GiveWell is hiring Research Associates.
This is a challenging, rewarding position in a young, ambitious organization. New hires have the opportunity to contribute to all facets of the organization from their first day and can make a big difference to our organization and to our mission.
About the Research Associate position
Today, there is little public debate or critical thinking around charity: money flows to the groups that tell the best stories. We picture a different world in which donors reward charities for effectiveness in improving lives.
Research Associates evaluate the evidence and cost-effectiveness for interventions (such as insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, deworming, or cash transfer programs) aiming to help GiveWell prioritize the programs that appear most promising.
A Research Associate combines strong understanding of evaluation and causal inference methods with common sense and critical thinking, such that s/he is able to synthesize a large body of literature and come to well-defended conclusions regarding what the evidence says. We are seeking candidates for full-time Associate positions and summer internships.
Research Associate duties will mostly consist of:
- Reviewing and assessing academic research on interventions focused on helping people in the developing world (primarily, but not exclusively, in the realm of health)
- Generating and answering key questions about an intervention's effectiveness and cost-effectiveness both in the abstract and applied to a particular organization's approach to implementation
- Authoring reports to share this information publicly
- Taking part in discussions of which giving opportunities are most promising and of general GiveWell strategy
Qualifications:
A strong background in causal inference and quantitative research methods either through academic coursework at the graduate level (e.g. a masters degree in economics, statistics or a heavily-quantitative social science) or previous work experience.
While strong familiarity with quantitative methods is essential, no previous work experience is required.
Summer internship candidates must be entering their final year of undergraduate or graduate school.
This role will best fit people who:
- Are passionate about finding great giving opportunities and making the world a better place
- Are comfortable with intense discussion and debate
- Have strong critical thinking skills, and approach all claims (including their managers') with skepticism
- Value the intensity and open-endedness of a startup over the stability and comfort of a larger organization
To apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter and additional information that provides the extent of your quantitative analysis experience. This could include a university transcript or samples of work you have done in the past.
Please submit these materials to jobs@givewell.org.
If you do not have the relevant background but remain interested in working for GiveWell, please consider applying for our Research Analyst position.
We plan to respond to all submissions, so if you don't hear from us within 2 weeks of your submission, please let us know.
Please note: in most cases we first hire candidates for a short-term consultancy period in anticipation of continuing to a full-time position if we find a good fit. There may be exceptional cases where we are willing to forgo the consultancy period. This does not apply to internship candidates.
Further details about the position
- We are hiring for a full-time position in San Francisco, where GiveWell is based.
- We are also open to considering applicants who wish to work part-time (e.g., during the academic year) or for summer internships.
- Compensation commensurate with experience
- U.S. work permission is required.
About GiveWell
GiveWell started as a group of finance professionals trying to do as much good as possible with their personal donations. Since 2007, it has been a full-time independent research group. We publish our charity recommendations, research, and the full details of our analysis publicly at www.givewell.org.
In 2012, GiveWell tracked over $9.5 million in donations as a direct result of its research. Our research has received accolades from Peter Singer (who featured it in his manifesto on giving, The Life You Can Save), Nicholas Kristof (who featured it in Half The Sky), the Hewlett Foundation (a current funder of GiveWell) and media including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN and NPR (see our press page for more).
We have six full-time employees. We are currently located the San Francisco-Bay Area.
More information about GiveWell is available on our about GiveWell page.