We’re Hiring a Director of Applied Research!!

Position Summary

The Horizons Project is strengthening relationships and connections among the social justice, peacebuilding, and democracy communities in the United States, with the goal of reinforcing our collective efforts to address systemic injustices, advance societal healing, and build a truly inclusive and pluralistic democracy. Launched as an independent initiative in 2022 under the auspices of fiscal sponsor New Venture Fund, the Project is led by a small team of experienced organizers, practitioners, and academics with deep connections and credibility to navigate these diverse networks across the ideological spectrum and issue areas in the US.

The Horizons Project seeks a full-time Director of Applied Research to lead Horizon’s overall research efforts focused on countering democratic backsliding and resurgent authoritarianism through restorative movement building tactics and approaches. The Director will lead team efforts to conduct novel research on nonviolent resistance, peacebuilding, and democracy; synthesize and curate existing research; build and maintain strong partnerships with other researchers and practitioners (in the US and globally); and package and disseminate research in ways that strengthens the work of activists, organizers, bridgebuilders, and other civic leaders.  Strong candidates will have experience working in start-up and/or fast-paced and collaborative environments.

 Responsibilities and Tasks

• Leads Horizons’ research-to-practice strategy, development, and implementation, in close coordination with Project co-leads.
• Conducts novel research on Horizons’ priority areas, currently focused on better understanding the pillars of support for authoritarianism but with potential for change and expansion in the future.
• Actively manages all research-to-practice priority areas and partnerships, in close coordination with the Chief Organizer, including coordinating teams of research assistants and academic partners, interacting with funders, and supporting the dissemination strategy of finished products to target audiences.
• Works closely with the Director of Partnerships and Outreach to develop and maintain relationships with a diverse range of US-based and international networks and coalition partners; with the goal of making research and theoretical frameworks accessible and more actionable in practice.
• Contributes to thought leadership through writing, speaking, and engaging with key partners and networks on behalf of Horizons.
• Conceptualizes and develops practitioner-oriented content to feed into Horizons’ publications, tools, and summary curations for target audiences, including fellow scholars, practitioners, organizers, and funders.
• Proactively supports capturing and reporting Horizons’ impact for donors and key stakeholders in coordination with the full Horizons’ team.
• Provides technical insights, cutting-edge tools and quality control for applied research design and processes.

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Masters’ degree (PhD preferred) focused on democracy, social movements, civil resistance, peacebuilding, or another relevant field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience managing complex multi-partner, multi-phase research projects, leading teams of academics and research assistants; proven ability to translate multi-disciplinary research for practical application.
• Excellent organizational skills: ability to plan and prioritize workload; responsive to unforeseen circumstances; problem-solving mindset; adaptive and self-directed.
• Demonstrated analytical capabilities, understanding of data, ability to translate complex information to present succinctly and shape compelling stories of utility and impact for different audiences.
• Superior written and oral communications skills, and ability to represent Horizons in front of various stakeholders, funders, and core partners.
• Commitment to emergence as an organizing principle, self-reflective and committed to ongoing learning and adaptation with team members and partners.
• Contributes to collaborative, hard-working, transparent, distributive, virtual team culture.

How to Apply

E-mail a resume, cover letter, and a brief writing sample demonstrating your research and writing ability as PDF or Word attachments to: [email protected].

Please reference the exact title of the job you are applying for in the subject line. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled.

Thank you for your interest in The Horizons Project.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: $100,000-150,000 (based on location and experience)

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 20 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

Hiring Statement

The Horizons Project is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

COVID-19 Policy

To center the safety and well-being of its employees, New Venture Fund requires that any employee who is required to conduct in-person activities for their job must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within four weeks of their start date.  This position may require candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Accommodations may be sought and approved in accordance with the law by contacting human resources at [email protected].