Data Analyst

This position will be based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C. FIRE operates on a hybrid work schedule that allows for a mix of in-the-office and remote work for eligible employees. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

About FIRE

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for them, and provides the means to preserve them.

Position Description

FIRE is seeking an energetic, motivated, and highly organized individual to join our research team. The Data Analyst will report directly to FIRE’s Director of Research, while working closely with the rest of the research team. The data analyst will work with FIRE’s survey data and other internal and public datasets to uncover insights about the state of free expression in the United States. You’ll help validate and analyze large-scale surveys (such as the College Free Speech Rankings and National Speech Index), integrate FIRE’s various databases for deeper analysis, and support the creation of public-facing reports and data visualizations.

Responsibilities:

• Run validation models and statistical checks on FIRE’s large survey datasets.
• Conduct causal and exploratory analyses to understand drivers of free expression.
• Integrate external datasets (e.g., IPEDS, Census, policy datasets) into existing models and new research projects.
• Scrape and clean data from websites, PDFs, and other messy sources.
• Generate public-facing data visualizations using tools like DataWrapper.
• Collaborate with other researchers and FIRE teams to design studies, write reports, and present findings.
• Translate technical results into accessible narratives for policy reports, blog posts, and other publications.

This position has an immediate start date. Expected travel for this position is 0-10%. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected.

Qualifications

A successful candidate will have a strong work ethic, be a self-starter, and have the ability to work independently. Most importantly, the candidate must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission and an ability to articulate that passion in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause.

A candidate must also be able to demonstrate:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent training) in a quantitative or social science field (e.g., statistics, economics, political science, sociology, public policy); graduate degree a plus.
• Proficiency in R, or an equivalent program, for statistical analysis.
• Experience working with survey data and familiarity with regression and factor analysis; knowledge of structural equation modeling is a plus.
• Ability to clean and organize data from a variety of sources; scraping experience preferred.
• Experience integrating multiple datasets to inform research questions.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to explain technical findings to a non-technical audience.

Salary and Compensation

The projected salary range is $60,000-$70,000 based upon experience and education level. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding and excellent work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance; a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option; matching retirement contributions; and a generous paid time-off plan.

Applications

Applicants should provide a resume, cover letter, demonstration of work (if possible), salary requirements, and contact information of at least two professional references. All applications are confidential. Please address applications to Cait Scanlan, Chief People Officer.