Jr. Research Scientist / Associate, Membership & University Relations

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 600 higher education institutions and associations dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting higher education values worldwide. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities, SAR offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, enabling them to continue their important work. SAR 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 SAR team as a Junior Research Scientist/ Associate for Membership. The Associate plays a key role within the SAR membership team, which works to develop university engagement in all areas of SAR programming, including protection of threatened scholars and related country conditions research; advocacy for threatened scholars; and research, trainings, and publications on academic freedom and related higher education values. The Associate should develop fluency in all these areas of SAR’s work to develop and lead strategies for identifying, recruiting, and engaging universities, faculty, and students. The position requires strong research and writing skills, timely and professional communication, including with members, partners, clients, SAR and NYU staff, and the public. The Associate will be encouraged to handle increasing responsibility for these and other activities as appropriate. The position reports primarily to SAR’s Director of Membership and University Relations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Member engagement (34%)

• Work closely with SAR Sections outside North America to strengthen member engagement, support programming, and encourage section reporting
• Design and implement membership recognition campaigns
• Increase the visibility of the SAR network by contributing to team social media, press outreach, e-blasts, mailings, website updates, and additional related tools

Prospective member outreach and member engagement (33%)

• Support regionally targeted outreach efforts to grow the SAR network and recruit new members
• Research regional higher education structures and networks in order to structure SAR country sections most effectively and facilitate the development of new SAR sections and partner networks
• Promote engagement of universities, colleges, academic associations and societies, faculty, and students, including engagement in activities beyond hosting scholars such as seminars, clinics, workshops, research projects, and publications
• Represent SAR accurately and professionally in a variety of contexts, including presenting at conferences as well as meetings with university administrators and faculty

Engagement-related administration and operations (33%)

• Contribute to the development and design of appropriate data tracking systems to generate membership-related reports, statistics, and numbers as needed
• Research organizational growth and data management strategy; apply new data management strategies to the membership team’s record keeping and communications
• Assist in membership invoicing
• Lead and/or contribute to administrative tasks, including mailings/digests to members, prospective members, and others as required

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is USD $50,000.00 to USD $60,000.00. New York University 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. This is a full-time, at-will position on an open-ended term, subject to program priorities, exemplary performance, and availability of funds. The position offers 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“).

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience
• 2-3 years of related work experience in a non-profit/similar mission setting
• Exceptional research, writing, and editorial skills
• Strong attention to detail and strong organizational and multi-tasking abilities
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to human rights and/or international education
• Previous membership/communications experience desirable
• Fluency in additional languages a plus; Spanish and/or French preferred

Application Instructions

HOW TO APPLY:  PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY (no phone calls or email inquiries, please) by emailing in a single document: (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, (3) list of references or letters of reference, and (4) a brief, original (unedited) writing sample.  Please use “Membership Associate, [Your last name]” for the PDF file name.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. SAR 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 these positions.)

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 600 higher education institutions and associations dedicated to protecting scholars and promoting higher education values worldwide. By arranging temporary academic positions at member universities, SAR offers safety to scholars facing grave threats, enabling them to continue their important work. SAR 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

Apply Here