Just Migration Communications Research Analyst

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker religious organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. Drawing on continuing spiritual insights and working with people of many backgrounds, we nurture the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems.

The Just Migration Communications Research Analyst will serve as a key member of AFSC’s Communications Department, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the U.S. Migration Director. The Research Analyst will lead a portfolio of research and communications initiatives aimed at shaping public narratives around migration, detention, and deportation in the United States for AFSC’s Just Migration programs.

The Research Analyst will update and expand AFSC’s previous research on public attitudes toward immigrants, migration, and detention and deportation. They will design new approaches to understanding public sentiment on these issues and develop strategies to shape opinion through effective language, messaging, and framing. In this capacity, the Research Analyst will lead new message-testing and polling projects, manage relationships with research vendors, and translate findings into actionable insights that guide AFSC’s national communications and advocacy efforts.

This position offers a unique opportunity to apply advanced academic research to real-world social change in a national nonprofit context. The Research Analyst will work collaboratively with AFSC’s six (6) Migration Justice programs (New Jersey, New Hampshire, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, and California) to integrate study findings into their local advocacy and outreach efforts, while also contributing to AFSC’s broader national communications strategy. These programs use varied methods and strategies to ensure immigrants are recognized as community leaders and are part of efforts to stop detentions and deportations, build community power, and advocate for fair and humane policies for immigrants at the local, state, and federal levels. This local work is complemented by national leadership that builds cohesiveness across programs and develops externally facing campaigns, materials, and opportunities to share AFSC's work more broadly.

• →Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of a new national public opinion and message-testing study on immigration and immigrant justice, building on AFSC’s 2024 research.
• →Collaborate with AFSC’s Just Migration and Communications staff to develop a topic guide, survey questions, and messaging frames that explore public attitudes and identify effective language for shifting narratives.
• →Direct the process of vetting, hiring, and supervising a survey research vendor; oversee project timelines, deliverables, and methodological integrity.
• →Analyze research findings and translate results into actionable insights that inform AFSC’s national communications and advocacy strategies.
• →Develop and implement with Communications and Just Migration teams a campaign plan grounded in research findings, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms.
• →Supervise and coordinate the production of outreach materials and digital content that reflect tested messages and support the campaign’s goals.
• →Develop and monitor metrics to track campaign reach and engagement, including impressions, media coverage, and online performance.
• →Lead and conduct a follow-up study to assess changes in public attitudes about immigration and document lessons learned.
• →Regular attendance and punctuality are required.
• →Operates safely in all conditions and follows policies and procedures.
• →Other duties and projects as assigned.

N/A

• PhD or PhD candidate in humanities studies, social sciences, or related field required.
• Minimum 3 years meaningful experience professionally or academic setting in research and writing required.
• Minimum one publication or panel/poster/conference presentation.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends and to travel, as
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a team environment.
• Experience with standard Microsoft Office and related technology.
• Must be capable of working under tight time constraints in a high-volume environment with multiple priorities.
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
• Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
• Respect for and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, gender and religious diversity and familiarity with non-violent approaches to problem solving.
• Ability to organize, plan ahead and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. 

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position duties and expectations change over time.  This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exclusive or exhaustive list of the job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.  The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. If there is ever a time that you are unsure what is expected of you, you are expected to meet with your manager and ask questions. If you are unsure how to perform a certain task, ask your manager before performing.