Director of Research

Founded in 1989, the Asian American Federation (AAF) is one of the strongest leadership voices advocating for better policies, services, and funding that lead to more justice and opportunity for 1.5 million Asian Americans in New York City. We do this in partnership with 70 community-based organizations.

Asians are the fastest-growing community in our city and state, and we advocate to ensure that our community is visible, our voices are heard, and our stories are told. Shaped by our research, we focus on community safety, mental health, economic empowerment, immigrant integration, and civic engagement to help connect Asian New Yorkers with the resources they need.

Overview:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Research is a strategic leader and hands-on project manager, and a member of the organization’s leadership team. S/he/they are responsible for driving the organization’s research agenda, ensuring the creation of high-quality research products, and translating findings into actionable insights that further the organization’s mission. The Director will bring strong quantitative and qualitative research experience, the ability to work with large and evolving datasets, and fluency across research methodologies. The successful candidate does not need to be an expert on Asian American communities but must demonstrate previous experience and capacity to work with diverse, multilingual populations in culturally appropriate ways that build dignity and power. Our current research agenda includes civic engagement, economic empowerment, and community well-being and mental health in the context of a very diverse immigrant population.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership and Data Governance

• Develop and lead the organization’s research strategy, prioritizing research opportunities that align with AAF’s advocacy and program goals.
• Lead technical design and implementation of research using large, evolving datasets such as Census and administrative data sources. Serve as principal investigator when required.
• Ensure that all research is methodologically sound, ethically conducted, and completed on time and within budget.
• Author high quality research products including reports, presentations, briefs and new tools. 
• Work across Advocacy & Policy, Program, Research, and Communications teams to ensure findings are accurate, meaningful, and actionable.
• Stay abreast of the latest research methodologies, trends, and technologies to ensure the organization’s research remains cutting-edge.
• Lead the development of AAF’s data and research infrastructure to support our future growth and impact, including how we will deploy AI in our data analysis.
• Develop and oversee data governance protocols, including standards for data privacy, storage, and retention, and compliance with IRBs or similar frameworks.
• Ensure secure handling of any personally identifiable information (PII) and adherence to confidentiality practices.
• Lead the creation of research publications In partnership with the Communications team, translate complex research findings into accessible reports, policy briefs, presentations, social media, and other communications that drive advocacy, fundraising, and public awareness.

Leadership, Representation, and Team Management

• Provide research vision and strategic direction for the organization
• Serve on the Leadership Team, supporting the organization’s overall impact and performance, cross-team collaboration, and culture.
• Supervise research team staff and build team capacity through training, mentorship, and professional development.
• In partnership with the ED and Development team, identify and pursue funding opportunities, including grants and partnerships, to support the organization’s research initiatives.
• Engage with governmental statistical agencies to advocate for Asian American visibility in their data.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including funders, academic institutions, research organizations, and policymakers, to enhance the impact of the organization’s research and to promote AAF’s research work.

Requirements

• 7-10 years of relevant experience as a researcher using mixed methods to develop accessible research products that support communities.
• 3-5 years of supervisory experience with a team.
• Self-directed and highly motivated; able to work independently and collaborate across organizations and teams. 
• Graduate degree in statistics, demography, public policy, or related field.
• Proven capacity to lead a project from conception to completion with demonstrated ability to manage concurrent multiple assignments, meet tight deadlines, and prioritize accordingly.
• Demonstrated ability to convey statistical ideas to general audiences.
• Demonstrated skills in accessing and analyzing large statistical datasets and presenting data in an easy-to-understand format.
• Experience working with large-scale datasets that shift over time (e.g., Census, administrative data) and comfort navigating data that may be incomplete.
• Expertise in statistical software, such as R or Stata, and GIS software.
• Familiarity with data governance practices, including standards for PII handling, data storage, and institutional review compliance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail, including high-level proofreading and editing abilities.
• Commitment to Asian American communities and AAF’s mission.
• Strong cultural competency and demonstrated ability to work in communities of color; prior experience with Asian American or immigrant communities is a plus but not required.
• Excited by the opportunity to build something new and contribute to an evolving organization with aspirations for long-term growth.

All new hires must be vaccinated and must stay up to date with vaccines against the COVID-19 virus unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability. If you are offered a position with AAF, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved by AAF.

Compensation & Benefits

This position is based in New York City, with a hybrid work environment. Salary for this position is between $123,000 – $130,000, commensurate with experience. A comprehensive benefits package includes 100% employee health care, dental and vision coverage, disability insurance, commuter benefits, as well as a 403(b) plan and generous paid time off.

To Apply

Shelby Woods and Trisha Sutrisno of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out the Talent Profile here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

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The Asian American Federation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a part of the Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.