"Associate Director of Research"

About the Rhode Center

The Rhode Center on the Legal Profession is a leading research institution dedicated to studying the legal profession, legal institutions, and the lawyers who shape them. The Center brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students to produce rigorous, impactful research with real-world relevance.

The Role

The Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School seeks an Associate Director of Research to play a central role in developing, executing, and disseminating the Center’s research agenda. Working in close collaboration with the Center’s Faculty Directors, the Associate Director will contribute substantively to existing research initiatives while also helping to shape new lines of inquiry aligned with the Center’s mission and the successful candidate’s expertise. Administratively, this position will report to the Executive Director of the Rhode Center.

This position is designed to be intellectually generative and flexible. The precise portfolio of responsibilities will be shaped in part by the interests, methodological strengths, and professional background of the Associate Director, so long as they align with the Center’s core research topics and goals. We welcome candidates from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and career paths, including academia, policy research, government, nonprofit organizations, and related fields.

The Associate Director of Research will engage in all phases of the research process—from design through dissemination—and will produce written and oral work of exceptional quality for academic, policy, and public audiences.

Location

This position is primarily on-site at Stanford Law School. While not a formal requirement, residence in the local area or a willingness to relocate is strongly preferred.

Core Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Designing and conducting research projects aligned with the Rhode Center’s mission, in collaboration with the Center’s Faculty Directors and affiliated scholars
• Contributing to research agenda-setting, including identifying new research questions, methods, and partnerships
• Source, collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the program or function.
• Developing research designs and methodologies and overseeing project execution, making program improvement recommendations that impact policies and programs.
• Write and/or edit complex content for proposals, research grants, peer-reviewed publications, and other program activities.
• Analyzing, interpreting, and documenting research findings for scholarly publications, policy reports, and other public-facing outputs
• Presenting research at academic conferences, professional meetings, and policy or practitioner forums
• Co-authoring publications with faculty and Center affiliates and, where appropriate, pursuing independent or collaborative research
• Managing or supporting Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other research compliance processes as needed
• Mentoring students and supervising or supporting student research assistants and fellows
• Contributing to the intellectual life and strategic direction of the Center

Required Qualifications

• JD or Ph.D. in political science, sociology, economics or a related field
• 3 years of relevant experience
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization. ability to present research to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience mentoring students or junior researchers
• Demonstrated experience conducting high-quality research, including research design, analysis, and interpretation
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in interdisciplinary research environments
• Interest in and alignment with the Rhode Center’s research areas and mission

Preferred Qualifications

• Record of scholarly publications, policy reports, or comparable research outputs
• Experience with empirical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research
• Familiarity with research compliance processes in academic or policy settings

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials electronically:

1. Cover letter describing interest in the position, relevant experience, and how the candidate’s background aligns with the Rhode Center’s mission. Applicants should indicate their earliest available start date in their cover letter, as well as their ability and desire to relocate.
2. Curriculum vitae or resume.
3. Sample of scholarly or policy writing (e.g., publication, report, or research paper).
4. Names and contact information for at least three professional references.

Applications will be accepted until February 28. Review of applications will take place on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials by the review date for full consideration.

We recognize that no single candidate will possess every qualification listed above, and we encourage individuals with relevant experience and a strong interest in the Center’s work to apply.

The expected pay range for this position is $116,966-$150,114 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary/wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.