Cornell University, Climate Jobs Institute

Senior Research Support Specialist

Based in New York, NY
Hybrid

 

This position is located in New York, NY, within the ILR School located at 570 Lexington Avenue.

The School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University has two immediate openings for a Senior Research Support Specialist – Research Support Specialist C07 in the Climate Jobs Institute in the Extension/Outreach Division.

Our Team:
The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School is guiding New York’s and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality union jobs, confronts race and gender inequality, and builds a diverse and inclusive workforce centering frontline communities.

Through cutting-edge policy research, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs, the Institute provides the information that policymakers, the labor and environmental movements, industry leaders and others need to navigate this historic transition to a zero-carbon economy.

The Climate Jobs Institute serves as the academic and educational partner to the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, providing research, policy, and educational support to coalitions of unions in numerous U.S. states.

The Climate Jobs Institute studies the labor and employment impacts of climate change and the transition to clean energy and develops worker-and-equity centered climate policy for U.S. states and cities. CJI’s research includes developing energy, emissions, and labor profiles for U.S. states, analyzing the efficacy of state climate policy and programs, examining, and calculating the job creation impacts of various climate policies, and identifying best practices for accelerating climate action, high-quality union job creation and equity. Much of CJI’s research is used to help labor unions develop a positive and proactive vision for addressing climate change and inequality. CJI also does academic research on working conditions in clean energy sectors, developing high-quality job multipliers for clean energy investments, and best practices for “just transition.”

What we are seeking:
The position will collaborate with CJI faculty, staff, and ILR students on CJI’s applied and academic research studies and CJI’s policy research, analysis, and development. Successful Research Support Specialist candidates will have knowledge of climate, energy and/or labor issues and experience generating literature reviews on ongoing research projects and conducting qualitative and quantitative research, including identifying relevant data sets, compiling information and statistics, and collecting and analyzing climate, energy and labor data from archives, libraries, and a variety of databases. CJI’s Research Support Specialists will create surveys and questions, analyze results and data, and create visual presentations and reports based on the data collection. The successful candidates will also write and edit research and policy papers. In addition, the Research Support Specialist will work with undergraduate student fellows at the CJI. The individual will also edit grant and funding proposals and write media articles related to research topics for the CJI and ILR communications.

This is a term, full-time, bargaining unit position that falls under the NYC ILR Extension exempt CWA contract. Initial appointment through June 30, 2027, position may be reappointed with approval based on available funding and work.

The position is based in the Cornell University, New York City ILR Extension office located at 570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022.

More information about the ILR School can be obtained at our web site, http://www.ilr.cornell.edu and Climate Jobs Institute at https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/climate-jobs-institute

What we need:

• Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Two to three years of experience with qualitative and quantitative research approaches including the capability to create surveys and survey tools, identify relevant data sets, collect and analyze data, generate visuals, and write reports based on data collection.
• Experience collecting data using standardized instruments and contribute to statistical data analysis.
• Experience writing research reports/manuscripts for publication using appropriate style guides.
• Experience contributing to instrument design, conducting observational field research, statistical data analysis, writing of research reports, and manuscripts for publication.
• Extensive experience with editing documents and research reports for publication
• Proven expertise preparing presentations, create slides, and craft documents for educational programs and trainings.
• Experience in translating research/evaluation for a general audience.
• Demonstrated ability working on multidisciplinary teams, providing creative and critical independent thinking while also considering diverse opinions and approaches.
• Experience or internship working with unions, labor boards, environmental or climate justice organizations, academic labor programs, or governmental climate, energy or labor agencies.
• Experience with internet and library searches.
• Strong understanding with many of the following areas including labor unions, especially building trade and energy sector unions, worker organizing and collective bargaining contracts, climate protection and clean energy policy, renewable energy and other low-carbon economic sectors, low-wage precarious work and inequality, and union and worker training programs.
• Proven ability to manage multiple competing deadlines and be flexible with changing work priorities.
• Demonstrated capability of working independently for long stretches of time with limited supervision
• Demonstrated capability of working in a collaborative environment
• Excellent verbal, written, telephone and public presentation skills.
• Advanced experience with preparing, creating, and transforming academic citations in multiple formats such as APA and MLA.
• Experience and skill using and learning different software packages and web-based tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or videoconferencing software, Lexis Nexis, library databases, and Qualtrics)
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.  

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social science or applied research, rehabilitation counseling, special education, educational leadership, human resources, disability studies, program evaluation, statistics, or related discipline.
• Five or more years of experience in a research and/or program evaluation environment.
• Prior experience working in climate change or policy communication.
• Experience working in a team environment, providing collaborative input, and contributing support to creative database projects.
• Ability to manage large datasets and extrapolate from data for use in public policy analysis.
• Extensive knowledge of the offshore wind industry including the manufacturing supply chain, emerging clean energy technologies, New York state public policy on climate and offshore wind, and labor standards for renewable and clean energy projects
• Proven research experience with reviewing and examining collective bargaining agreements.
• Capability to perform public policy research and understand the decision-making and law-making process of multiple states, federal, and international contexts.
• Experience working with Canva and InDesign is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Spanish (or other foreign languages).

Salary per CWA exempt bargaining unit contract: $70,378

ILR Outreach appreciates employees by providing the opportunity to work a 3:2 campus-to-home hybrid schedule.

No relocation assistance or visa sponsorship is provided for this position.

Cornell appreciates employees with great rewards & benefits: Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions and superior retirement contributions. Cornell has also been nationally recognized as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. For more information click HERE.

To Apply:
Interested parties should submit a résumé and cover letter describing qualifications on-line at Job Seekers using the staff link.

In the Experience section of your application, use the ‘Drop Files Here’ box to manually drag document(s) into your application. For a more detailed description and instructions on how to apply online please click HERE as an external candidate or click HERE if you are an internal candidate. Reference posting number: WDR-00052477

EEEO Statement:
Cornell University's history of diversity and inclusion encourages all students, faculty and staff to support a diverse and inclusive university in which to work, study, teach, research and serve. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified disabled individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act have rights in the application process and in employment under federal law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.