Senior Research Manager – Animal Welfare

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Lead the newly established Animal Movement Foundations Team within Rethink Priorities’ Animal Welfare Department.

• Collaborate with the Director to establish team strategy, project priorities, methods for measuring impact, and approaches to maximize that impact.

• Manage consulting requests by accepting, modifying, or declining inquiries from funders, advocacy organizations, and entrepreneurs.

• Identify promising research and intervention opportunities.

• Create a prioritized agenda for research projects.

• Determine whether Rethink Priorities should implement interventions such as regranting or talent programs, and initiate approved initiatives.

• Oversee the annual Animal Advocacy Strategy Forum, including its agenda, participants, decisions, and overall impact.

• Collaborate with the Director to develop project prioritization, impact measurement, and intake systems.

• Assess future team skill requirements and lead the hiring process with assistance from RP’s recruitment specialist.

• Manage economists and specialists, set quality standards, and establish research processes, review standards, and project tracking.

• Define client decisions and oversee staff to ensure research is delivered on time.

• Follow up on whether clients have acted on the research findings.

• Represent Rethink Priorities by cultivating networks and relationships that generate new projects.

• Attend conferences when travel is feasible.

• Raise additional funding with support from the Development Team.

• Report to Sam Hilton, Acting Director of the Animal Welfare Department.

• Engage in consulting, in-house research, and activities that support the animal advocacy movement.

⛳️ Requirements

• Motivated to create the greatest impact for animals possible.

• Committed to integrity in research, adhering to evidence, and maintaining transparency about findings.

• Experience in conducting or overseeing research aimed at informing or influencing decisions of specific stakeholders.

• Proven judgment in prioritization and decision-making amidst uncertainty.

• Experience in managing or mentoring others, including those with more specialized expertise, or a clear readiness to transition into people management.

• Experience in setting team strategy and creating processes where none existed, or a distinct ability to do so.

• Capability to critically evaluate qualitative and quantitative analyses produced by others.

• Ability to think critically about cost-effectiveness.

• Excellent reasoning transparency.

• Proficient in synthesizing complex information and conveying strategic insights both in writing and verbally.

• Proven track record of completing projects on deadlines that involve collaboration with others.

• Ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous, international environment.

• Professional-level proficiency in English is required.

• All application materials must be submitted in English.

• Availability for meetings between 3 PM and 5 PM UK time on most weekdays.

• Full-time or part-time availability of at least 24 hours per week; 30 or more hours preferred.

• Desirable: Experience in consulting or client-facing analytical roles.

• Desirable: Professional or voluntary experience in animal advocacy.

• Desirable: Relevant expertise in economics, policy and regulation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), or animal science.

• Desirable: Experience in organizing events and convenings.

• Desirable: Experience in talent development.

• Desirable: Experience in grantmaking.

• Two to three professional references are required.

🏝️ Benefits

• Annual salary ranging from $98,500 to $125,000 USD, £76,590 to £97,176 GBP, or €89,459 to €113,527 EUR before tax.

• Compensation currencies are not limited to those listed.

• Remote-first work environment with flexible hours and scheduling.

• Access to virtual co-working spaces, including a private Rethink Priorities Focusmate group.

• Comprehensive global benefits package, including statutory and country-specific supplemental benefits.

• Unlimited vacation with a minimum number of required statutory days off.

• Mandated three-week organization-wide breaks at mid-year and year-end.

• Unlimited paid and unpaid personal and sick leave as needed.

• A combined total of at least 4 to 9 months of paid and unpaid parental leave.

• Additional paid and unpaid leave options, including bereavement leave.

• $2,000 USD-equivalent technology stipend every three years.

• $40 USD-equivalent monthly budget for AI tools.

• Annual professional development budget of $4,000 USD.

• Opportunities for workshops and training sessions.

• Up to 10% of work time allocated for professional and personal development.

• Paid travel for work, including an annual all-staff Mega Team Retreat and relevant conferences.

• Flexible schedules and work locations.

• Mental health coverage through medical benefits, as applicable.

• Reasonable accommodations and support for accessibility.

• Skills assessment compensated at $45 USD per hour.

• Supportive team environment, commitment to work-life balance, and minimal administrative bureaucracy.