RESEARCH FELLOW

U.S. FAIRWORK PROJECT

CLASSIFICATION: Class Code 2038 / Exempt / Full-Time / Benefited / 1-Year Contract

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $72,800

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: March 29, 2021

THE PROJECT

Fairwork is an action-research project that currently operates in the UK, Germany, South Africa, India, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Egypt, and Bangladesh. We research working conditions in the gig economy, in order to develop ‘fairness ratings' for digital labour platforms like Uber, Helpling and Deliveroo (see examples here). We use these ratings as a lever to improve pay and conditions for platform workers, through media and consumer pressure.

Fairwork's program of action research intends not just to understand the world, but to change it. By bringing workers, platforms, scholars, labor researchers and policymakers to the table, we work to collaboratively develop and embed principles of fair work into the script of the gig economy. Fundamental to the project is a commitment to being participatory and non-hierarchical within our communities: we are all—workers, unions, platforms, regulators, academics—the experts, and we all have co-developed this project. Our ultimate aim is to understand, and counter, some of the forces that disempower gig workers across the world.

Over the past three years, we have mobilized a unique and growing transnational network of social justice-minded scholars from over ten countries in pursuit of this planetary goal. In order to effectively advocate for gig workers everywhere, we believe it necessary for our team too to reflect a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and more. In growing our team, we value and welcome the unique contributions that applicants can bring in terms of their education, opinions, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, religion, disability, and beliefs. We actively strive to build and nurture a culture of empathy, inclusiveness, and respect.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary aims of this position will be as follows:

• (1) Conduct primary and secondary research with and on app-based workers about job experiences across different digital labor platforms in the United States.
• (2) Use that research as part of action research strategies to leverage change on behalf of workers in the gig economy.
• (3) Coordinate with the project's international partners.
• (4) Collaborate on and prepare publications and research outputs to disseminate the evaluations of platforms against principles of fair work.
• (5) Outreach and liaise with external partners and stakeholders, in particular also the German development policymakers.
• (6) Disseminate findings in the media.

There will be regular travel to facilitate research. The responsibilities listed above involve close cooperation between the US- and Oxford-based teams, including joint research activities, workshops and conferences, as well as publications.

REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in sociology, geography, anthropology, or a related field (required)
• Academic or professional experience in developing a research project.
• Academic or professional experience in conducting qualitative research (including doing interviews, analyzing and interpreting data).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Familiarity with the existing literature and research related to precarious work, gig work, and the digital economy.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publications, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.
• Knowledge of issues impacting precarious and insecure workers, and a demonstrable commitment to working towards the empowerment of workers, and to equality and inclusion.

BENEFITS

HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts for transportation-related, healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Employee Assistance Program

FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Legal Insurance
• University of California Retirement Plan (a defined benefit plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plans/Pre-tax Retirement Savings Programs

FOR YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE

• Fourteen paid holidays per year
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Commuter Benefits Program

THE HIRING PROCESS

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume, including references.  Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on March 29, 2021.  Applicants who meet the position requirements will be competitively evaluated to identify the individuals whose breadth and depth of experience and education most closely relate to the stated requirements and the needs of the College. Interviews will be conducted in early April. 

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS “SENSITIVE” AND REQUIRES A PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

UC Hastings College of the Law is an equal opportunity employer. UC Hastings strives to provide a diverse and inclusive educational environment that fosters cultural awareness, mutual understanding and respect. UC Hastings College of the Law values diversity and welcomes all applications – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. Qualified women, people of color, people living with a disability, and people with a migrant background are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Fairwork project endorses the__call from the Oxford Internet Institute community to advance anti-racist initiatives in higher education. We commit to upholding the values it espouses in our recruitment processes, to the best of our capacities.