Empower the Next Generation to End Factory Farming
What would it mean to dedicate your time, talent, and energy to creating a more just and sustainable food system?
New Roots Institute is a growing nonprofit dedicated to ending factory farming by empowering the next generation of advocates. Our fellowship programs train students to lead real-world campaigns that create structural and behavioral change in their communities.
We’re seeking a passionate and experienced Director of Research and Data to join our team and help us deepen our impact.
Is New Roots Institute the right place for you? Here’s what you should know:
We value having the opportunity to make a difference and aren’t afraid of working hard. We’re looking for people who possess the resilience and determination to excel in fast-paced and demanding roles while understanding how to differentiate between working really hard (good) and unsustainable self-sacrifice (not so good).
We continuously question our own biases and assumptions and adapt when we recognize we’re wrong. We’re looking for people who are self-aware and know how to put their ego aside to achieve shared goals.
We're results-oriented, strive for excellence, and are looking for people who can say they never miss deadlines.
Giving and receiving honest and direct feedback is foundational to our culture. We're looking for people who are eager to use constructive feedback to grow, and help others to grow, both personally and professionally.
Because we work remotely, proactive communication and quick responses are key to building trust and working effectively together. We’re looking for people who excel at keeping everyone updated.
We genuinely enjoy working together and look for ways to have fun, despite the tragic nature of what we are up against.
How You’ll Make an Impact
Factory farming is a complex, entrenched system. Ending it requires not just passionate advocates, but also rigorous evidence about what strategies work and sophisticated systems to track our alumni as they move into positions of influence. The Director of Research and Data leads the team responsible for building that evidence infrastructure—the data systems, evaluation frameworks, and research capabilities that help New Roots learn, adapt, and demonstrate impact over decades.
You will lead a small, highly technical team consisting of a Senior Manager of Research and Data, Technology and Data Architect, and Research and Data Coordinator. This role reports to the Managing Director and collaborates closely with the Executive Director and other department directors on organizational strategy.
Strategic Leadership for R&D
Own the development and evolution of the R&D department's multi-year roadmap and annual OKRs, translating organizational strategy into executable technical and research priorities
Serve as a strategic thought partner to New Roots leadership on questions where data, technology, or research can inform organizational direction
Identify opportunities where better data systems or evaluation design could unlock strategic insights or operational efficiencies
Research & Evaluation
Commission and oversee research on alumni impact, program effectiveness, and movement trends to test and refine New Roots' theory of change
Translate complex technical findings into strategic implications for leadership, making research accessible and decision-ready for non-technical stakeholders
Monitor the research and technology landscape to identify emerging methods, tools, or approaches relevant to tracking long-term social change
Technology Leadership & Infrastructure
Own New Roots' technology stack—making decisions about platforms, tools, and systems that enable the organization to collect, analyze, and act on data effectively
Review code and provide technical feedback to ensure quality, maintainability, and alignment with organizational needs
Develop protocols and standards for technology use across New Roots, balancing technical excellence with accessibility for non-technical staff
People Leadership
Directly supervise and develop the R&D team (Senior Manager of Research and Data, Technology and Data Architect, and Research and Data Coordinator), coaching them to grow in both technical and strategic capabilities
Maintain a team culture that balances technical rigor with mission urgency, ensuring the team understands how their work connects to ending factory farming
Navigate the full lifecycle of people leadership: hiring technical talent, providing code reviews and feedback, managing performance, and making difficult decisions about team composition when needed
What We’re Looking For
Required Skills & Experience
Technical & Research Background
Strong technical foundation in data science, computer science, software engineering, or quantitative social science research
10+ years of hands-on experience with data systems, research design, or software development—you're credible enough to review code, evaluate technical architecture decisions, and provide meaningful feedback to engineers and researchers
Fluency with modern data tools and platforms; ability to make informed decisions about technology stack trade-offs (cost, scalability, maintainability, team capacity)
Experience designing evaluation frameworks or research studies that generate actionable insights, not just descriptive statistics
People Leadership
3+ years of people management experience, including managing technical teams (engineers, data scientists, researchers, or similar)
Experience coaching and developing staff with technical expertise. You know how to give feedback on code quality, research design, or data architecture even when your reports may have deeper technical knowledge in specific areas
You've navigated difficult people decisions: performance management, role transitions, team restructuring, or separations
Strategic Thinking & Communication
Ability to connect technical work to organizational strategy. You understand why certain data systems or research projects matter for our long-term mission
Exceptional ability to translate between technical and non-technical audiences: you can explain database architecture decisions to senior management and strategic priorities to the R&D team
Experience working in mission-driven organizations (nonprofits, social movements, research institutions) where impact matters more than profit
Ideal Backgrounds (not Required, But Especially Relevant)
PhD in data science, computer science, or related field
Former social science researcher (education, youth development, social movements) with strong coding or data engineering experience
Software engineering manager who's transitioned into research or impact evaluation
Data scientist or engineer who's led technical teams in nonprofit or research settings
Compensation And Benefits
This is a full-time, remote position with a salary of $103,000 per year, plus a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, and unlimited PTO.
Please note, we have a no-negotiation salary policy to ensure transparency and equity across the team.
View more of our benefits on our Join Our Team page.
Hiring Process
If a candidate is moved forward, the hiring process will include a skills task, screening interview, competencies interview, work history interview, and reference checks. See our Join Our Team page for more details.
Ready to Make a Difference?
To Apply: Please click the “Apply for this position” link to tell us why you are interested in New Roots Institute and to submit your resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We hope to fill this position as soon as possible.
We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who identify as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and people from the global majority.
By submitting your application, you are indicating that you have read our Privacy Policy and accept its terms.
Please note that we are only considering applicants based in North America at this time.
