Department: Labor Education & Research Center
Rank: Research Assistant or Research Associate
Annual Basis: 12 Month
Salary: $80,000 - $95,000 per year

Review of Applications Begins

January 15, 2025; Position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include:
• CV
• A letter explaining your interest in the position.
• The names of three references.

*Candidates selected to move forward will be asked to submit a writing sample.

Department Summary

The Labor Education and Research Center is a state-wide program that combines teaching, research, and public service to improve the lives of Oregon’s workers, their families, and their communities. Since its creation in 1977, LERC has provided teaching, research, strategic planning, and technical assistance services to unions, other worker’s organizations, and working adults in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Throughout its history, LERC has served as a catalyst for critical analysis, strategic thinking, and concerted action aimed at strengthening labor organizations and improving the lives of working Oregonians.

With offices on the Eugene Campus and at UO Portland, LERC faculty have strong roots in the union movement and expertise in a variety of academic disciplines. In addition to teaching working adults, LERC faculty members conduct research on relevant work, employment, and public policy issues. They also work extensively with policymakers, university faculty, labor relations professionals, and community leaders on issues of concern to Oregon workers. LERC is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusive workplaces. We practice this internally and also incorporate these concepts in our teaching and public presentations.

A thirty-member advisory board provides LERC with support, guidance, and strategic advice. The program enjoys an excellent reputation at both the state and national levels as a valued resource that works diligently to meet the multiple needs of its constituents. For more information about LERC, please visit our website: http://lerc.uoregon.edu

Position Summary

We are seeking a Research Associate who would work independently with stakeholders to identify and lead research projects. Alternatively, we are open to welcoming a Research Assistant who has substantive labor policy experience and whose research would be led by a senior faculty member.

The Labor Policy Researcher Assistant/Associate will work as a member of a research team, either under the direct supervision of other faculty researchers (or independently, depending on the rank of finalist) to produce papers, reports, and informational briefings that further the understanding of work and employment issues and identify best practices to support workers and unions in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Work produced by the Labor Policy Researcher should be written and presented in such a way as to be accessible to the general public, labor leaders, and policymakers.

The Labor Policy Researcher provides leadership in organizing collaborations among colleagues at the UO and other institutions of higher education, unions and other workers’ advocacy organizations, policy and governmental organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders interested in work, the economy, and the employment relationship. The successful applicant must be able to forge effective working relationships with individuals and organizations that represent a broad range of constituents and strategic approaches. They must be able to work both independently and collaboratively with multiple stakeholders around labor policy topics.

Examples of policy issues that the person in this position might become engaged in include climate change and a just transition to green jobs, job creation, assessment of economic subsidies, minimum wage laws, economic equity for low-wage and under-represented workers, employment practices relevant to working families, the care economy, health care, and immigration policy, or the shift toward part-time, temporary, and informal types of employment. In addition to policy research, additional areas of applied research interest may include employment and industry research relevant to organizing or collective bargaining processes, as well as assessments of unions’ organizational strengths and weaknesses.

The Labor Policy Researcher Assistant is primarily responsible for:
• Collecting and/or recording research data.
• Implementing methodology for research.
• Contributing to the analysis and presentation of research findings.
• Assisting undergraduate, graduate and post-doc/associate researchers as appropriate.
• Providing clerical and technical support for projects requiring subject matter expertise.

While the Labor Policy Researcher Associate is primarily responsible for: 

• Identifying appropriate and innovative topics and methodologies for labor policy research;
• Conducting significant new policy or other labor-relevant research;
• Seeking external funding for research where available. Over time, generate consistent funding at a level to be determined in consultation with the Director;
• Developing and overseeing research and collaboration processes with multiple stakeholders;
• Assuring the accuracy of research produced by LERC;
• Coordinating and participating in dissemination and public presentation of research findings; and
• Developing and implementing research standards and processes that pay particular attention to race and gender equity & inclusion.

Either rank of Assistant or Associate researcher will engage in some instructional activities, which would include sharing research findings with different constituent groups in educational settings. The Labor Policy Researcher may also be responsible for coordinating occasional full-day and multi-day open enrollment conferences or institutes. These duties are typically conducted in collaboration with other LERC faculty and staff.

The Research position reports to the LERC Director and may be based in either the Eugene or Portland LERC office. The Labor Policy Researcher is a core faculty member and will participate in departmental and program decisions with an equal vote to other faculty members, as provided under LERC’s internal governance policy.

The Labor Policy Researcher position is a public employee of the state of Oregon and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the university and United Academics of the University of Oregon (AFT Local 3209), which can be found here: UA UO CBA

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with fellow faculty at LERC, University and community partners, and labor constituents. The Researcher position does not supervise other staff but will work collaboratively with support staff on program planning and implementation. While individual faculty have significant autonomy to set priorities and directions for their work, decisions about program priorities are made collectively by the faculty.

Minimum Requirements

To qualify for the Research Assistant rank:
• Two years research or policy analysis experience on labor and employment policy issues.
• Two years of experience working with labor unions or other workers’ organizations.

To qualify for the Research Associate rank:

• PhD or terminal professional degree, in public policy, education, law or other relevant fields.
• Four years research or policy analysis experience on labor and/or employment issues.
• Experience obtaining and/or managing funded research projects.
• Two years of experience working with labor unions or other workers; organizations.

Professional Competencies

• Ability to write effectively on policy research topics.
• Project management skills and ability to work effectively with stakeholder groups.
• Strong written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and creatively.
• Presentation, teaching, and facilitation experience in adult education (e.g., classroom teaching, workshop training, presentations of findings, popular education, strategic planning and facilitation).
• Demonstrated cultural competency, ability to work effectively with a diverse range of constituents on work and employment issues, and a commitment to supporting and enhancing an inclusive learning and working environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong quantitative and qualitative skills and experience using common research methods (e.g. analyzing complex government datasets such as the Current Population Survey; focus groups; ethnographic interviews, and surveys) to translate data into public reports, presentations, and policy recommendations.
• In addition to the primary focus on labor policy research, analysis, and writing, additional areas of expertise related to labor are of interest, including analysis of industry sectors, employment trends, and fiscal structures; union structures and collective bargaining; and applied research relevant to working families and underrepresented workers.
• History of substantive involvement with labor/community initiatives and coalitions.
• Experience leading or working as part of a research team on grant or contract-funded projects.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

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