You: A nimble and people-focused researcher seeking to elevate research to promote freedom and dismantle policies that trample individual liberties. In this role you will lead PLF’s strategic research on equality and opportunity issues. You have a passion for understanding how government policies increasingly disregard the Constitution’s call for equality before the law by discriminating based on race, sex, or group entitlement. Your research will also examine government barriers to economic opportunity in fields like healthcare and education. In this role you will develop a strategy for which projects are most important, drive and co-author short publications, and commission long-form research from external scholars.
Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies are stripping Americans of their rights every day. There’s a lot of government overreach out there, and it’s backed by seemingly endless resources and imperfect data. But fortunately, like all lumbering giants, abusive government is most vulnerable when countered by individuals who act strategically and nimbly, take calculated risks, have each other’s backs, and are confident in and passionate for the cause—the very sort of swashbucklers we employ in spades here at PLF.
Us: We fight back. Pacific Legal Foundation is the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty through enduring legal change. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories litigated at the Court. The strategic research team focuses on answering questions relevant to judges, legislators, and executive agents.
About the Strategic Research Manager Opening:
You will collaborate across PLF teams to relentlessly drive the execution of our strategic research on equality and opportunity issues. You will develop and manage a portfolio of research projects that help support PLF’s litigation priorities. You should have excellent communication skills and an entrepreneurial attitude that allows you to work across teams to get things done.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in public policy research and a track record of successfully managing projects that involve multiple authors and stakeholders. This person is seeking to grow and develop in new ways so that they can take on new responsibilities.
Getting down to brass tacks, your specific job duties will likely include:
- Developing and executing a research strategy for projects that support our equality & opportunity litigation.
- Collaborating with litigators, legal policy, and communications teams to identify promising areas of research.
- Driving and co-authoring research with PLF litigators and other experts.
- Commissioning research from outside scholars who are experts in their respective areas.
- Collecting and analyzing data to answer research questions in new and informative ways.
- Collaborating with communications and other teams in disseminating research to target audiences.
This role is ideal for someone with:
- Minimum of 2 or more years of experience conducting collaborative research projects.
- Background and training in economics, political science, law, public policy, or related fields.
- Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Basic data analysis, data visualization, and econometric skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex research findings to a non-technical audience.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Passion for PLF’s mission.
- Willingness to travel approximately 5-10%.
About Pacific Legal Foundation:
Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Using strategic and principled litigation, communications, and research, we battle for freedom in the nation’s courts and the court of public opinion.
As a national nonprofit organization, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, although approximately half of the staff work from home offices across the country. You can work physically in any of our offices or request to work virtually.
This is a full-time, permanent position. PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, medical and dental insurance, and employer-paid retirement savings. We take work-life balance seriously through our generous paid leave and flextime policies. We have a flexible, collaborative, positive, and collegial work environment. We take pride in investing in your future and encourage internal advancement. PLF is the place for someone principled, tenacious, and determined to succeed in positively shaping the future of our country and restoring real limits on government power. Join us.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter detailing your interest in the position, the mission of the Pacific Legal Foundation, why you want to fight for liberty, what distinguishes you from typical applicants, and your salary requirements
- Resume
- A brief policy-focused writing sample
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.
Questions can be directed to Savannah Rupp, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected].
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
