a nonprofit member cooperative uniting more than 80 national and state-based organizations and over 1,400 affiliates through shared infrastructure and collaborative support. We bridge the gap between vision and capacity—democratizing access to tools, data, and strategic expertise that help our members organize more efficiently, campaign more effectively, and drive lasting impact across the movement.
As a cooperative, TMC is governed by and for its members, with a board(s) made up primarily of staff from member organizations. Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible when movement groups have the infrastructure they need to thrive.
Position Overview
The Research team at The Movement Cooperative (TMC) is seeking a Social Scientist who is intellectually curious, technically rigorous, and deeply committed to progressive politics. As a key member of our mixed-methods team, you will design, implement, and conduct analysis on studies—using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and other rigorous techniques—that equip our member organizations with the evidence-backed strategies they need to build and steward power.
We are a collaborative, small team that bridges the gap between complex data and actionable strategy. We don't just produce reports; we work in lockstep with our partners to identify critical questions, implement studies, and translate findings for both technical and non-technical audiences. Our mission is rooted in ensuring the progressive movement has the evidence base and tools necessary to win systemic change.
Responsibilities
- Executing quantitative, statistical, and experimental projects from beginning to end — including project scoping and project management, identifying research questions, research design, survey design, randomization, implementation, analysis, writing up results, and presenting.
- Maintaining strategic research partnerships and relationships with member organizations, progressive organizations, and key stakeholders.
- Ensuring that our research translates into actionable insights and clear programmatic recommendations for our member organizations.
- Communicating findings to technical and non-technical audiences and stakeholders.
- Paying particular attention to underexplored topics with an equity lens.
- Working alongside other members of the team to continue to articulate the team’s vision and priorities, and to help generate ideas for new avenues for research or ways to deepen existing research.
Qualifications
Experience
- Proven track record of independently designing and executing multiple quantitative, applied social science projects
- 1+ years of experience managing the full lifecycle of experimental research, including design, implementation, and analysis
- Experience in building and maintaining relationships with diverse external organizations and clients
Skills
- Extensive knowledge of causal inference, survey methodology, and/or statistics
- Deep familiarity with Python or R
- Familiarity with SQL
- Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple complex projects at once
- Strong communication, writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts across varied audiences, including funders
- Interest in working collaboratively as part of a small team and trying new things
- Dedication to furthering the reach and impact of TMC members' work
- Commitment to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into everyday work