Senior Fellow & Co-Director, Center on Children and Families (Job ID: 2020-2466)

The Brookings Institution

Equal-Opportunity Employer: It is Brookings policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all of its employees and applicants without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, citizenship status, family responsibilities, gender identity or expression, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination as required by law.

Senior Fellow & Co-Director, Center on Children and Families (Job ID: 2020-2466)

US-DC-Washington

Job ID: 2020-2466
Type: Regular (Scholar)
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research
1. Resident Employee

About the Center on Children and Families: CCF studies policies that affect the well-being of America's children and their parents, especially children in less advantaged families. The Center addresses the issues of poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity in the United States and seeks to find more effective means of addressing these problems. CCF also houses the Future of the Middle Class Initiative (FMCi) which seeks to improve the quality of life of America's middle class and to increase the number of people rising to join its ranks.

About Economic Studies: The Economic Studies program analyzes current and emerging economic issues facing the United States and the world and, based on that research, provides innovative, practical policy recommendations. ES's work covers a broad array of economic issues, including the labor market, regulation, health policy, the environment, and fiscal and monetary policy. Economic Studies scholars influence key economic policies by conducting rigorous and relevant research and then disseminating and communicating their findings to the policy community and to the broader public.

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, and first generation college goers. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Please note: This position is based in Brookings' Washington, DC office. In response to COVID-19, Brookings staff are temporarily teleworking. The person hired for this position must be willing to move to or currently reside in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings success?

Brookings is seeking a senior fellow to co-direct the Center on Children and Families (CCF) in the Economic Studies Program, leading and conducting in-depth, high quality public policy research. The Center works at the intersection of social policy and economics, with a focus on inequality and economic mobility. The co-director will have considerable latitude to determine the research agenda of the Center, alongside their fellow co-director, but current priority areas include the Future of the Middle Class Initiative; economic mobility for workers; intragenerational mobility; race equity; and gender. The Center is in the process of re-evaluating its focus areas and structure for the coming years, which the co-director will be instrumental in shaping.

In addition to conducting their own independent research, the Co-Director will collaborate with other CCF scholars and other scholars across the Institution. In concert with their fellow Co-Director, they will develop the Center's research and policy agenda, oversee research and administrative staff, and cultivate and manage relationships with external research partners, current and prospective donors, and key economic policy stakeholders. Scholars partner with Development staff to build and steward funding for their work, and with Communications staff to effectively promote and disseminate it.

Research

• Conducts in-depth, high-quality public policy research in area of expertise, independently and in collaboration with other scholars
• Develops research concepts, policy questions, and work plans for papers and reports
• Authors or co-authors policy and research reports, blogs, op-eds, and other commentary
• Develops and delivers presentations for research projects and policy priorities
• Meets with and briefs relevant external contacts on research

Research Direction

• Develops research and policy agenda for CCF, in collaboration with other director, steering committee, and scholars in the field
• Provides research leadership within CCF, including mentoring junior staff, coordinating research and findings with other project teams, and liaising with ES Management Team as needed
• Engages with academics, policymakers, and industry experts to identify authors, speakers, and discussants for CCF publications and events
• Collaborates with external authors and assists with the writing and direction of their papers
• Oversees the work of research assistants and analysts or outside partners on selected projects

Fundraising

• Designs, develops, and stewards funding proposals and works with ES development team and other director on development priorities as needed
• Helps conceive new funding proposals and identifies potential funders (philanthropic, corporate, and individual, as needed)
• In consultation with the ES development team, stewards relationships with current Brookings funders

Qualifications

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements:

A Ph.D. or equivalent in economics or a related field is required. At least ten years of relevant experience is required. The successful candidate will be an established, recognized leader in their field of expertise. They will have a record of distinguished experience and/or leadership in government, academia, the non-profit sector or the private sector. Must have a demonstrated ability to understand and write knowledgeably about public policy research of the economic caliber necessary for publication in a top academic journal. Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skills Requirements:

Must be able to lead independent research and competently lead issue-focused meetings, initiatives, high-level conferences, and other events without supervision. Must be comfortable working with high-ranking decision makers, senior government officials, current and potential funders, and Brookings senior management. Ability to work collegially with staff at all levels and in all job profiles. Commitment to contributing to a supportive and productive workplace with a diverse workforce. Must have an interest in or experience with mentoring junior staff and an ability to work collegially with staff at all levels and in all job profiles.

Apply Here

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