Research Manager

Organization and Type: Colorado Fiscal Institute 501(c)(3)

Job Title: Research Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Type of Job: Full-time, exempt

Base Salary: $78,000

Position Overview

The Colorado Fiscal Institute uses research and analysis as a foundational tactic to advance people-centered, equitable tax, budget and economic policy in Colorado. CFI is on a continual journey to ensure that its research is relevant, rooted in the needs of community, responsive and rigorous. The ideal candidate will thrive in this position if they can see themselves playing a key role in helping CFI along our journey. 

The Research Manager is a senior member of CFI’s research team and will serve as a project manager for all internal CFI projects as well as partner research requests. The Research Manager will ensure that all internal and external projects align with and help to advance CFI’s mission of promoting equity and widespread economic prosperity. They will coordinate with other members of CFI’s team, policymakers and external stakeholders to plan and execute analytic products that inform organizational and policy program decision making. The Research Manager will assist with all aspects of projects from helping to refine initial research questions to completion. This could include survey design, data acquisition, data analysis, literature reviews, writing reports and presenting findings through public presentations, media interviews and legislative testimony as needed. Broadly, the Research Manager is central to helping CFI use data and information to drive its mission and policy priorities. This position will report to the Executive Director.    

About CFI

CFI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for sound tax, budget and economic policies that promote equity and widespread economic prosperity. Through innovative research, advocacy, communications, and deep partnerships, CFI is leading a growing movement to advance anti-racist fiscal and economic policies that support working families and dismantle constitutional and structural barriers to equitably shared wealth and power in Colorado.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

CFI is committed to the ongoing effort to create and maintain a workforce that reflects our unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Recruiting staff that reflects the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences of Colorado is a priority. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse communities, constituencies, and identities, including but not limited to: class, race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, immigration status, sexual orientation, history of incarceration, military status, and geographic location.

Core Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Ensuring that CFI’s research and analysis directly advance the organization’s mission, short and long-term goals and strategic objectives 
• Managing original and partner research projects from inception to completion, ensuring that different solutions are found when data, methods, or other issues arise throughout the research process
• Working with junior analysts, serving as a guide and mentor to develop their skills 
• Leading on and assisting with all aspects of the research process – community engagement, survey design, data acquisition, data analysis, literature reviews and writing reports of findings as needed – for all projects produced
• Reviewing and editing policy reports, fact sheets, and other written material produced by research team members, and hand off that work to the Communications team for final polishing and dissemination
• Reviewing materials developed by research/policy staff to ensure methods and findings conform to CFI standards for qualitative and quantitative research, requiring changes or additional documentation from staff when needed
• Preparing for and facilitating research team meetings and creating internal systems and policies for ensuring that research is community informed and rigorous  
• Along with the Executive Director, research team, and legislative coordinator, helping to develop data and research to drive mission aligned fiscal and economic policy proposals  
• Analyzing state and federal policy proposals and their impact on Colorado communities and the state economy
• Representing CFI before state and local community groups, policymakers, media and other stakeholders      

Required Skills and Experience

• A belief and commitment to CFI’s mission of a more economically just and racially equitable society
• Master’s degree in public policy, economics or other related field with experience in a full range of both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• 3-5 years of work experience in public policy or other applied research area
• Strong experience with Excel, Stata, SPSS, Tableau, R, GIS, or similar data modeling or analytic software
• Familiarity with Colorado’s unique state budget, tax and political environment
• A minimum of 2 years helping to develop and manage research projects, and working with junior members of a team
• Ability to work with partners and/or directly impacted community members to center lived experiences in research and policy advocacy  
• Strong writing and editing skills and fluency in writing about complicated matters for a non-technical audience
• Organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines, including the deadlines that emerge during busy seasons (i.e., legislative session and ballot season)
• Able to work collaboratively and be a team player, and a willingness to bring your full self and creative ideas to advance the goals of the team
• Able to work a hybrid schedule with two mandatory in-person work days per week at CFI’s main office based in Denver, Colorado

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Denver with some required travel. The base salary for this position is $78,000. CFI offers a competitive benefits package with paid time off (sick and vacation), paid family and medical leave, paid holidays, a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match, health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), the opportunity to receive sabbatical time after five years, and a flexible work schedule. As of January 2024, CFI staff are working on a hybrid schedule, with two mandatory in person days and a flexible remote work schedule three days a week.  

How to Apply

Please email (subject line: Research Manager) resume and cover letter to careers@coloradofiscal.org, The cover letter should describe your interest in the position and include an explanation of your connection to our mission, how your experience meets the desired qualifications and how you are prepared for the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Please include the best daytime phone number where you can be reached. This position will remain open until filled with resume review and interviews beginning the week of September 3, 2024.