Director of Worker Power and Economic Security

About the Roosevelt Institute

The Roosevelt Institute takes on today’s greatest public policy challenges by advancing bold, cutting-edge research and policy ideas. We believe that the future of the American economy and our democracy depends on a new way of thinking about markets and government—and have successfully engaged with policymakers and the media to inform and shape public debate. Too few people hold too much economic and political power today, and we know that a stronger society is possible if we rectify this imbalance between private actors and the public. With a commitment to transforming corporations, restructuring markets, reviving democratic institutions, and reimagining the role of government, our work moves our nation toward a more resilient, equitable, and green future.

The Roosevelt Institute is a think tank, a student network, and the nonprofit partner to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum that, together, are learning from the past and working to redefine our collective future. Focusing on corporate and public power, labor and wages, and the economics of race and gender inequality, the Roosevelt Institute unifies experts, invests in young leaders, and advances progressive policies that bring the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt into the 21st century.

Our Culture

At Roosevelt, we recognize that the culture of the workplace and opportunities for career growth and development are important to all. We believe that diversity of background and experience among our people make our work to rewrite the rules of our social and economic realities stronger. Roosevelt is an equal opportunity employer and, as such, affirms in policy and practice to consider all applications in all job classifications, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, military status, height and weight, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest record, or other legally protected status. We strongly encourage people with diverse work and life experiences, diverse educational backgrounds, and diverse cultures to apply.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Principal Economist, the Director, Worker Power and Economic Security will serve as Roosevelt’s primary resident expert on labor markets and worker organizing, driving internal strategy and representing Roosevelt in the media, among advocacy groups, with funders, and with elected officials. Working with think tank and Roosevelt leadership as well as colleagues in other specialties, the Director will develop Roosevelt’s overall posture in pushing the boundaries on policy and research in service of greater worker power and security.

The Director’s work will combine day-to-day management, long-range strategy development, and research and writing. Their time will be divided roughly as follows: 40 percent personal research and writing, 30 percent managing the research and writing of fellows and contract authors, 20 percent promoting the work of the program, and 10 percent administrative and management tasks—for example, supporting the development team. Included in the time devoted to research and writing and fellows’ research and writing may involve helping research associates and program managers support the program’s work.

This is an individual contributing, nonmanagement, nonunionized role

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Program Strategy and Leadership:

• Working with the Principal Economist and in conjunction with the government relations, development, and communications teams, develop a research agenda on worker power and economic security with the goal of demonstrably moving the needle on outcomes for workers. This will include identifying areas for new long-range thought leadership as well as for near-term policy change. 
• Partner with government relations and communications teams to develop overall programmatic goals and materials and promote work in service of those goals. 
• Where appropriate, represent the organization’s program work with press, government officials, funders, and allied organizations. 
• Collaborate with ecosystem partners to gather ideas, move ideas forward, and develop coalitions in favor of coalesced thought leadership and policy movement.
• Partner with the development team to articulate clear goals, strategies, and deliverables for proposals to support program work, and to track and report out on progress.

Research and Writing:

• Research and author reports and issue briefs on topics such as workers’ labor market power, worker organizing, social insurance, and workforce development. 
• Author products accessible to a wide variety of audiences based on above research, for example op-eds, blog posts, and testimony.
• Engage with fellows, external partners, and outside experts to support research work. 

Management:

• Build and lead a team of part-time fellows and contract experts, aligning them around goals, overseeing research product development, and ensuring that the whole of the program’s work and products is greater than the sum of its parts. 
• Oversee consistent product pipelines for the program area and ensure all products meet the highest research standards, are positioned to drive strategic outcomes, and are delivered on time.
• Manage and review the research and writing of fellows, contractors, and staff to ensure quality and rigor across all projects as well as timeliness for projects when near-term opportunities arise. 
• Partner with the Think Tank Director to guide research by junior staff in support of program goals. 

What You’ll Have

• Advanced degree in economics, sociology, political science, public policy, or other related degree strongly preferred 
• 8–10 years progressive experience developing program strategies, policies, and analysis regarding worker power and labor markets 
• Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills
• Experience writing and/or communicating about labor and the economy to a wide audience
• Deep knowledge of labor economics and/or labor policy and worker organizing 
• Demonstrated success managing researchers from a variety of backgrounds across topics—including balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders and priorities (e.g., academic and research experts, advocacy and media goals) and ensuring timely delivery of projects 
• Excellent project management skills
• Experience collaborating with teams across an organization to develop and execute program strategies, as well as troubleshooting and course-correcting as needed
• Experience designing and implementing research projects using or supervising the use of quantitative methods 
• Passion for the Roosevelt Institute’s mission and strategy of intervening at the level of paradigm shift

Working Location: While this position can be performed remotely, it is preferred for the person in this role to work within relative proximity to one of Roosevelt’s offices, located in either the New York City or Washington, DC, areas (District, Maryland, or Virginia only).

Salary: The salary range for this position is $155.00 to $170,000, plus benefits.

The priority application deadline is Friday, June 20, 2025. 

To apply, please upload your resume and cover letter. Please reach out to jobs@rooseveltinstitute.org if you have any questions.

The Roosevelt Institute provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

To learn more about the Roosevelt Institute, please visit https://rooseveltinstitute.org.