Senior Research Associate

Overview

The Equity Research Cooperative (EqRC) seeks an Senior Research Associate to lead and coordinate multi-project qualitative data collection, analysis, sensemaking, and reporting efforts. EqRC is a growing organization seeking to sustain a social justice research agenda, a praxis for redistribution, and an inclusive working environment. We hope you’ll join us as we work to bring this dream to life.

EqRC is a fully remote organization without the option to work in person. This is a salaried position. The Senior Research Associate is expected to work 35 hours a week. The successful applicant will be detail-oriented, have excellent communication skills, embody social justice research and a praxis approach, and value working in an organization with a flat leadership structure in a sociocracy setting. At the same time, we have intentional hierarchical dynamics within projects and processes to uplift expertise, seniority, and effectiveness. To succeed in our cooperative setting, an applicant must be open to learning and unlearning approaches to navigating emotional, value-driven, and interpersonal collaborations.

EqRC is committed to supporting the Senior Research Associate role in a manner that sustains and fulfills personal and professional objectives. This position will work collaboratively with the Director of Research in our Research Circle, which consists of two full-time employees and numerous project consultants.

About the Organization

Mission

The Equity Research Cooperative (EqRC) is a non-profit research collective that advances the social, economic, educational, and political emancipation of communities of color through community-engaged research, advocacy, and the praxis of redistribution. As a People of Color interdisciplinary research cooperative, we strategically redistribute our financial resources, academic capital, and operational support to social justice initiatives, organizations, and movements that redress structural oppression.

Vision

We are guided by a deep and abiding freedom dream: one day Black and Brown communities will receive and experience dynamic reparative justice, and the depth and breadth of white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, and capitalism will be addressed. On this day, Black and Brown communities will stand in the power of their sovereignty. We embrace this vision as a rich inheritance of social justice movements before us and the radical love we share with one another. This is our dream.

Structure

We have four circles (teams) that oversee our research, advocacy, grassroots redistribution, operations, and grant development. Organizational Circle leads EqRC's operational, HR, and financial processes. Strategy Circle drives our grant-securing strategy, financial and technical assistance redistribution to grassroots partners, and special projects for the organization. Research Circle manages several projects from medium to large size that include mixed-method data collection and analysis, relationship management with external partners, management of project consultants, and the reporting of deliverables (e.g., reports and presentations). Central Circle has a rotating representative from each of the above circles, and together, they develop, propose, and approve policies and processes that govern EqRC and its personnel. Please note that EqRC is a small growing organization, and all roles may have other duties as assigned when unexpected situations and opportunities arise.

About the Role

EqRC serves as the primary research partner for multiple grant-funded initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic inequities and improving postsecondary educational outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. Concurrently, our Justice Agenda leverages grassroots coalitions, advocacy campaigns, and mixed-methods research to explore critical policy issues, including free college, student debt cancellation, and the equity implications of artificial intelligence. Our project portfolio involves complex primary and secondary data analysis, intensive site visits, high-impact deliverables, and deep relationship management with external stakeholders.

As the Senior Research Associate, you will champion the design, execution, and management of all qualitative components within our mixed-methods research portfolio—spanning data collection, rigorous analysis, collaborative sensemaking, and multi-audience reporting. This role demands an advanced understanding of critical social science methodologies, sophisticated analytical capabilities, and a proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for both technical and lay audiences. Working closely with the Director of Research within the Research Circle, you will collaborate with staff, external consultants, and community partners to ensure the integrity and timely delivery of our research initiatives.

Core Responsibilities:

• Multi-Project Portfolio Management: Coordinate and execute qualitative and mixed-methods research activities across multiple concurrent projects of varying scopes, working collaboratively with project leads, Research Circle colleagues, and external consultants to meet project timelines and quality expectations.
• Research Design & Execution: Design and execute comprehensive qualitative research projects, including the design and implementation of data collection and analysis strategies; ensuring the highest standards of data quality, ethical integrity, and participant care.
• Insight Development: Lead interpretation of findings and development of actionable insights into "reporting-ready" findings.
• Writing & Synthesis: Lead synthesis of evidence into reports, briefs, presentations, and recommendations. Produce high-quality, diverse public-facing (e.g., blogs) and client-specific deliverables (e.g., reports, policy briefs, memos, blogs, case studies,and interactive presentations).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain active, collaborative relationships with external partners (i.e., funders, grassroot advocates, etc.); lead frequent data-sharing sessions with funders and partners to communicate project milestones and compelling, evidence-based takeaways. This will require travel to engage with partners in-person. Currently, this includes 1-2 multi-day trips per quarter.

Additional Expectations

• Grant & Proposal Development: Contribute methodologically to the conceptualization and drafting of future research proposals and grant applications to sustain EqRC’s research pipeline.
• Methodological Innovation: Stay at the forefront of transformative research methodologies, participatory action research models, and innovative practices in qualitative data collection and analysis.

Our justice-centered approach aims to address long-standing gender and racial income and wealth disparities and give workers decision-making power over their compensation and benefits.

• This position starts at $95k/year with a 2% annual raise (non-negotiable)
  • 10% retirement contribution, no vesting, no matching required.
  • Monthly $80 stipend for wifi and cell phone
    • The total compensation for the above items is about $105,000.
  • EqRC pays 100% of health insurance premiums for full-time employees AND dependents.
  • A 10% raise follows a new employee's election as a cooperative member based on high performance in their role and the broader organization.
  • Start-up technology (laptop) and office package ($500 stipend).
  • Annual $2500 professional development budget
  • 12 weeks of paid parental and medical leave
  • Life and long-term disability insurance
• Fully remote work though must be open to traveling; with two annual in-person org retreats and site visits determined by projects.
• Unlimited PTO policy
• Designated organization-wide ‘break’ periods and mental health days (e.g., two weeks in July, two weeks in December)
• Democratic leadership structure where staff determines the future/direction of the organization from new projects, policies, compensation changes, and hiring/dismissal.
• Eligible PSLF employer

English preferred

Qualifications and Experience

• Commitment to Racial and Socioeconomic Justice in Education: Deep, structurally informed understanding of racial and socioeconomic equity, with specific expertise in how systemic inequities manifest within education ecosystems. (Note: While our current focus centers on educational transformation, openness to expanding into intersectional areas like generative AI is required).
• Mixed-Methods Research Experience: 3+ years of experience designing, executing, or evaluating research projects utilizing a mixed-methods approach. Applicants must demonstrate a strong dual fluency in both qualitative and quantitative paradigms though preference will be placed on experience with qualitative frameworks and approaches.
• Collaborative Research Practice: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across research teams, contribute to multiple concurrent projects, and support colleagues with care, accountability, and clear communication.
• Exceptional Research Writing: Demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling, and analytically rigorous written products for diverse audiences, including reports, briefs, presentations, and other public-facing deliverables.
• A terminal research degree in the Social Sciences (i.e., Sociology, Political science, Education, Psychology), or a related interdisciplinary field) is required. Candidates who can demonstrate equivalent professional experience, research expertise, and subject matter knowledge will also be considered..
  • A note on degree requirements: At EqRC, we understand that many individuals do not have equitable access to and support for degree attainment within higher education institutions. We also understand that the skills and dispositions we desire in a candidate might be developed outside of college or university training. As such, we invite you to share in your materials and interview how your experiences, formal training (e.g., degrees, certificates, etc.), and/or informal education have allowed you to develop expertise aligned with the job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We strongly encourage applicants who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to apply for consideration, as well as women, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and applicants from other marginalized backgrounds.

Please note that all U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card); individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program; Indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794; individuals granted Temporary Protected Status; asylees; and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation are eligible to apply for consideration.