Job Description

TRUE NORTH RESEARCH

truenorthresearch.org

Position: Summer/Fall Research Fellow

Start date: ASAP with an estimated start day of July 1, 2022

Deadline: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 6 PM Eastern time (Applications will still be considered on a rolling basis after this deadline)

Pay: The rate of pay is $3520/4 weeks

Location: Virtual

True North Research is a watchdog group focused on special interests that distort public policy and harm our democracy, our economy, and our planet. It is led by Lisa Graves, who previously served as a senior advisor in all three branches of the federal government. She launched the award-winning http://ALECexposed.org investigation and spearheaded breakthrough research into Charles Koch’s networks and more. Research fellows will be supervised by Graves, Evan Vorpahl, and Alyssa Bowen.

For this paid contractor position for the summer/fall 2022, we’re looking for someone who is focused on accuracy, who has strong research, and is able to write quickly and compellingly. The right candidate will be someone who takes initiative on research content, produces excellent and concise written materials, who thinks creatively about research tactics and strategies, and is able to balance competing priorities with grace and kindness. This position may be eligible for renewal.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Core responsibilities of True North research fellows include:

• Researching online activities to identify significant issues, claims, and trends
• Compiling clips of blog posts, podcasts, op-eds, news appearances, public online events, and other media quotes or appearances
• Flagging promptly any extreme or deceitful assertions made by special interest groups or their representatives based in part on a strong understanding of political news cycles and what may be especially salient
• Tracking select national and state legal policy issues for new developments, including hearings and press releases about key issues
• Examining campaign and tax disclosures of special interest groups
• Preparing memos summarizing key research findings
• Writing about findings for possible publication online, including working with editors to finalize any research to ensure it is well documented
• Participating in weekly meetings and updates
• Collaborating with other researchers to package and publish research that is timely and accessible to the public

QUALIFICATIONS

A qualified candidate should have:

Excellent research skills. You will be asked to research an array of topics and to describe your method for ensuring that you are capturing key information from news articles, social media, and other primary sources. You must be able to organize large volumes of information and share that information in an organized way.

Strong writing skills. You must be able to synthesize large amounts of information into factual and concise narratives. You will be asked to draft outlines, memos, and potentially articles about important research findings. Drafts should be concise, accurate, and polished. Your drafts will be edited to strengthen your analysis and ensure their accuracy.

A self-starting spirit. You must be someone who loves digging for information and does not require intensive oversight to accomplish tasks. You should be someone who thinks laterally and creatively about how best to connect dots and find helpful information, while following applicable rules and guidelines. You must be able to work remotely, effectively. You are also comfortable reaching out and asking for support as needed.

A commitment to confidentiality. In this role, you will work on high-profile national and state issues, and you absolutely must maintain the confidentiality of this work unless expressly asked to make your research findings and other work public.

Collegial. The work that we do exposes you on a daily basis to outrageous claims and policy agendas of groups attempting to thwart progressive policies and undermine democratic institutions. You need a good sense of humor and a sense of optimism to wade through so much gunk. You must be able to work well with others in a team setting, too.

We support equal opportunity and equity in our society. True North Research opposes discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or any other basis prohibited by law.

We strongly encourage people who have a deep commitment to equity and justice and who have triumphed over individual or societal obstacles or biases to apply.

How to Apply

Application: Please apply using our google form, which will require you to full out your contact information, answer a few questions, and attach your resume or CV. You will also be asked how soon you could start and if you have any commitments in the spring. Graduate students, college students, and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.  

Job Categories: Climate Change. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: climate justice, dark money, democracy, and special interests. Salaries: 20,000 - 40,000.

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