Pew Research Center is looking for an innovative and accomplished Managing Director to lead the Politics research team in our Washington, D.C., office. The Managing Director oversees a team that provides nonpartisan survey research about U.S. public attitudes toward politics and public policy.

This team conducts regular polls on politics and policy issues; fields major surveys examining Americans’ views on social issues; and conducts long-term studies of trends in values, partisanship, ideology and social attitudes.

As one of 10 subject area experts leading the Center’s research units, the Managing Director:

• Brings strategic vision and intellectual thought leadership to their research team, staying ahead of trends in this fast-changing field and charting an executable course of research that meets our audiences’ needs.

• Has a strong background and expertise in the U.S. politics and policy landscape with expertise in public opinion on topics like polarization, trust, values, etc.

• Has a survey research and social science background necessary to ensure that the team’s work is of unimpeachable quality, as well as the journalistic sensibilities to ensure that its products (major reports, blog posts, interactive graphics, data essays, etc.) are timely and compelling to the Center’s priority audiences: the media, the informed public and stakeholders.

• As a public spokesperson for the team’s research, works collaboratively with the Communications team to identify, increase and diversify the audience for research products; communicates effectively in a variety of environments, including media interviews and high-impact public appearances; and engages in nonpartisan, public discussions with stakeholders across the political spectrum.

• Manages a team of roughly nine highly competent professionals in an organization that prioritizes leadership skills, collaboration and mentoring.

• As a member of the Center’s leadership team, helps develop and carry out strategic initiatives, including helping to build a Center-wide research portfolio that meets our mission and vision, keeping pace with changes in the media landscape and the way people consume information online, and creating and sustaining a work culture that tackles organizational challenges with a curiosity-driven mindset.

This position reports to the Vice President of Research.

Responsibilities

This role is ideal for a leader who thrives on both strategic oversight and direct involvement in the research process. Specifically:

• Responsible for the team’s research products: Curate the team’s yearly research portfolio Engage actively in executing the research agenda, including collaborating closely with team members to brainstorm ideas, refine research approaches and design effective questionnaires. Guide data analysis efforts, offering insights and direction to ensure meaningful findings. Participate actively in writing, editing, and ensuring the clarity and rigor of research products.

• Team management and workflow: Lead, coach and develop the Politics team. Inspire the team with vision, innovative thinking and self-starting initiative. Ensure output with high levels of contribution and ownership from team members.

• Spokesperson: Serve as the main representative of the team to the Center’s audiences. Work with the Communications team to ensure that dissemination activities reach audiences effectively and with maximum impact. Network and maintain relationships with key external constituencies, including journalists, other researchers and stakeholders in the Politics space.

• Collaboration with other research teams: Find synergies between politics and topics covered by other research teams, for example, race, religion, science, etc. Coordinate with the Survey Methodology team on methodological challenges facing public polling.

• Serving the institution as a member of the leadership team: Advise the Center’s executive team on institutional strategy. Contribute to cross-functional organizational initiatives involving other research teams, HR, Legal and Communications teams, for example, thinking through audience strategy, workplace diversity, transparency in career advancement, etc.

Commitments Required

• Must have a core passion for the mission of an organization that seeks to execute high-quality social science research and then to convey findings in ways that are clear, accurate, impartial, humble, accessible and interesting to the media, the informed public and stakeholders.

• Commitment to the Center’s nonpartisan and nonadvocacy approach to research.

• Maintaining a nonpartisan stance in all public communication, including on personal social media accounts.

• Dedication to the highest principles of transparency and accountability.

Education/Training/Experience/Skills

• We welcome applications from a range of professional backgrounds, including but not limited to academia, journalism, media or other fields with demonstrated experience in designing public opinion surveys and writing and editing narratives using public opinion data.

• At least 15 years of professional experience in a relevant field or institution (academia, news media, research organization, etc.).

• Must demonstrate expertise and thought leadership in U.S. politics and policy.

• Demonstrated expertise in conducting survey research and writing about survey data; familiarity with qualitative research methods and other social science research methods is a plus.

• Track record of writing for and/or speaking to informed but non-expert audiences.

• Demonstrated experience engaging with media and speaking on the record in high-profile environments.

• Previous experience in managing a team working on multiple complex projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Ability to coach others in translating complex research into narrative findings that speak to the Center’s priority audiences.

Location

• Pew Research Center is an office-based workplace, with all staff working in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office two core days weekly (Tuesday and Wednesday). Staff have the flexibility to work remotely up to three days per week.

The starting salary for this position is based on compensation market data and candidate experience. The starting salary typically falls in the range of $200,000-$230,000 annually.