Director of Data & Applied Research

Indivisible Project; United States; Remote; USD 100,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Indivisible Project seeks a Director of Data & Applied Research to steer strategic data initiatives that enhance grassroots organizing and political engagement. This leadership role is pivotal in implementing data strategies across various departments, fostering a culture of informed decision-making to influence advocacy efforts. Applicants should possess extensive experience in data management and a strong commitment to progressive values, contributing to an inclusive democracy.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading data-driven programs in advocacy or electoral settings.
• Proven record in impact evaluations and campaign strategy.
• Deep fluency in modern analytics tools and translating findings for stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and strategic use of data analytics across the organization.
• Lead data teams in methodologies and reporting systems.
• Drive a culture of data-informed decision-making.

Skills

Data analytics

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

SQL

Python/R

BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Looker)

Job description

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About The Role

The Director of Data & Applied Research is a senior leadership role overseeing the development, integration, and strategic use of data, analytics, and research across the organization. This position drives a culture of data-informed decision-making, ensuring that infrastructure, tools, and insights support Indivisible’s high-impact grassroots organizing, political engagement, and advocacy initiatives. This role reports to the Co-Executive Director, sits on the organization’s senior team, and collaborates with all departments.

About The Role

The Director of Data & Applied Research is a senior leadership role overseeing the development, integration, and strategic use of data, analytics, and research across the organization. This position drives a culture of data-informed decision-making, ensuring that infrastructure, tools, and insights support Indivisible’s high-impact grassroots organizing, political engagement, and advocacy initiatives. This role reports to the Co-Executive Director, sits on the organization’s senior team, and collaborates with all departments.

What You'll Do

Research Leadership and Reporting (50%)

• Use advanced analytical skills to support organizational planning, implementation, and validation to measure our impact on electoral, advocacy, and group growth work.
• Drive a culture of learning and experimentation through data-driven practices and making information accessible across the organization.
• Conduct experiments and causal analyses to evaluate campaign strategies and optimize performance. As needed, oversee non-experimental research and polling to inform narrative, campaign strategies, and donor support.
• Supervise analytics teams in designing methodologies and regular insights reporting.
• Lead development of reporting systems and dashboards to track organizational effectiveness and program impact.
• Produce accessible and actionable research briefings for leadership and stakeholders.
• Partner with external vendors and academic institutions for original research collaborations.
  
  

Data Strategy & Infrastructure (10%)

• Oversee data engineering efforts: ETL pipelines, system integrations, data warehousing, and governance protocols.
• Ensure database architecture supports organizing, digital engagement, and political programs.
• Work with contractors to maintain that database, enhance it as needed, and continue developing our in-house application.
  
  

People Management (15%)

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of at least two data analysts and engineers, assisted by external consultants to strengthen team capabilities.
• Create a positive, inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Foster a continuous learning, collaboration, and inclusion culture, ensuring professional growth for all team members.
  
  

Cross-Departmental & External Collaboration (15%)

• Work closely with organizing, digital, advocacy, and political teams to ensure data and research support programmatic goals.
• Represent the organization at external coalitions, conferences, and vendor relationships to elevate best practices.
• Provide technical consultation to partner organizations on data use and strategy.
• Organizational / Departmental Leadership & Strategy (10%)
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational vision, program design, and strategic planning.
• Champion data-driven culture, establishing data, tech, and research as pillars of strategic decision-making across departments.
• Collaborate with members of the Executive Strategy Team on shared vision and oversee implementation of that vision.
• Lead engineering and analytics staff, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven team culture.
• Create staffing and budget plans to meet organizational needs and performance metrics.
  
  

Organizational / Departmental Leadership & Strategy (10%)

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational vision, program design, and strategic planning.
• Champion data-driven culture, establishing data, tech, and research as pillars of strategic decision-making across departments.
• Collaborate with members of the Executive Strategy Team on shared vision and oversee implementation of that vision.
• Lead engineering and analytics staff, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven team culture.
• Create staffing and budget plans to meet organizational needs and performance metrics.
  
  

Qualifications

Data, Research & Analytics Leadership

• 10+ years leading data-driven programs in advocacy, electoral, or membership-based settings, with at least 5 years managing analysts, data scientists, or engineers
• Proven record designing and executing impact evaluations, causal inference studies, and A/B or multivariate experiments that shape campaign strategy.
• Deep fluency in modern analytics stacks—SQL, Python/R, BI tools (Looker, Tableau, Metabase), and cloud-based warehousing (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift)—and the judgment to match tools to practical organizing needs.
• Demonstrated success translating complex findings into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders and senior executives.
• Experience commissioning or co-authoring original polling, survey research, or academic partnerships to inform narrative and program design.
  
  

Technical & Infrastructure Expertise

• Hands-on oversight of data engineering workflows: API integrations, schema design, and governance / privacy protocols (e.g. VAN/EveryAction compliance).
• Familiarity with voter-file architecture, digital engagement platforms (Action Network, Mobilize, NGP VAN), and CRM integrations that support large-scale grassroots programs.
• Track record scoping and managing external vendors, contractors, or open-source contributors to extend in-house applications and tooling.
  
  

Strategic Planning & Organizational Impact

• Able to craft and socialize KPI frameworks that align analytics outputs with mission objectives—electoral wins, advocacy victories, membership growth, fundraising, etc.
• Comfortable operating at the nexus of research, technology, and program design, regularly partnering with organizing, digital, political, and development teams to embed data in day-to-day decisions.
• Experienced budget owner who can build multi-year resourcing plans, weigh buy-vs-build trade-offs, and articulate ROI to executive leadership and funders.
  
  

People Management & Inclusive Leadership

• Demonstrated excellence recruiting, coaching, and retaining diverse teams, creating clear growth pathways for analysts and engineers.
• Values-driven manager who fosters a learning culture—regular retros, transparent feedback loops, and shared documentation—within a rapid-response environment.
• Skilled at managing up, across, and diagonally; builds trust quickly with senior leaders and peer directors, even amid competing priorities.
  
  

Movement Alignment & Equity Lens

• Deep commitment to progressive values and an understanding of how race, class, gender, and geography intersect with data collection and usage.
• Experience applying an equity-centered research lens—from sample design to metric selection—to ensure insights advance inclusive organizing goals.
• Comfortable representing the organization externally (conferences, coalitions, vendor negotiations) and translating internal wins into field-wide best practices.
  
  

About Indivisible Project

We’re building something new. We’re a progressive grassroots organization that began in the aftermath of Trump’s election. We’re working to build a democracy that reflects a broad, multiracial “we the people,” one that works for all of us and is sustained by all of us. To support this movement, we’ve built an incredible team at the national level. We dream big, we support each other, and we have fun doing it. For more information about Indivisible’s vision, mission, and theory of change, click here.

We’re changing what’s politically possible. Indivisible is part of the powerful progressive movement reaction to Trump, fighting the racist, misogynistic, plutocratic, and authoritarian agenda trumpeted by Trump and the GOP congress. Don’t take our word for it; Indivisible has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show multiple times, as well as in the New York Times and in pretty much every other major news outlet in the country.

We’re building together. We’re building a new organization every day - a rare opportunity to model what we want to see in the world. We’re deeply committed to equity and building a diverse and inclusive organization.

We’re looking for you. If you want to fight for the soul of American democracy, there’s no better place to be than Indivisible. We’re looking for more team members who are passionate about building an inclusive democracy and committed to getting results. It’s an exciting, fulfilling place if you’re someone who wants to fight fiercely for the progressive world we want to have.

Every one of us on the national team is here because we believe this movement is the best way to retake and build progressive power in this country. Does that ring true for you? If so, great - throw your hat in the ring to join our team. Let’s start #winning together. For more information about Indivisible’s organizational principles, click here.

Indivisible Project is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of support needs at the time of application.

The Pay Range For This Role Is

100,000 - 124,000 USD per year(Remote (United States))

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Political Organizations

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