LittleSis is seeking a new Senior Researcher who is interested in developing more power research analysis and capacity in the climate, energy, and environmental justice movements. The position’s main objective will be to conduct and facilitate corporate research in support of and in collaboration with movement partners and campaigns.
Core responsibilities include conducting power research and writing on the influence and impacts of the fossil fuel industry; helping to develop and coordinate program area research strategy and goals with other LittleSis staff; managing relations with our campaign and coalition partners and building new relationships; and working with partners to support campaigns through research and strategizing.
Additional responsibilities include collaborating with our State Power Mapping program; helping to design and deliver research trainings; representing LittleSis in partner meetings and media interviews; writing articles of our news site; and setting up and managing meetings and events connected to programmatic work. See below for a full list of roles and responsibilities.
The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to corporate power research that foregrounds a racial, economic, and climate justice analysis, and a strong commitment to progressive social change, the fight against corporate power, and the struggle for climate and environmental justice and energy democracy. At least 3 years of experience doing progressive, campaign-oriented research and/or organizing is required, as is a demonstrated familiarity with the fossil fuel industry and with climate, energy and environmental justice issues and movements. See below for a full list of qualifications.
This is a full-time – 40 hours/week – salaried position. This is also a remote position; candidates can be based anywhere in the U.S. We are particularly interested in candidates with connections to and/or experience working in or with movements in major fossil fuel producing states such as Texas and Louisiana.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct power research and write on the influence and impacts of the fossil fuel industry, including around: pipelines, power plants, fossil fuel finance, divest-invest campaigns, public utilities, industry greenwashing, “green” energy, fracking, and other topics.
- Help develop and coordinate the climate program’s research agenda.
- Bottomline and maintain active relationships with our campaign and coalition partners and seek new partnership opportunities.
- Lead work with partners to support campaigns through research and strategizing.
- Collaborate with LittleSis’s state power mapping program to advance collective organizational work to strengthen local and regional analysis of corporate power.
- Help design and deliver research trainings on the methods of and strategy behind power research.
- Coordinate and contribute to multiple projects simultaneously in collaboration with the LittleSis team.
- Represent LittleSis in partner meetings and media interviews.
- Write articles for the Eyes on the Ties news site and contribute to the LittleSis.org database.
- Set up and manage meetings and events connected to programmatic work.
- Actively contribute to and support the development of our democratic workplace.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- A commitment to corporate power research that foregrounds a racial, economic, and ecological justice analysis.
- A commitment to progressive social change, the fight against corporate power, and the struggle for climate and environmental justice and energy democracy.
- At least 3 years of experience doing progressive, campaign-oriented research and/or organizing.
- Demonstrated familiarity with the fossil fuel industry and with climate and environmental justice issues and movements.
- Proficiency in Internet-based research, word processing, spreadsheet programs (e.g. Excel).
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, with effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, with light supervision.
- Critical thinking and research skills, including an ability to analyze sources for relevant findings that are strategic for partners and campaigns.
- Writing and editing skills, including the ability to organize dense, detailed research into digestible, narrative-driven reports, memos, and news posts.
- Demonstrated ability working in highly participatory organizational models rooted in democratic decision making.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace, Slack and other collaborative platforms.
- Desire and ability to work in a fully remote environment.
- Willing to learn from mistakes, receive feedback, and give feedback to others.
- Commitment to building a culture of mutual accountability, liberation, and respect.
Compensation:
$70,000 with 5% cost of living adjustment for people working out of New York City, Los Angeles, Bay Area, DC metro areas, and other major cities.
Benefits:
LittleSis offers a competitive benefits package to all staff that includes:
- 401k retirement plan with 3% employer contribution
- Monthly remote work stipend for phone and internet
- Fully funded healthcare options
- Sick leave as well as short and long term disability coverage
- Annual professional development budget
- Generous PTO policy including 20 vacation days
- PAI is closed for 10 federal holidays, May 1st, November 24th, and December 25th
- In addition to the PTO and holidays listed above, PAI is experimenting with quarterly office closures in 2023. This includes the final week of each quarter ending in March, June, September, and December.
LittleSis aspires to build an inclusive and liberatory organization. We value having a diversity of life experiences, identities, and perspectives on our staff. We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, disability, nationality, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
To Apply:
Applicants should send their resume/cv and a brief cover letter to [email protected] by May 31st, 2023 with SENIOR RESEARCHER in the subject line. In your cover letter please highlight in particular why you are interested in joining the LittleSis team and any relevant experience doing corporate power research connected to climate, energy and environmental justice issues and the fossil fuel industry.
Applicants selected for an interview with LittleSis staff will be contacted by June 16th, 2023. At that time we will ask for recent writing samples and references. The expected start date for this position is July 31st, 2023.
About LittleSis:
Public Accountability Initiative (more commonly known as “LittleSis”) is a movement research organization that specializes in power research that tracks networks of wealthy and powerful people and corporations and follows the money that finances and upholds extractive industries. This research is done to help movements and campaigns better understand the power structures they’re up against and find points of strategic leverage.
LittleSis is a small but dedicated team of researchers and trainers excited to bring corporate power research skills and analysis into our movement spaces. As a worker self-directed non-profit, we are a collaborative crew that values transparency, accountability, and kindness in our relationships with each other. We are a highly participatory organization rooted in democratic decision making. While we work hard, we seek to maintain working conditions that promote our individual and collective health and well-being.
LittleSis is a fully remote organization with staff throughout the U.S. In a typical year, staff may travel within the United States for conferences, retreats, partner meetings, and professional development.