Director, Research

GoodPower is a global organization working to unlock the economic potential of decarbonization through research, innovation, strategic communications, and disruptive technology. We focus on advancing more affordable and reliable energy, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening energy security, supporting healthier and more resilient communities, and accelerating the transition to a predictable, secure, modern low-carbon economy. Operating at the intersection of data, digital media, emerging technology, behavioral research, and public engagement, GoodPower develops and deploys scalable strategies designed to accelerate the adoption of decarbonized technologies and infrastructure—including renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, energy storage, and electric transportation.

The Director of Research will work internally with staff, in collaboration with partners, and alongside vendors to design, launch, and implement quantitative and qualitative studies that increase GoodPower’s efficacy across key impact areas, including voter registration, issue persuasion, GOTV, issue and advocacy engagement, and attitude and behavior change. This position will include sharing results externally with partners, funders, and journalists through webinar presentations, conferences, and interviews.

Responsibilities

• Research design: Independently author and contribute to research proposals and project designs that assess GoodPower’s messaging and/or attitudes of target audiences.
• Research analysis and interpretation: Analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data. Write up results in the form of short white papers, reports, and presentation materials for internal and external use. Author peer-reviewed publications on occasion when relevant.
• Grant Development and Budgeting: Support development of grant and other funding proposals. Manage budgeting for research spending and track grant spending.
• Research staff management: Implement the day-to-day activities of the research department and implementation of research projects. Manage the Researcher and Senior Research Manager, and support research contractors when relevant.
• Project leadership: Lead and manage multiple, simultaneous projects in GoodPower’s key program areas of renewable energy advocacy, civic engagement, policy, and digital strategy. This includes leading inter-departmental projects and coordinating tasks with staff across departments as well as external research partners and vendors.
• Dissemination of results: Collaborate with other Research Lab members to share findings with key stakeholders that include staff, partner coalitions, funders, board members, journalists, and constituents through emails, reports, and webinar and conference presentations.
• Stay updated: Stay abreast of research findings from partners, the community, and academics, including by attending online and live events and conferences. Monitor the latest research developments relevant to our work. Prepare guides and literature reviews on existing research and best practices.
• Increase brand recognition: Help establish GoodPower as a visible leader in data-driven impact in the fields of climate education, advocacy, civic engagement, and democracy. Represent GoodPower in coalitions and meetings with other organizations, such as the Environmental Polling Consortium.
• Attend annual training on 501c3 & 501c4 compliance, conduct work with an understanding of nuance and rules between each entity, raise any questions with the legal team, and track expenses and staff time appropriately.

Requirements

• PhD in social or behavioral science – political science, communication, public health, sociology, environmental studies, or related field.
• 8 or more years (with at least 5 years post-PhD) of experience in social science research design and analysis.
• Knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods, preferably with expertise in longitudinal, recontact, and field-based designs and/or qualitative research designs (e.g., interviews, focus groups).
• Experience designing and analyzing voter file data use, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) research.
• Expertise in authoring research proposals.
• Experience with statistical software such as SPSS, SQL, STATA, R, SAS, or others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Existing expertise or willingness to master trends in renewable energy, electrification, political campaigns, civic engagement, and climate change.
• Strong computer skills (Google Apps, Microsoft Suite, Salesforce, Slack, Monday.com).

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403b retirement savings plan
• Vacation, Sabbatical, Paid Parental Leave
• 2 Floating Holidays, 2 Community Service Floating Holidays
• Sick time
• Two weeks of full-staff time off (July 4 week and Christmas-New Years week)
• 13 observed holidays

Pay

Annual salary range: $110,000 - $125,000, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This is a full-time remote position based anywhere in the United States. The Director of Research will work from home, meet as required by video chat with teams, and attend weekly national full-staff meetings and departmental meetings online. Travel will be required for departmental meetings, staff retreats, and other events.