Global Health and Development Researchers and Senior Researchers - Rethink Priorities

Summary of the Organization:

Founded in 2018, Rethink Priorities is a think-and-do tank. Through research and action, the organization improves the lives of humans and animals—both now and in the future. ) Our team conducts rigorous research across animal welfare, climate change, global health, international development, and other important and neglected areas. The Global Health and Development (GHD) Department carries out short research projects, often commissioned by philanthropic organizations and other relevant actors in the domains of global health, international development, and climate change. We strive to produce research that helps relevant stakeholders improve their decision-making, with the final goal of having a positive impact. Our clients include large funders such as Open Philanthropy, GiveWell, and the Gates Foundation, as well as smaller, high-impact nonprofits. In the medium-term, we intend to continue these commissioned projects alongside our own agenda of impactful, neglected research questions. 

 Summary of the Role:

We are expanding the Global Health and Development Department at and are hiring Researchers / Senior Researchers (core desk-based research role) and a Senior Research Manager (research-management role, involving people & project leadership). Applicants may apply to the Researcher, Senior Researcher, and Senior Research Manager positions simultaneously, if desired; in later hiring stages, we may narrow your candidacy based on your fit for each role. 

Researcher/ Senior Researcher:

• In their daily work, new researchers in our team will conduct and critically assess secondary research, working closely with colleagues and clients to produce high-quality, decision-relevant outputs. Researchers at any level may lead and coordinate projects, making decisions to ensure that our projects are high-quality and meet deadlines. With increasing seniority, researchers will be asked to contribute more to outreach, fundraising, and strategy efforts. We are open to hiring one or more new team members at either the Researcher or Senior Researcher level.
• Expertise in specific topic areas is valued, but we are looking for someone comfortable applying generalist research experience across a variety of global health and development topics, including outside of that area. 
• All roles are fully remote and we are able to legally hire in many countries. While we welcome applicants from all time zones, given the collaborative nature of our work, you should be prepared to attend calls with those working in a range of time zones, from US Pacific to Central European time. This role is open to part-time (minimum 30 hours per week) and full-time candidates. 

Responsibilities:

1. Conducting secondary research on a variety of global health, international development, and climate change topics. Our research process usually involves: Literature review (including assessment of the quality of evidence), Expert outreach and interviews, Some form of quantitative modeling (e.g., back of the envelope calculations, cost-effectiveness analyses), Writing and reviewing client- and public-facing research reports
2. Leading research projects, which generally includes: Developing the overall research approach and execution plan, based on the decision to be informed, requested outputs, and time available, Coordinating tasks and seeing them through to completion with teammates, Leading regular meetings with clients and teammates to communicate progress, discuss uncertainties, and agree next steps;
3. Contributing to the GHD Department’s strategy as requested, which may include: Identifying or developing promising research ideas, Supporting departmental fundraising efforts, Providing input to our department’s strategy and priorities.

Qualifications:

Skills, experience and competencies we are looking for include impact focus, research rigor, strategic and critical thinking, reasoning transparency, quantitative modelling, self/time-management, project management, outreach, written and verbal communication, project management skills, research experience