Research Associate

Location: New York City

Type: Full-time

About Us

Siegel Family Endowment (Siegel) is a foundation focused on understanding and shaping the impact of technology on society.  Siegel supports organizations whose work contributes to giving everyone the opportunity to learn and contribute to a rapidly changing society. We were founded in 2011 by David M. Siegel, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Two Sigma, a financial sciences company. We primarily focus on three interest areas: Learning, Work, and Infrastructure. Our grantmaking philosophy and process differs from many more traditional foundations -- we encourage you to read through the “Our Approach” to understand more about how we work with potential grantees.

Currently, Siegel is building a research team that aims to develop knowledge in our issue areas, actively engage with research communities, and to support our grantmaking efforts. Research will be conducted by Siegel staff, including Resident Research Fellows, and grantee partners.  You can read more about our approach at “Research & Philanthropy” and “Our Approach.”

Position Summary 

Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Head of Research, the Research Associate will work closely with their colleagues on the research and the grantmaking teams to advance the vision across Siegel's research activities. 

The Research Associate will work with the Research team and with Siegel's partners and grantees to develop novel insights, help develop and implement research agendas, and help disseminate research findings to a variety of stakeholders. A successful candidate will be intellectually curious and action oriented. As part of a small team you will be involved with the full range of the research team’s work. Our research interests are at the intersection of technology and society and includes questions around intelligence, information, innovation, development, decisions, and design (see below).  

We are looking for experience working with and/or researching the impact of emerging technologies, such as generative AI systems, social media platforms, or other digital innovations.  

Responsibilities

Internal Team Support 

• Manage research projects, tracking status and findings
• Support literature reviews on relevant topics,
• Work in partnership with colleagues to help develop research agendas related to inquiry questions, as aligned with Siegel’s inquiry-driven approach to grantmaking
• Provide thoughtful feedback based on research finding and field learning to contribute to shaping organizational strategy
• Working with the Grantmaking team, assist in managing potential research grantee pipeline and in preparation of grantee sourcing discussions and proposals
• Support Knowledge & Impact team to help evaluate and monitor grantees.

Research Dissemination

• Prepare research summaries for a variety of audiences
• Synthesize learnings from the research and collaborate with colleagues to uncover interesting opportunities at the intersection of our interest areas and topics for further exploration 
• Facilitate internal learning from grantee relationships
• Assist with writing white papers and other publications that elevate Siegel’s research or the findings from our grantees
• Plan convenings with external partners and work with colleagues to help execute
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience working in an organization that conducts and/or disseminates research, especially related to the impact of emerging technology on society. 
• Experience working in nonprofit, philanthropy, academic, or other relevant field(s) is a plus. 
• Intellectual curiosity, with a proactive approach to learning. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present technical and complex research to more understandable formats. 
• Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills. 
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills. 
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work.
• A master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field is preferred. 

Salary & Compensation: 

The anticipated salary for this position is $88,000 yearly plus a bonus with a target of 10% base salary. Additionally, we offer a competitive benefit package. For more information about our compensation structure, please email recruiting@siegelendowment.org.