Director of Research

NDWA is the leading national voice for dignity, respect, and recognition for domestic workers in the United States. Founded in 2007, NDWA represents an alliance of more than 76 organizations across 22 states and 350,000 domestic workers. We envision a society where domestic work is valued as essential to collective well-being, domestic workers lead in shaping the care sector, and domestic work jobs are good, economically secure jobs. For over 15 years, NDWA has advanced policies for rights and higher wages, shifted public awareness about care work, and built the capacity of domestic workers to organize and advocate for their rights.

About the role

As Director of Research at NDWA, you will lead the development and implementation of the organization’s research agenda, aligning with NDWA’s strategic goals and theory of change. This role strengthens NDWA's research capacity while ensuring research directly informs advocacy, organizing, and policy development. You will oversee rigorous research initiatives using data from NDWA channels and external sources to deepen understanding of domestic workers' experiences and evaluate policy impacts. You will also mentor and build a Research Team dedicated to amplifying domestic workers' voices through rigorous research and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of NDWA’s research agenda and strategy aligned with NDWA’s strategic plan, goals, and theory of change.
• Oversee periodic online surveys for domestic workers via NDWA’s digital media products (including La Alianza), including analysis, interpretation, and communication of survey data.
• Lead and design research projects as Principal Investigator, focusing on policy impact evaluation and primary research on domestic worker conditions.
• Apply advanced quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze large datasets, including survey data, administrative data, and primary data collection.
• Produce rigorous, engaging research deliverables (e.g., reports, briefs, presentations) for diverse audiences, including domestic workers, philanthropic partners, academic and program partners, press, and external stakeholders.
• Develop and implement research standards and methodological best practices, including ethical research protocols, data collection, and quality control aligned with social science methods.
• Design and implement worker-centered research approaches, including participatory methods and feedback loops with domestic workers, to ensure research reflects worker experiences and builds research capacity.
• Advise internal teams on strategies and methods to understand the characteristics and conditions of domestic workers.
• Build and maintain research partnerships with academic institutions, policy research organizations, and external collaborators.
• Supervise a team of researchers, managing team budget, structure, processes, and resource allocation.
• Lead the development of research grant proposals and manage research project budgets in collaboration with the development team and external partners.
• Work closely with organization leaders to ensure research informs NDWA's work.

Requirements

• PhD in economics, sociology, public policy, or related social science field strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience conducting policy-relevant research using mixed methods approaches.
• Demonstrated expertise in quasi-experimental methods and analysis of large datasets.
• Proven track record leading complex research projects as Principal Investigator.
• Experience developing and implementing research standards and protocols in community-based settings.
• Strong quantitative skills with proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Stata, R).
• Experience managing and mentoring junior researchers, with an emphasis on mentorship, capacity building, and promoting a culture of data literacy.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities, capable of working collaboratively across teams and with external partners.
• Proven ability to build and maintain research partnerships across academic and community organizations.
• Track record of translating complex research for diverse audiences through publications, reports, and presentations.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Deep understanding of domestic worker issues and commitment to worker-centered research approaches.
• Alignment with NDWA's vision and commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Skills

• Spanish proficiency is a plus.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Pay

$96,913 - $101,340 annually.