Research Manager

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD

The Campaign Finance Board is a nonpartisan, independent city agency that empowers New Yorkers to have a greater impact on their elections. Our mission is to make local democracy more open, transparent, and equitable by removing barriers to participation.

We make it easier for New Yorkers to vote, meaningfully support candidates for city office, and run for office themselves. NYC Votes, our voter engagement initiative, meets people where they are to share trustworthy election information and help New Yorkers make a plan to vote. We publish the citywide Voter Guide, which delivers information about candidates directly to voters’ doors. Our public matching funds program ensures small contributions can make a big difference, allowing regular people to run for office by relying on the support of other regular people, not just wealthy donors and special interests. And we lift the veil on how candidates raise and spend money, increasing transparency and accountability in local government.

We believe that when every New Yorker is empowered to participate meaningfully in elections, candidates will better reflect the communities they serve, elected leaders will be more accountable to the public, and New Yorkers will have a democracy they can truly trust.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Strategy, Products, and Innovation (SPI) is a new department responsible for leading the development of new initiatives and driving innovation across the agency’s existing products and programs. We oversee and implement the agency’s strategic plan, and we work across departments to pilot, build, and maintain new policies and technologies that will support future elections.

The Policy & Research team conducts intergovernmental outreach, performs policy and legislative analysis, and produces original, data-driven research on voting and campaign finance issues. The team sits within the Strategy, Products and Innovation division and frequently works on cross-agency projects such as the Voter Analysis Report, the Post-Election Report, the citywide education campaign to familiarize New Yorkers with ranked choice voting, and continuous improvement of the matching funds program.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Research Manager will report to the Associate Director of Policy and support the agency’s research and policy initiatives. This role will manage major publications, including the Voter Analysis Report and the Post-Election report, collaborating with teams across the agency to ensure accurate, timely, and accessible research that informs policymakers, election administrators, and the public. The Research Manager will also manage external partnerships with universities and research institutions to expand the CFB’s research capabilities and influence policy discussions on campaign finance and election reform.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Project Management (40%)

- Manage multiple in-house research projects, ensuring timely completion and adherence to agency strategic and policy priorities.

- Oversee the research process, timeline, and workflow for the Voter Analysis Report and Post-Election Report.

- Monitor research progress and timelines through regular check-ins with Policy Analysts and Data Scientists.

- Coordinate across internal teams to ensure research aligns with agency strategic and policy objectives and maintains cohesive messaging across all platforms.

External Engagement (30%)

- Manage external contracts and relationships with research partners, including polling firms, market research firms, and academic institutions.

- Collaborate with external research partners, including universities and policy think tanks, on campaign finance and electoral research.

- Respond to research-related inquiries from elected officials, journalists, and researchers.

- Present research findings to CFB leadership, policymakers, advocacy organizations, and the public.

Communications and Policy Support (20%)

- Work with the Communications team to create accessible research products, such as infographics, summaries, and presentations based on research findings.

- Assist in editing and drafting chapters of the Voter Analysis Report and the Post-Election Report.

Compliance and Ethical Standards (10%)

- Ensure compliance with privacy regulations and ethical research standards and obtain necessary approvals for research involving sensitive voter or campaign finance data.

- Uphold a commitment to nonpartisan, objective analysis in all research and publications.


ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & OTHER BEHAVIORS (KSAOs)

We're seeking individuals eager to make an impact, even if they don't tick every box on our job description. We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and the unique blend of lived experiences, non-traditional education pathways, practical know-how, and a variety of skills and abilities that each candidate brings to the table. If you're ready to learn and grow with us, we encourage you to apply and be part of our dynamic team.

KSAOs are attributes essential to perform a job.

Knowledge

- Knowledge of and/or demonstrated interest in New York City government and politics.

- Knowledge of research ethics, privacy regulations, and data governance related to public policy.

- Knowledge and understanding of working with academic or applied research in political science, public policy, or a related field.

- Knowledge of procurement processes related to research contracts.

Skills

- Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, specifically managing the publication of reports.

- Strong research, analytical, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills.

- Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to distill complex information and reach different audiences through a variety of communication mediums.

- Excellent verbal communication skills with knowledge of or demonstrated interest in public speaking and presenting.

Abilities

- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate between units.

- Ability to manage external partnerships and vendor contracts effectively.

- Ability to translate research findings into actionable policy insights and accessible public communications.

- Attention to detail, particularly with regards to editing written work and producing polished publications.

- Strong organizational and operational skills and the ability to plan and execute regularly scheduled work with minimal oversight.

- Ability to work in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.

Other

- One to three years experience supervising or providing mentorship to researchers, or serving as a peer reviewer for research proposals and publications.

- Three to five years experience working on public policy research, report writing, and cross-team project coordination.

- Demonstrates passion and energy for the work and the agency’s mission.

- Experience writing and editing chapters or sections of a large report in a deadline-driven environment.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Previous work in the elections, ethics, or campaign finance policy space.

- Proven project management skills, especially in coordinating cross-functional teams and managing the production of major publications or reports under tight deadlines.

- Experience working with or managing partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, or polling firms on public policy or political research.

- Demonstrated ability to produce accessible, public-facing research products, such as infographics, data visualizations, or executive summaries.

- Advanced degree in public policy, political science, data analytics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience conducting applied research.

TO APPLY:

All applicants must apply through NYC Government Jobs | Explore Careers | City of New York

- Please search and apply to the job ID number listed above.

- Resume and cover letter are required for consideration.

- Note that only applicants under consideration will be contacted.

For more information on careers with the NYC Campaign Finance Board visit our website at https://www.nyccfb.info/ to access the full listing of job opportunities and to learn more about our agency.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The City of New York provides generous medical benefits (including dental and vision through respective unions or funds), retirement, tuition reimbursement, and additional ancillary benefits. CFB offers a flexible and hybrid work schedule, opportunities for career development, learning & development (leadership training and coaching), wellness programs, and much more!

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov/PSLF.

The CFB is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to diversity. All individuals are encouraged to apply. If you anticipate needing any type of reasonable accommodation to apply for an employment opportunity, please contact access@nyccfb.info or (212) 409-1800.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

ANALYST CFB AL 2&3 ONLY - 0660A

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college including or supplemented by at least twelve-semester credits (or the equivalent of twelve-semester credits) in accounting, auditing, business or public administration, computer science, economics, finance, statistics, graphic design, personnel or human resources administration, user experience design, or a closely related area of study and one year of satisfactory full-time experience in accounting, auditing (including compliance or investigative auditing), business or public administration, business analysis, computer science, database administration, economics, finance, fiscal or economic management or research, statistics, graphic design, personnel or human resources administration, user experience design, or a closely related field; or

A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and five years of experience as described in “1” above; or

Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.