Economic Justice Research and Policy Associate

The East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE) is celebrating 10 years of building power and raising standards for working families.  We forge alliances of community, faith and labor organizations to advance economic and social justice.  The research team supports EBASE’s comprehensive campaigns with research and policy development to help document the problem and provide evidence to support the solution. EBASE has bee n at the forefront of building a just economy in the East Bay, helping to pass eight living wage policies and three local hire programs in the region. EBASE seeks a full-time Research and Policy Associate to join the Research team.

Position summary:
The Research and Policy Associate is a member of the Research team at EBASE, which provides strategic research and analysis to the organization’s comprehensive jobs and economic justice campaigns in Oakland and the East Bay. The work of the Research and Policy Associate includes both qualitative and quantitative research to reframe the debate and help move campaigns forward. The Research and Policy Associate will participate in EBASE campaign team meetings and support the Research Director and other lead staff in campaign development, policy development, and implementation. The Research and Policy Associate reports t o the Research Director.

Campaign research and policy development (2/3 time)
Specific roles vary depending on the needs of the campaign, but may include:
· Developing a research plan and timeline with the campaign team to support the goals of the campaign
· Tracking city council agenda items related to the campaign or job sector focus and reviewing public documents
· Tracking the current debates about particular solutions, such as living wages, local hire policies, or other labor standards
· Conducting web and media searches to identify applicable solutions
·Gathering best-practice policies and programs, and evaluating how they could be applied locally
· Interviewing advocates and organizers to understand technically how a solution works and lessons learned
· Summarizing key findings to the campaign team and coalition partners through memos and presentations
· Some limited corporate research may be necessary
· Representing EBASE at meetings with allies, coordinating and attending actions, and supporting the work of the campaign and organization as a whole

Data collection, analysis, and reports (1/3 time )
The Research and Policy Associate helps utilize data analysis and research to reframe the debate about our local and regional economy, and integrate the research component into EBASE’s comprehensive campaigns. Depending on the campaign or project, the Research and Policy Associate may be involved in:
· Identifying relevant data sources for a particular research project
·  Analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau on poverty, income, and employment, or the California Employment Development Department on wages, workers, and employers
· Supporting organizers in developing, conducting, and analyzing worker and resident surveys
· Writing research briefs and policy papers that illustrate the meaning of the data to a variety of audiences
· Being a spokesperson to the media on the main findings of the report
· Making presentations to staff, board members, coalition partners, allies, and decisionmakers on the data and conclusions

Required experience and qualifications
-2-3 years of prior work and demonstrated commitment to worker and resident organizing, economic justice, and social justice movements
-Strong verbal communication skills and experience making presentations to multiple audiences, including testimonies to government agencies and/or trainings to community organizations
-Strong writing skills for a policy-making audience
-Experience as a researcher in the labor movement o r other social or economic justice movements
-Ability to work well in a team and take initiative
-Detail-oriented and accountable to both team goals and individual workplan goals
-Experience working in multi-cultural settings
-Proficiency in basic qualitative research skills including internet and media searches and interviews
-Proficiency in using Microsoft Excel to execute complex formulas and to create illustrative graphs and charts
-Tenacity in performing investigative research, including identifying and pursuing interviews with key public agency staff and stakeholders

Preferred qualifications
-Masters degree in public policy, urban planning, or similar program or equivalent experience
-Direct experience working in low-income communities of color
-Experience in local government policymaking, budgeting, local hire, living wage, or workforce development a plus
-Familiarity with data analysis programs such as SAS, GIS, or IMPLAN a plus, but not required.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary for this position is between $40,000-$45,000, depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package.   EBASE provides an excellent working environment that encourages team work and recognizes high-quality work.

Email cover letter and resume to: Jennifer Lin at jenny@workingeastbay.org, or mail to EBASE, Research and Policy Associate Search, 1814 Franklin St., Suite 325, Oakland, CA 94612. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements will not receive a response.

Application deadline:  January 14, 2011. Please note that the EBASE office is closed between December 20 -December 31, 2010. The position will be open until filled and starts immediately.

EBASE is an affirmative action employer, and strongly supports the social goals of affirmative action. We therefore make special efforts to recruit individuals from groups that are historically under-represented in professional environments, or that suffer broader societal discrimination.