Program Director (Researcher), Inequality and Exclusion, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

For more than two decades, the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) has been a leader in applied policy that links politics, security, justice, development, and humanitarian issues. The CIC co-founded and currently hosts the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together UN member states, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate delivery of the SDG targets for peace, justice, and inclusion.

CIC, as part of NYU, is an applied policy research center that specializes in analysis and idea generation that is practical, principled, and policy-relevant, at the heart of a leading research university that spans the globe. We seek researchers and policy experts of the highest caliber, who embody the diversity of the global society in which we live. We strongly encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other individuals who are under-represented in the profession, across color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, physical ability, gender and sexual identity, or any other legally protected basis.

Position Summary

The NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC) seeks a dynamic and innovative Program Director for its Pathfinders, Inequality and Exclusion program to drive and shape the Center’s work in this area. The Program Director should have demonstrated practical and theoretical expertise, including experience in fiscal and macroeconomic policy, political inclusion and current trends in political polarization, green and just transitions, as well as expertise in policy formulation, fundraising and overall program management, for a growing multi-stakeholder program.

Global and national inequalities threaten pathways to peace, and sustainable development, contributing to worsening existing crises and exacerbating social divides around the world. Against this backdrop, the successful candidate for this position will have substantive knowledge of, and demonstrated work experience in, inequality and exclusion-related areas of work, defined broadly as vertical (economic) and horizontal (group-based) inequalities. Additional knowledge in current trends and policy approaches to issues like distrust and polarization in society is highly desirable. The successful candidate should also be well-versed in strategic planning and administration, have fundraising experience and demonstrate a strong record of management, including producing key outputs (reports, strategic analyses, stakeholder convening, etc.) related to inequality and exclusion.

Responsibilities:

• Provide overall research and intellectual thought leadership to the Pathfinders, Inequality and Exclusion program, including responsibility for the strategic direction, and oversight, defining the programs’ core objectives, strategy, and policy and research agendas.
• Provide overall management for the delivery of high-quality research products and implementation of program deliverables, including responsibility and management of the Pathfinders, Inequality and Exclusion staff, consultants, and subaward recipients, including writing and overseeing practical, policy-oriented, and evidence-based work for publication for time sensitive dissemination to appropriate audiences.
• Lead the CIC’s Pathfinders, Inequality and Exclusion in the development and implementation of its research program goals and deliverables, as outlined in the CIC’s Business Plan, assuming responsibility to the development of new research objectives, agendas and opportunities for impact. This may include shifting priorities or address current and urgent policy and relevant research needs.
  Specifically, the Program Director will develop and harness evidence, synthesizing research developed across multiple workstreams – fiscal and macroeconomic policy, combatting political mobilization and division, delivering green and just transition – to inform a vision and strategies for reducing inequality and exclusion at a domestic and international level.
• Assume responsibility for the fundraising and management of research donor relations for the program, including managing excellent donor relations on shared objectives, delivering to agreed research results with existing donors, maintaining records and donor reporting, identifying new research partners, writing proposals, and securing the funding necessary to deliver the program’s objectives.
• Represent the CIC, and the Pathfinders, Inequality and Exclusion program, on key research findings, to partners, global research leaders, senior VIPs, ambassadors, national contacts in capital, UN and IFI representatives, as well as broad public and media, including participating in panel discussions, speaker engagements and attending meetings, workshop and conferences both domestically and internationally.
• Cultivate and maintain a productive and collaborative relationship with a variety of key partner countries, organizations, institutions, and individuals in this community of policy and practice.
• Develop and implement a communication strategy together with communication staff and the director with the aim to mobilize more impact from the Pathfinders Inequality and Exclusion program.
• Contribute strategic leadership to the overall management of the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies program, in alignment with CIC business processes and strategic goals.
• Contribute, as a member of CIC’s strategic management team (SMT) to CIC’s overall management, strategic goal setting, annual work plan, and promote collaboration across all CIC research areas. Other tasks as requested by CIC’s Director.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $145,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Required Education

Masters in a relevant field, such as economics, public policy, political economy or related subjects, combined with relevant practical experience.

A Bachelor’s degree with exceptional additional years of relevant experience with high performance may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Required Experience

• 15 years’ experience working on research and action to promote equality or inclusion.
• Experience working with many types of reserach partners and stakeholders (governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society) in different regions, including the Gobal South.
• Extensive program management experience, including field experience, in planning for results and managing donor relations.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Subject matter expert. Demonstrated knowledge and research and policy expertise on inequality and exclusion – with clear narrative of the importance and overlap between economic inequality and group-baed inequalities.
• Ability to maintain an overview of a broad policy agenda and research related to this agenda.
• Strategic and operational management skills to direct and develop a program, and the ability to follow through by planning, monitoring, adapting, and ensuring results and impact.
• Experience in research and policy fundraising and grant management, identifying opportunities, and budgeting and delivery tracking.
• Proven ability to manage and develop a team.
• Networking and representational skills at different levels, with the flexibility to move up and down between high level networking and representation and working level engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, spanning reserach products, policy recommendations and donor proposals and reporting.
• Fluency in English, and one additional language, with a preference for another UN language.

Preferred Education

• PhD in relevant field of studies.

Preferred Experience

• Track record of publishing influential policy research.
• Fundraising for a think tank, research center, or non-profit organization.
• Management of a research and advocacy team (including communications, goal setting, resource allocation, and professional development).

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• A leadership role within a multi-stakeholder policy research partnership or process, involving Global North and South, multilateral organizations and civil society.
• Specific knowledge in working with the United Nations, The World Bank, the IMF, regional organizations and bilateral donors on their strategy, policies, and constraints in developing better approaches to violence and conflict reduction.
• Direct experience working in politics or political advocacy desirable.
• Broad experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Additional Information and Benefits

You will be an employee of New York University, with access to an excellent, comprehensive benefits package including generous paid time off and retirement contributions.

EOE/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.

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