Junior Research Scientist / Program Assistant, Membership & Outreach 

Title of Supervisors: Manager, Outreach and University Relations; Executive Director

NYU Unit: Provost / Scholars at Risk Network

Position URL: apply.interfolio.com/159111

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of higher education institutions dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting higher education values worldwide. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities, Scholars at Risk offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, enabling them to continue their important work. Scholars at Risk also provides advisory services for scholars and hosts, campaigns for scholars who are imprisoned or silenced in their home countries, monitoring of attacks on higher education communities worldwide, and leadership in deploying new tools and strategies for promoting academic freedom and improving respect for university values everywhere. Information at www.scholarsatrisk.org

JOB DESCRIPTION: Scholars at Risk is seeking a highly-organized, proactive, and detail-oriented individual to join the Scholars at Risk team as a Junior Research Scientist/Program Assistant for Membership & Outreach. The Program Assistant plays a key role within the SAR’s membership team and will work to bolster institutional membership in the SAR network. The Program Assistant should develop fluency in all areas of SAR’s work in order to develop and lead strategies for identifying and recruiting prospective institutional network members, including universities, academic associations, consortiums and partner neworks. The position requires strong research and writing skills, initiative, persistence, and timely and professional communication, including with members, prospective members, partners, clients, SAR and NYU staff, and the public. The Program Assistant will be encouraged to handle increasing responsibility for these and other activities as appropriate. The position reports to the SAR Executive Director and Director of Membership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Growth of the SAR Network through identification and recruitment of universities, colleges, academic associations, and partner networks (70%)

• Develop independent responsibility for membership outreach campaigns targeting prospective network members through letters, email, calls and events; work closely with national SAR section leaders and SAR staff teams to research, design, implement, and track campaigns;
• Develop fluency, under the guidance of supervisors, in responding to outside queries including from prospective members;
• Research appropriate opportunities and audiences to deliver presentations on SAR network opportunities;
• Research, draft and circulate materials for prospective members including program updates, opportunities for engagement, event notifications, website content, etc.;
• Handle increasing responsibility for the above and other membership and outreach related activities as appropriate.

Membership retention (30%)

• Develop annual appreciation campaigns for members and work with national SAR sections on country level recognition campaigns;
• Assist membership team in renewing current and inactive memberships through researching and nurturing relationships with key institutional leadership;

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required.
• Exceptional research, writing and editorial skills.
• Strong attention to detail, administrative skills and strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Previous membership and outreach experience is desirable, particularly work with membership organizations in outreach campaigns, lead generation, and prospecting.
• Preferable: Coursework and/or experience in communications, human rights, education, international studies, non-profit management, accounting.

This is a full-time, at-will position on an open-ended term, subject to program priorities, exemplary performance and availability of funds. In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $48,000-$54,000, comparable to similar positions at other peer organizations in the NGO/human rights field. Scholars at Risk is an independent not-for-profit corporation hosted at New York University (NYU). SAR staff are NYU employees seconded to SAR and as such are eligible for NYU employee benefits, including generous vacation leave and holidays; medical, dental, vision and life insurance options; and retirement benefits (all subject to terms established by NYU as described at https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff.html). NYU considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required.
• Exceptional research, writing and editorial skills.
• Strong attention to detail, administrative skills and strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Previous membership and outreach experience is desirable, particularly work with membership organizations in outreach campaigns, lead generation, and prospecting.
• Preferable: Coursework and/or experience in communications, human rights, education, international studies, non-profit management, accounting. Fluency in additional languages is beneficial (particularly Spanish and/or German).

Application Instructions

HOW TO APPLY: Apply IMMEDIATELY online at apply.interfolio.com/159111 by uploading the requested materials in one combined PDF: (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, (3) list of references or letters of reference, and (4) a brief, unedited writing sample. DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW IS DECEMBER 6, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the position is filled. No phone calls or email inquiries, please.

SAR/NYU is an equal opportunity employer. SAR/NYU does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status, or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply. (Regrettably, SAR is not able to sponsor work-eligible visas for this position.)

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NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

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