Job Description
Worker Researcher
Title: Worker Researcher
Reports to: Project Team
Salary: $25-$30/hour
Duration: To be confirmed June to Sept 2020 (with the possibility of extension)
Timing: Flexible and project dependent
Location: Oakland, San Francisco, and Richmond (Bay Area)
Turning Basin Labs (TBL) is a worker-centric staffing agency putting people to work via our COOP and in roles related to tech, manufacturing and service. We envision a world where the voices and experiences of users and workers are an important part of conducting balanced research and designing a workforce system that meets the needs of workers. We want to ensure that more people who are at the frontline of the workforce system, and who are experiencing the challenges that organisations are trying to “solve” in the local system, are more involved in both local research and the projects that come out of that research. In order to make this happen, Turning Basin Labs (TBL) is looking to hire three freelance Worker Researchers to help design a new model for Worker Resilience in the Bay Area. Worker Researchers will be trained in various research methods and then deployed on different projects related to understanding the needs of workers in approximately three locations.
Worker Researchers will take part in the following activities during the programme:
Training on research methods
Supporting desk-based research on peer research programmes
Contributing to stakeholder mapping
Conducting telephone interviews
Attending research model design sessions
Conducting observations, interviews and surveys with workers/stakeholders from local communities across up to 3-4 defined locations in the Bay Area (likely remote due to COVID 19).
Researchers at the beginning of the programme. People interested in filling this position must be able to undertake self-employed work in California, USA and should send a short paragraph (6-10 sentences) about why they want to do this work. To find out more about the role and to share your paragraph send it to or contact Stephen Bediako @ stephen@turningbasinlabs.com or call Stephen on +415 359 5590
Detailed Overview
TBL and JFF are seeking three workers researchers to engage in a four month exercise to help explore and research what a worker resilient economy should look like in a post COVID 19 world. We are specifically seeking low wage workers who do not have full time work, but have both an interest and aptitude in being part of strategic work. We are also looking for people who live and have deep connections in the Bay Area and who can act as a point of contact to a place in relation to this research.
The ideal person will
Be from or have deep connections to communities most impacted by low income work.
Have a deep connection to workers, and be living in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley or Richmond.
Have leadership potential, a desire to be a leading voice in how we improve circumstances for workers.
Have solid relationship building skills, interpersonal skills and trust building skills
Have an understanding of local organisations and services they support workers
Have a level of curiosity, questions issues deeply and interested in understanding broader social impact.
Have high levels of personal resilience and personal self-drive to ‘get the job done’.
Be able to write and interpret basic information and basic documents / materials
Be able and excited about working in a team with people committed to improving worker conditions whether they be fellow workers or professionals committed to the cause.
We are looking for people who
Have at least 5 - 10 years experience in working in low paid / front line roles
Have good communication skills and are able to communicate their views and perspectives clearly. .
Is able to organise their time, stay focused on tasks and meet deadlines (provide notice if delays)
People who can work anywhere between 10-20 hours a week
Are committed to making a difference to workers lives in California by bringing their true perspectives and experience to this work.
Who have existing deep and trusted relationships in their community of workers / colleagues - and are able / willing to lead on building new local relationships.
Are able to solve problems and build solutions to issues and always looks for solutions
Experience and interest in helping to bring their lived experience and expertise to this agenda in an equitable and empowering way.