Applied Researcher

ABOUT US

At Founders Pledge, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to do immense good. Since launching in 2015, we’ve raised over $10 billion for the most impactful social causes. We offer the simplest path to impact for successful entrepreneurs, providing end-to-end giving infrastructure, pioneering research, and access to a worldwide network of experts. In other words, we help tech leaders become strategic philanthropists. Our 1700+ members include the people behind industry-leading companies such as Airbnb, UiPath, Dropbox, Skype, Spotify, and Uber.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for an Applied Researcher to work on our Research team, which identifies and evaluates high-impact funding opportunities (HIFOs) to enable our broader member-base to give as effectively as possible. Our member base consists of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who use our HIFO recommendations to guide their giving. 

Reporting to our Research Director, you’ll research new potential cause areas and investigate potential funding opportunities. In this role, you might investigate the intergenerational effects of different educational interventions, estimate the risk of a catastrophic volcano eruption, or look into the cost-effectiveness of programs to incentivize childhood vaccinations. 

This is a unique position within our research team: in this role, you will dedicate a large portion of your time to research on behalf of a small set of HNWIs, researching how to give as effectively as possible and searching for new HIFOs in their personal areas of interest. You will have the potential to influence tens of millions of dollars in HIFO giving. This role presents a chance to research areas that have not been deeply explored within the effective giving community, as well as to build on previously developed areas. This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that philanthropic dollars are well-spent, and to develop your research skills.

Note: you’ll spend the bulk of your time undertaking research to directly support the giving of one or two particular UHNWIs who have allocated large amounts for us to advise on, and some time to pursue your own chosen directions of research.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Undertaking research investigations into the cause areas and funding opportunities highlighted by the UHNWI and their team - suggesting the most impactful ways for them to allocate their funds within these interest areas. 

• Cause area investigations: Investigations into the most pressing problem areas that seek to identify the most cost-effective approaches of tackling them, and to recommend funding opportunities that implement those approaches.

• Funding opportunity investigations: Individual investigations into promising funding opportunities to see if they meet our bar for recommendation, contributing to reports or other internal or external materials. 

• Shallow investigations: Internal investigations of less than a week into a particular problem area or methodological question relevant to your research.

• You’ll also support our Philanthropic Advisors and Community Managers to provide expert advice and recommendations to our members based on our research.

Salary: Up to £65k/$95k/€65k.

Location: UK, USA (ideally East Coast), or Europe (flexible remote)

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for someone with excellent analytical skills, keen to work in a generalist applied research role and with an interest in impact maximisation.

You’ll likely have:

• Excellent analytical skills: Comfort expressing views numerically and working with systematic quantitative frameworks; understanding of, and the ability to build, quantitative models.

• Clear writing: The ability to express nuanced evidence and complex concepts in a clear way. Bonus points if you can write quickly.

• Open-ended research skills: ability to identify potential HIFOs in a new cause area, relevant academic research, reports and experts..

• Good calibration: Knowledge of the extent of your own knowledge, and a good sense of how confident you should be in your beliefs.

• Intellectual curiosity and openness: A willingness to consider alternative points of view, to follow good arguments wherever they lead, and an openness to changing your mind.

• Conscientiousness and prioritisation skills: A willingness to work hard and to focus time on top priorities, while working quickly and methodically.

• Good judgement: For example, the ability to decide how long to spend on a project, or what sections to include in a report.

• The ability to work well with others, to communicate honestly and directly, and to be open to feedback.

• Willingness to work in a high-growth, dynamic start-up environment and be comfortable with ambiguity.

• The confidence and experience to lead your own research, working independently (we are open to candidates of varying seniority).

  **Please upload your CV to start our application process. Once submitted, you will be sent a follow-up questionnaire which must be filled in to complete your application. You do not need to upload a cover letter/supporting letter.**

WHY WORK WITH US?

You can find more about the benefits we offer here, but what makes us truly special is both our mission and our people. We’re a diverse team, from both charitable and commercial backgrounds, who believe that amazing things can happen when we tackle problems together. We offer a flat structure and an opportunity to help shape the future of philanthropy.

There's no expectation for you to attend an office on a regular basis. At the same time, if you think you’d benefit from a desk in a co-working space close to your home, this can be arranged. Otherwise, you just need a great home wifi connection and we’ll provide you with everything else you need to be successful in your role.

We bring the global team together once per year for a global offsite. This is a week of collaborative learning, ideas generation and socialising. In addition to this, each team has the opportunity to meet together at least once per year. 

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Founders Pledge. We seek people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share our drive to understand and solve complex social challenges. 

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Finding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems requires different perspectives and unique ways of thinking and we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone can do their best work.

Please note: When you apply to this role, you’ll be asked to complete an equal opportunities form. As this role is being advertised in multiple countries, you’ll be asked to complete a UK equal opportunities form, as this is where our HQ is based.