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Department:
Kogod School of Business
Time Type:
Part time
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary:
Race in the Marketplace Research Network (RIM) is seeking a highly
organized and collaborative Research Assistant to support the
network’s communications, digital platforms, projects, and
day-to-day coordination.
RIM is an interdisciplinary research network focused on the
relationship between race and marketplaces. The Research Assistant
will work closely with RIM’s four-person core team and broader
network of scholars and partners. The role combines communications,
project coordination, website and social media management, meeting
support, and administrative problem-solving.
The ideal candidate is a strong writer and dependable organizer who
is comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously, following
up with multiple collaborators, and engaging thoughtfully in
research and conversations related to race, racism, markets, and
consumer behavior.
Essential Functions:
1.) Communications and Research Promotion
- Draft professional emails, announcements, project updates,
meeting communications, and feedback requests.
- Develop content for RIM’s LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and
other communications channels.
- Promote publications, events, and research produced by RIM
members.
- Help translate academic research into clear and accessible
public-facing content.
- Maintain and organize systems for collecting and tracking
member publications, updates, and communications
opportunities.
2.) Website and Digital Content
- Update and organize content on the RIM website.
- Create basic graphics, cover images, or video thumbnails.
- Identify and recommend improvements to the website’s
organization and clarity.
3.) Project and Meeting Coordination
- Support multiple RIM projects, committees, and special
initiatives–including reporting to multiple project managers.
- Develop and maintain timelines, spreadsheets, forms, trackers,
planning documents, and action-item lists.
- Schedule meetings across multiple time zones using tools such
as Doodle, Google Calendar, and Zoom.
- Send invitations, links, reminders, confirmations, and schedule
updates.
- Prepare documents, questions, and progress updates before
meetings.
- Participate in meetings, document decisions, and help clarify
next steps.
- Revise materials and complete follow-up tasks after
meetings.
4.) Administrative and Digital Systems Support
- Organize shared files, records, and archival materials.
- Support the administration of platforms such as Google
Workspace.
- Troubleshoot routine issues involving accounts, access,
permissions, forms, shared documents, and platform setup.
- Research and learn new tools when needed to improve team
coordination.
- Communicate barriers, progress, and recommended next steps to
the core team.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Part-time.
- 9 hours per week.
Salary Range:
- $18.40 - $20.00 per hour.
Required Education and Experience:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong organizational, scheduling, and project-coordination
skills.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and streams
of feedback.
- Strong attention to detail, including accuracy in names, dates,
links, formatting, and publication information.
- Ability to follow up consistently and communicate clearly when
assignments or approval processes require clarification.
- Ability to work independently while keeping supervisors and
collaborators informed.
- Ability to approach race-related topics with care, respect, and
a willingness to learn.
- Ability to coordinate with collaborators working in different
locations and time zones.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace,
virtual-meeting platforms, and social media.
- Willingness and ability to learn new digital tools.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Experience in an academic, nonprofit, research, or
professional-network setting.
- Experience communicating about academic research.
- Familiarity with Squarespace, Canva, Google Forms, Airtable,
Doodle, or similar tools.
- Familiarity with research concerning race, marketplaces,
consumer behavior, racial equity, or related topics.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
1.) Team Culture and Working Style
- The Research Assistant will work with a four-person core team
whose members bring different areas of expertise, responsibilities,
schedules, and communication styles.
- The global team works primarily through email, shared
documents, and virtual meetings across time zones.
- The role requires someone who can communicate proactively, ask
questions when expectations are unclear, and provide regular
updates without waiting to be prompted.
- The team values respectful dialogue, intellectual openness, and
a willingness to listen, reflect, and revise.
- Applicants should be comfortable receiving feedback and working
through differing perspectives in a constructive manner.
2.) What a Typical Week May Include
- Reviewing and responding to email.
- Following up on assignments, approvals, and outstanding
decisions.
- Preparing for and attending one or more virtual meetings.
- Scheduling meetings across different time zones.
- Revising documents based on feedback.
- Updating the website or social media platforms.
- Maintaining spreadsheets, forms, timelines, and project
trackers.
- Troubleshooting an administrative or technical issue.
- Sharing progress updates and completed materials with the core
team.
- Priorities may shift from week to week depending on current
projects, events, and network needs.
Other Details
- This position is available only to enrolled American
University students.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or
contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or
responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time
with or without notice.
- American University is an
E-Verify employer.
- Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/
for additional information about American University employment and
benefits.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees (including those employed in
student positions) must apply through their employee Workday
account. If you are a current employee at American University,
please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will
take you to our internal career listings.
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theworkline@american.edu
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