Recruit

The University of California, Davis, School of Law is a top tier US law school. Its mission is to provide legal research, education and outreach. The outstanding scholarly reputation, high rankings, small size, dedicated faculty of internationally renowned scholars, and uniquely support learning environment combine for an experience of legal education that is second to none to the students. The King Hall School of Law has consistently placed among the best in the US News and World Report rankings and other polls, and is expect to continue its upward trajectory for years to come.

The UC Davis School of Law offers a three-year full-time program leading to the Juris Doctor Degree, a one-year program for a LL.M. (primarily foreign lawyers and judges), and combined degrees. The outstanding scholarly reputation, high ranking, small size, dedicated faculty of internationally renowned scholars, and uniquely supportive learning environment combine for an excellent legal education. The Law School consistently places among the best in the U.S. News and World Report and other law school rankings.

The UC Davis Labor & Community Center builds upon and expands existing worker-centered projects on the UC Davis campus. The Labor Center will develop labor-centered, community-engaged, policy-relevant research, education and public programming that serves the labor movement and social justice struggles more broadly in the Greater Sacramento region, rural Northern California and parts of the San Joaquin Valley. The UC Davis Labor and Community Initiative is rooted in the belief that a vibrant labor movement is vital to redressing the range of inequities that plague workers and their loved ones. The UC Davis Labor and Community Initiative is committed to working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders representing trade unions, workers' organizations and other groups addressing issues that working people face as a means of not simply advancing scholarly debates about workers but on-the- ground struggles led by workers. The UC Davis Labor and Community Initiative will thus address both of the UC WRPI programmatic goals of capacity building for a worker-centered economy and research for the public good.

The Labor and Community Center of the Greater Capital Region at UC Davis Law (“Center”) seeks a dynamic research professional to serve as our Research Director (RD). The Center champions nonpartisan, evidence-based domestic policy solutions that improve the economic, political, and social landscape for workers in the state of California. The Center fosters innovative research, leverages policy-relevant expertise, drives civic engagement, and nurtures a leadership pipeline to propel viable policy reforms that expand opportunity for all workers.

Under the supervision of the Co-Directors the Research Director serves as part of the executive team overseeing the research programs and operation of the organization. The Research Director is responsible for developing, managing and executing the Center’s research portfolios. The Research Director will act as the primary point of contact for the Center’s research functions, overseeing the organization’s research agenda, including in-house research projects, extramural research projects, and faculty-driven research. She/he will develop and facilitate the design and structure of the Center’s research portfolio with support from the Center’s Co-Directors. This includes establishing the research agenda, identifying related research projects, product development, disseminating activities, and cultivating relationship with scholarly, practitioner, and/or policy experts in order to promote the Center’s research and programmatic functions. She/he will be responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising student fellows, including facilitating weekly research meetings and creating training curriculum to develop their research and policy skills. She/he will work with the Center’s faculty affiliates to distill their peer- reviewed research into policy-friendly formats that are digestible for public consumption.

The Research Director will play a critical role in the production of digital and print publications that connect academic content with decision-makers, namely elected and appointed officials, funders, the media, and other policy decision-makers. She/he will stay engaged with staff coordinating the publication process, including faculty and student researchers, and communications staff. The Research Director will support the Center’s communications strategy and execution as it relates to targeted messaging and press functions relating to the organization’s research activities and faculty research.

The Research Director will work with the Co-Directors on growth and development of the organization’s research program. She/he will identify research topics relating to the Center’s mission; write grant or contract proposals for funding from agencies and foundations; and pursue development opportunities for the centers including event sponsorship, contracts, and other large scale research funding opportunities.

Metrics for success will include the consistent, widespread, and successful amplification of Center research; the successful identification of research partnership opportunities in addition to successful management of large extramural research grants and contracts; and the integration of Center research into evidence- based policymaking across the country.

The Research Director operates with a high degree of autonomy, independently determines how to carry out assignments and undertake appropriate actions, and is proactive in identifying and bringing to the Executive Director's attention potential problems and opportunities, and providing creative recommendations for action. The Research Director will consult and work in coordination with the Faculty Director(s), staff researchers, Principal Investigators, undergraduate and graduate student fellows, and communications staff to complete their job duties.

Essential Responsibilities include:

RESEARCH DIRECTION
Plans and/or executes research design and methodology with multiple uses and audiences in mind, including but not limited to elected officials, legal practitioners filing complaints, policy advocates, funders, and members of the media. Designs and oversees all Center data, evaluation, and research projects and efforts, including:

• Design and execution of surveys, interviews, and focus groups;
• Data acquisition, organization, entry, and processing/cleaning;
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis using statistical software, database management, use of data sets;
• Develop documentation for data analysis including process, replication requirements and detailed codebooks;

• Assist in preparation of human subjects/IRB applications when needed;
  Production of high-quality data visualizations, charts, tables, and spreadsheets. Supervise students to promote efficiency and cohesiveness between projects; train data collectors to assure adherence to established research protocol and to facilitate the quality return of data. Applies expertise in data cleaning, coding, merging and management of large data sets and institute organizational research processes and procedures on this subject. Authors and supervises the production of high-quality written reports, research briefs, research memos, fact sheets, presentations, and other communications materials. This includes:

• Prepare data displays (e.g. charts, graphs, and tables) and summarize methods, results and findings;

• Prepare and write sections of reports, proposals, and other documents with fluency and precision;

• Review reports for inaccuracies, inconsistency or lack of clarity;

• Provide clear recommendations for appropriate treatment of errors in public reporting and analysis;

• Prepare report recommendations for treatment of data errors and correct data errors
  
  Makes oral group presentations to policy makers, press, academics to explain the methods and the meaning of the work being performed. Travel to conferences and briefings, present findings of research and recommendations for policy changes. Assists with the design of quantitative data analysis strategies in collaboration with Center executives and staff. Recruits trains, and manages a cadre of graduate students capable of editing academic articles for wider audience of funders, elected and appointed officials, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Manages the timely and quality editing of each article/publication. Works with co-directors to perform reviews and greenlight publications. Publicizes and disseminates the release of content as it is issued (print and digital).
  
  GENERAL MANAGEMENT
  Works with the co-directors to develop and review annually a research strategy that supports annual and multi-year strategic objectives. Responsible for supervision, professional development, and evaluation of student researchers, including prioritizing and assigning work to meet Center research goals and approving timesheets. Works with co-directors to regularly engage affiliated faculty in organization’s research activities and programs. Oversees the production of reports, affiliated faculty policy briefs, and other publications following appropriate guidelines and research procedures. Supports civic engagement and advocacy portfolios by staffing workgroups, external meetings, and developing relationships with partners, as needed to amplify research impact. Communicates current descriptions and information of research projects and programs to communications staff to ensure up to date and accurate information sharing on organization’s digital channels. Summarizes metrics and lessons learned in quarterly report to all staff. Keeps abreast of the work of the organization in order to understand and effectively advance the content to outside stakeholders.
  
  EXTERNAL RELATIONS
  Advises Communications Manager on external event content creation, including public-facing events, webinars, and policy briefings, as needed to support Center research projects. Works with faculty and researchers to produce subject-focused events on- and off-campus related to their research and organization’s strategic goals. Assists in the crafting of press releases for public dissemination in coordination with the Communications Manager. Responds to media inquiries with explanations about research findings and methodology, when appropriate. Directs extramural research fund development and strategic partnerships in coordination with the co-directors, including:

• Research on potential funders and new grant and/or contract opportunities,

• Production of high-caliber grant proposals, concept papers, and applications (including project design, workplans, and budgets),

• Production of high-caliber funder reports,

• Cultivation and stewardship of strategic research partnerships.
  
  The School of Law is interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of teaching excellence and professional activities, and to the development of a campus that supports equality and diversity. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see [http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.].
  
  More Info: https://law.ucdavis.edu/academics/centers/uc-davis-labor-and-community-center

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals’ with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.