Mellon Foundation
Research Associate, Presidential Initiatives
The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) is a not-for-profit, grant making organization that believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks a Research Associate for the Presidential Initiatives team.
Program Overview:
The Foundation’s Presidential Initiatives support a wide range of creativity, culture, and knowledge production and dissemination in defined topical areas. Our current initiatives are grounded in the arts and humanities and address some of the most pressing issues of the day. Across our grantmaking, we partner with organizations, governments, and community-based groups to advance projects that elevate multivocal perspectives, facilitate creative expression, and nurture human potential.
Specifically, the Presidential Initiatives portfolio includes three defined initiatives:
- The Monuments Project, a five-year commitment to transform the United States commemorative landscape.
- A multi-year effort to build sustainable cultural infrastructure in Puerto Rico, through support for the arts, humanities, and cultural heritage.
- Imagining Freedom supports artistic and humanistic work that centers the voices and knowledge of people who have experienced the impacts of incarceration.
The Office of the President also shepherds a handful of exploratory or discretionary grants each year.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Presidential Initiatives, the Research Associate prepares research-based analysis of topics related to the program’s grantmaking; provides writing and analysis for correspondence, presentations, strategic memorandum, and reports; and collaborates with other research related functions across the Foundation. They may also assist in the review and preparation of materials in the grantmaking process and coordinate with external consultants who are conducting research on behalf of the program. This role will include occasional travel for site visits and research, meetings, and programs nationwide.
Position Description:
Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:
- Prepare carefully developed, concisely written, and clearly illustrated analytical and evaluative reports regarding Presidential Initiatives’ existing and prospective grantmaking.
- Conduct quantitative and/or qualitative research in connection with past, current, and new program grantmaking, initiatives, and strategies.
- Occasionally prepare briefing materials and reports for the Presidential Initiatives Program Director, Foundation Vice President, President, and program team, as assigned.
- Co-create and coordinate special research projects to inform grantmaking and other strategic initiatives.
- Develop and coordinate research to inform site visits, and convenings.
- Participate in meetings with current and potential grantees.
- Collaborate with other research-related functions and working groups across the Foundation (e.g., the Office of Learning and Evaluation) on organization-wide research and records management projects.
- Coordinate with Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Planning on general records keeping/management work, such as electronic filing, maintaining grant records, and responding to requests for information.
- Co-develop and coordinate research-related work with external consultants.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate is an analytical thinker with strong writing skills and a deep interest in one or more of our program areas. They also hold a master’s degree, preferably in the arts, humanities, design, or policy, or in a related area. Candidates who have earned a PhD will also be considered. Five years of full-time experience in a fast-paced, high-volume office; institutional, public sector, or non-profit environment is preferred but not required. Applicants should possess:
- Commitment to the Foundation’s mission, core values, and focus on social justice. Demonstrated experience regarding the commemorative landscape, criminal legal system, and/or the arts and cultural landscape of Puerto Rico.
- Experience designing research projects that involve data collection and analysis, including
A demonstrated ability to use quantitative and qualitative research methods and relevant analytical tools (e.g., relational databases, CSV/spreadsheet formats)
- Demonstrated computer skills including competency with MS Office and familiarity with digital data management, visualization, and analysis applications (Fluxx, Power BI, ArcGIS StoryMaps, etc.), or a willingness to learn and experiment is desirable.
- Strong oral, written, and visual communication skills
- Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work with minimal direct supervision on multiple projects and matters at once while maintaining congeniality.
- An orientation toward self-starting, proactive anticipation of team needs, and creative problem solving.
The Mellon Foundation is committed to building an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Employment opportunities are based on individual qualifications, merit, and organizational need, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds.
Mellon is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.
Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $125,000 - $130,000. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework.
Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.
Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position and a resume. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.