FrameWorks Institute: Changing the Public Conversation about Social Problems

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Senior Associate

Nonprofit communications think tank seeks dynamic and thoughtful teacher to explain social science research to front-line advocates, policy experts and scientists and innovate curricula for applying lessons to geographic and professional communities. Experience with communities of color, background in adult learning/collaborative learning highly desirable.


About FrameWorks Institute
The mission of the FrameWorks Institute is to advance the nonprofit sector's communications capacity by conducting and translating empirical research on framing the public discourse about a variety of social problems – from race to health to early childhood development to budgets and taxes. The Institute designs and conducts a variety of curricula and learning engagements to advance social issues communications. Our work is designed to engage coalitions of social policy advocates, analysts and experts in a series of communications sessions based on FrameWorks' approach to communications for social change. The uniqueness of the Institute is in its focus on both research and teaching. Our research team conducts original empirical research on frame effects and translates those research findings into learning experiences, tools and products that help front-line advocates advance broad public understanding of social problems and improve support for policy.


About the Position
FrameWorks seeks a Senior Associate to work directly with the Institute’s interpretive and teaching team in adapting framing research to the needs of the field of advocates and front-line communicators on social issues. Primary responsibilities of this position will be to assist and enhance the organization’s national field-based practice by translating research findings and recommendations into a variety of applied curricula and tools for use by advocates, policy experts, scientists and non-profit foundations. The Senior Associate will be required to be familiar with ongoing research projects of the Institute. Specific responsibilities are to:



  • Design, plan and conduct regional Framing Study Circles and technical assistance engagements on specific issues for which FrameWorks has conducted research
  • Collaborate with FrameWorks team in the development of field-based engagements, applied tools and ongoing technical assistance with FrameWorks clients
  • Provide training for professional policy advocacy communities by using and developing original field building tools adapted from FrameWorks research
  • Assess state of learning and storytelling potential in various communities
  • Innovate methods, curricula and media to support the adoption of research findings and the dissemination of newly framed stories in communities
  • Monitor and evaluate framing in the field on a variety of issues, and contribute to the framing of working papers and key documents used by scholars and advocates
  • Collect and create case studies, contribute to documentation of learning
  • Participate in and lead discussions of field needs, challenges and learning opportunities with entire staff
  • Support the overall FrameWorks effort including grant writing, reporting and overall administrative work
  • Provide creative input into the FrameWorks collaborative process
  • Other responsibilities as necessary



Qualifications
The position of Senior Associate requires an advanced degree in the social or cognitive sciences, communications, adult learning or related fields. Familiarity with a wide array of media is desirable. Applicants must have excellent analytical, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and a high level of comfort in presenting to broad and diverse audiences. A minimum of five years of experience working at the local, state or regional level with professional policy and advocacy communities, particularly communities of color, is required. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated to work both independently on tasks and collaboratively with the FrameWorks team. He or she must also be able to handle competing demands and to meet deadlines consistently. Ability to travel with some frequency is required. Location in Boston is preferred, but applicants in other locations will be considered. FrameWorks is a virtual organization. This position is full-time, although part-time applicants may be considered for related positions.
To apply, submit cover letter describing qualifications, comprehensive CV and several samples of related work to: Tia Remington-Bell, FrameWorks Institute, 1776 I Street, NW. 9th Floor, Washington, DC 2006 before August 1, 2010.

FrameWorks Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state and local laws. Qualified women, racial and ethnic minority, disabled and gay candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.