Metropolitan Policy Research Associate
Number of Positions: 1 – 2
Deadline to apply: November 3, 2020.
link to posting: https://www.cows.org/jobs
Job Description
Logistics: Approximately 10 hours/week, $15/hour, beginning November 2020 through at least May 2021, with the possibility of continued work into summer and the Fall 2021-2022 academic year.
Job Duties: Housed in the Sociology Department, COWS is a national think-and-do tank that promotes “high road” solutions to social problems. These treat shared growth and opportunity, environmental sustainability, and resilient democratic institutions as necessary and achievable complements in human development. COWS is nonpartisan but values-based with an emphasis on cities. Housed within COWS, the Mayors Innovation Project (MIP) seeks to foster peer exchange and cultivate leadership among mayors and cities to create more equitable, sustainable, and democratically engaged cities. We are seeking 1-2 graduate students to join our team and play an integral role in expanding and updating Cities at Work, our roadmap for moving cities onto the “high road.”
The successful candidate(s) will have a strong interest in public policy, sustainability, shared democracy, and equity, ideally with experience in city policy.
Specifically, their role will be:
● To conduct, collect and organize qualitative research on innovation in cities, which may include researching city ordinances and making phone calls to experts.
● To update Cities at Work with a particular focus on how establishing the high road in cities will and can be shaped by COVID-19.
● To work with the team to identify the best means of communication and dissemination.
Qualifications
● Excellent qualitative research and communication skills.
● Exemplary writing ability, intended for a broad city-focused audience.
● Knowledge of cities, and interest in the High-Road Strategy.
● Attention to detail.
● Ability to work independently and remotely.
How to Apply
Please send a letter, resume, writing sample intended for a broad, city-focused audience, and 1-2 current references with your application. One of these references must be someone at UW Madison. Please send to Matthew Wyndham (mwyndham@cows.org). Deadline is November 3, 2020.
Student Hourlies
We welcome resumes from interested students on an ongoing basis for our part-time student hourly positions (10-20 hours/week, with the opportunity for more as needed). The ideal candidates will be available over the Summer breaks, in addition to Fall/Spring semesters.
Student hourlies provide administrative support, with the opportunity to assist on research and writing projects as we see fit. This will include assisting with Mayors Innovation Project semi-annual meetings and at least two other events Fall/early Winter, in addition to other smaller projects requiring efficient support.
These duties will include making phone calls to mayoral offices around the country, assisting in list and database maintenance, preparing mail merges and mailings, and other basic administrative tasks.
Proficiency with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required. Experience with mail merge a plus. Knowledge of Adobe Premiere, InDesign, and/or other web and design software desirable (but not required). A pleasant, professional attitude, flexible schedule, and positive work ethic needed. Must learn quickly, have some experience doing administrative work in an office environment, and be responsible and able to work independently. Students can generally pick their own schedule to work around classes as needed, but they must be during regular business hours (between ~9am – 5pm).
Candidates must be students. Both undergraduate or graduates welcome to apply, but please note that these positions are more administrative in nature.
Please list three references with your application. One of these MUST be someone at UW Madison.
Please send resume, letter, and references to Matthew Wyndham for consideration.