School Climate Research Manager
Reporting Relationship: Director of Research and Best Practices
Location: New York City (or Remote)
Salary Range: $80,000–$87,000
Position Objective:
The School Climate Research Manager works as a critical member of the Research and Best Practices team to develop and execute areas of GLSEN’s research program on school climate that provides insight into LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education and informs the design of GLSEN programs and recommended interventions.
The School Climate Research Manager is part of the Research and Best Practices department at GLSEN. The research team’s purpose is to conduct and analyze data and advocate nationally and locally for systems to apply our research on the experience of LGBTQ+ young people in schools and educational practices. Reporting to the Director of Research and Best Practices, the School Climate Research Manager will design, manage and/or conduct short and long-term research on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in K-12 education including the biannual National School Climate Survey. This position will consult and collaborate directly with programs at GLSEN as well as with key organizational allies on research projects that build a knowledge base to promote GLSEN’s efforts to achieve policy and programmatic improvements on school climate for LGBTQ+ young people in K-12 schools.
The ideal candidate will have experience in designing and managing research projects in education justice issues particularly related to LGBTQ+ communities. Importantly, the School Climate Research Manager will have a strong intersectional analysis, have a demonstrated understanding of research as a strategy of social justice, and a track record of applying liberatory frameworks to research design and analysis. Candidates with the skills to work collaboratively with a team to support community-centered movement building through research, survey research, community based participatory research experience and/or with applied research experience centering Black queer liberation are particularly encouraged to apply.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage multiple current research projects, including the biannual National School Climate Survey in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Director of Research and Best Practices.
- Design and manage research projects, in collaboration with other members of the Research and Best Practices team such as GLSEN Navigator.
- Work collaboratively with other research staff on multiple research projects (including those managed by others).
- Design and execute research studies, including obtaining Research Ethics Review Committee approval, instrument design, participant outreach, data collection, data cleaning and coding, and data analysis.
- Participate in developing, updating, and maintaining a knowledge base of the current social science literature regarding issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in education.
- Prepare and present GLSEN’s research findings for internal and external audiences.
- Analyze data and write up research findings and conclusions for publication as research reports, briefs, and blogs for GLSEN constituents, educators, advocates, policymakers, and for scholarly publications.
- Prepare and deliver presentations on research findings for academic and practitioner audiences, including at conferences and via online seminars.
- Collaborate with GLSEN staff and key organizational allies to promote GLSEN’s efforts to achieve policy and programmatic improvements on school climate for LGBTQ+ young people in K-12 schools.
- In collaboration with the Public Policy and Communications teams, visualize findings on GLSEN Navigator, an interactive information visualization map.
- Respond to external requests for information about GLSEN’s research and to other research questions regarding LGBTQ+ issues and education, including shepherding outside requests for applications to GLSEN’s Research Ethics Review Committee.
- Respond to internal requests for research results and statistical information of use to GLSEN’s communications, policy, educator, and youth programming efforts.
- Provide technical assistance, maintain relationships, collaborate with outside researchers, and partner organizations.
- Active participation – including shared responsibility for facilitation and note-taking – of team, departmental and organizational meetings.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
To perform successfully in this role, incumbent should possess skills identified below:
- A strong analysis of structural oppression and a demonstrated commitment to social and queer and gender justice, with an intersectional lens that centers Black liberation.
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Demonstrated ability to apply a social justice lens to research design and research as a strategy of social justice.
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Demonstrated ability to conduct research analysis from a social justice lens.
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Strong grounding in survey design and analysis; good judgment and high professional standards of care, handling confidential survey data.
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Base of applied knowledge of gender and queer justice and progressive movements, burgeoning issues in LGBTQ+ education issues related to young people.
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Ability to be creative and take initiative.
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Ability to apply research expertise across issue areas and program needs.
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Strong interpersonal communication skills.
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Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within and across organizations.
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Ability to work effectively in a team.
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Excellent listening and collaboration ability with grassroots community advocates.
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Strong organizational, project management and people skills.
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Excellent oral and written communicator in a variety of settings and among diverse audiences especially being able to communicate effectively to an audience of organizers and community members.
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Presentation, public speaking, and virtual meeting facilitation and hosting skills.
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Thrives in a fast-paced, generative, multiracial work environment.
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Patience, a strong and collaborative work ethic, good judgment and a well-honed sense of humor.
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Comfort in diverse settings, from grassroots meetings to professional conferences.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Masters degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work or other relevant social science discipline is strongly preferred, but not required.
- At least 5 years experience in applied social science and/or social justice-related research (e.g., in service to community based organizations, non-profit organizations, labor unions, state/local government; experience conducting large scale surveys).
- Experience working with a variety of different research methods, particularly with survey research, community-based participatory research and mixed methods.
- Strong familiarity with LGBTQ+ issues in education and/or issues of LGBTQ+ youth particularly related to LGTBTQ+ students of color.
- Familiarity with educational or other social science research, and its research methods.
- Familiarity with progressive social change practices and landscapes in gender justice in relation to racial justice and disability justice.
- Experience conducting literature reviews and landscape analyses, multivariate data analysis, identifying key findings, and preparing reports that present information in a compelling and motivating manner.
- Demonstrated ability to meet frequent deadlines when working both individually and in team settings.
- Extensive experience with quantitative and/or qualitative analysis software. For example: STATA/SPSS, Qualtrics.
- Experience with multimedia forms of writing and presenting research, including written reports, Power Point, live webinars, and other video and audio forms.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements:
This position primarily works in an office-setting. Travel may be required.
- Ability to sit for eight (8) or more hours with breaks.
- This is a sedentary position, with standing desks available.
- Must be able to comply with the physical demands of travel.
- This position demands extensive keyboarding, visual acuity required.
- Occasionally asked to lift 25+ pounds.
To apply, submit your resume and a letter of interest to: http://www.glsen.org/apply-to-work-at-glsen.
GLSEN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage people of color, people of diverse gender identities, people with disabilities, women, and non-LGBTQ people to apply.
