Program Director

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international, nonprofit organization founded in 1923 to advance the social and behavioral sciences through a wide variety of fellowships and research grants, workshops and conferences, and summer training institutes. Working with partners around the world to link research to practice and policy, our work supports the application of social and behavioral science to pressing societal challenges. For more information, please visit our website: www.ssrc.org.

The SSRC seeks to hire a Program Director to play a leadership role in overseeing a $20M+ research consortium (The Mercury Project) supporting rigorous evaluations of interventions to combat health misinformation and increase the uptake of reliable health information in the United States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Mercury Project also provides a suite of research-sharing and policy-development activities for grantees and other invited organizations, including annual international convenings, to enable more effective policy and regulatory responses to current and future public health emergencies. For more information, please visit the Mercury Project’s website: https://www.ssrc.org/programs/the-mercury-project/.

This position reports to the SSRC President and will also work in collaboration with the Mercury Project team and colleagues in other SSRC research programs to ensure the program’s success and to support institutional learning and the sharing of best practices.

Responsibilities:

In partnership with program colleagues, the Program Director will:

• Oversee RFP development, dissemination, and applicant recruitment of new cohorts of applicants to the Mercury Project Oversee proposal review by program staff and university-based experts Work with funded research teams to develop schedules of milestones, deliverables, and payments  Oversee grantee narrative and financial reporting Support the program’s measurement and evaluation plan and reporting to the consortium’s funders Plan and implement monthly virtual convenings of grantees Plan and implement annual in-person international convenings of the global research consortium constituted by grantees and other invited parties Work with funded research teams to develop and disseminate policy briefs and opinion pieces summarizing research consortium activities and findings for practitioners, policymakers, and broad public audiences

Qualifications

• Doctoral (preferred) or master’s degree in a relevant field, including economics, public policy, public health, social/behavioral science, and/or impact evaluation
• Familiarity with impact evaluations in the United States, Asia, Africa, and/or Latin America  
• Ability to effectively organize and manage convenings of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers
• Program management, grant writing, and budgeting skills
• Exceptional writing and editing skills and demonstrated ability to write on deadline and for multiple audiences
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to inclusion and the ability to work with diverse colleagues
• Team player with demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond flexibly to changing demands in a fast-paced policy research environment
• Interest in working in a professional role at the interface between the research, practitioner, and policymaking communities

Terms, Salary and Benefits  

Annual salary will be commensurate with experience. This is a grant-funded position, and renewal is based on successful performance and availability of funding. Comprehensive benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, life, and gym reimbursement; outstanding pension plan and tax savings programs; generous vacation and sick leave; and more. Provisions are made for staff to continue their professional development while at the Council.

The SSRC has offices in Brooklyn, NY; employees may also work remotely in conformance with SSRC policies.

The Social Science Research Council is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunity and to cultivating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. SSRC maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. All aspects of employment with the Council are made on the basis of competence, skill and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, creed, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin/ancestry, ethnicity, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or domestic partner status, medical conditions (including pregnancy and/or genetic information) or physical or mental disability, citizenship status or any other categories prohibited by law.