Center for Labor and Community Research Specialist


Position overview
Position title: Center for Labor and Community Research Specialist
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience (see section D. Qualifications of the CAPM 602.230 Specialist Series). The posted UCSC Salary Scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the scale titled, Represented Specialist Series Fiscal Year. 'Off-scale salaries', i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. A reasonable estimate for this position is $61,300 - $90,000.

Percent time: Full-time (100%)

Anticipated start: As soon as possible after the initial review of applications.

Position duration: Initial appointment will be for a minimum of two years, with the possibility of reappointment. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment; a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon the availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: April 10, 2025

Next review date: Monday, May 12, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Apr 11, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Description


The Center for Labor and Community (CLC) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for a policy research specialist who will report to the CLC Program Director.
The CLC is dedicated to advancing a research agenda that builds a fighting labor movement. Alongside workers, students, and community members, we study the immediate problems facing working people today. Our major research projects include young worker organizing, housing, labor movements in higher education and K-12, and equitable economic development. In addition to our research, we offer organizing curricula, education initiatives, and policy analysis that is relevant and accessible to the working-class communities we serve, particularly those in low-income communities, immigrant communities, and communities of color on the California Central Coast.

The Center is expanding our capacity and scope of research, particularly in collaboration with community and labor organizations. The research specialist will conduct policy-relevant research with a particular focus on low-wage work and will address a diverse set of policies that affect working families, young workers, tenants and low-income homeowners, immigrants, and communities of color. Methods of research can be quantitative, qualitative, or of mixed methods.

The position offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a new and growing Center that brings together a team of researchers, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students producing rigorous, high-impact and high-visibility research in close collaboration with local labor and community organizations.
The position includes the following responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the CLC Faculty Director and Program Director, contributing to the production of original academic and policy-related research of significance to both unionized and non-unionized workers and working families.
  
• Designing and implementing research using the following methods:
• Quantitative research, including statistical analyses drawing on government datasets, academic survey research, private housing data, and industry trade data.
• Qualitative research, including field interviews, focus groups, and analysis of secondary sources.
• Providing technical assistance to stakeholders, policy makers, media and internal staff on issues related to low-wage work, labor standards, occupational health and safety, and other labor and employment topics as well as on qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Coordinating research with academic researchers on other UC Campuses.
• Serving as co-author on research reports and policy briefs, and drafting op-eds and public testimony.
• Contributing to the drafting of funding proposals for research projects.

Applicants with any of the following areas of expertise or experience are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Experience conducting labor market analyses of wages and other job quality outcomes, the role of race, gender and immigration status, and firm and industry dynamics;
• Strong quantitative skills and experience in working with large government datasets such as the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey, as well as strong STATA, SAS and/or R programming skills;
• Strong qualitative skills and experience conducting interviews with a range of stakeholders, focus groups, and analysis of secondary sources;
• Strong grounding in labor standards policies in the US;
• Strong writing skills, geared toward policy research reports, as well as effective verbal communication skills;
• Experience working in culturally diverse settings with academic researchers and stakeholders such as members of unions, worker centers, community organizations, policy advocacy organizations, and others;
• Ability to work independently and creatively, contribute to and track the progress of multiple simultaneous research projects with minimal supervision; and/or
• PhD and/or ten or more years of professional experience, with relevant contributions to public policy and academic research.

This position is covered by the UC-UAW collective bargaining agreement currently in force.



Center for Labor and Community: https://labor.ucsc.edu

Institute for Social Transformation: https://transform.ucsc.edu


Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at the time the application is submitted)
Masters degree, or a bachelors degree plus a minimum of two years professional research experience that was obtained post baccalaureate degree. Degree must be in a social science field that is relevant to the advertised position (e.g., sociology, labor economics, industrial relations, geography, etc.). Equivalent foreign degrees will be considered.


Application Requirements


Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  
• Cover Letter
  
• Statement of Research - This statement should be a one-two page summary of the candidate's research interests and experience.
  

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references. The hiring unit will request confidential letters* from the references of those applicants who are under serious consideration. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSCs confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.
Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01897

Help contact: saemason@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz


As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• 'Misconduct' means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicants previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz


Job location

Santa Cruz, California


To apply, visit https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01897







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