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JOB DESCRIPTION: Center CIRCL and Local Contexts are seeking a highly organized, creative, proactive, and detail-oriented individual to join the Center CIRCL Staff as the Associate Research Scientist/Indigenous Data Sovereignty. The Associate Research Scientist plays a key role within the Local Contexts team, which works directly with Indigenous communities around the world, and supports the development of Labels and Notices to ground intellectual and cultural property rights in cultural heritage, data, and genetic resources within digital environments. The Associate Research Scientist will be responsible for creating the themes and guiding questions for up to four in-person gatherings per year, each meant to advance the reinforcement of rights of Indigenous Peoples by applying Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural Labels and Notices. The Local Contexts Labels and Notices inform provenance, protocols, and permissions related to Indigenous community knowledges. The Associate Research Scientist will also develop University engagement in all areas of Local Contexts programming, including working with researchers, librarians, IRB, data technicians, and research centers to improve practice and principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty across the university. They will do this work as a staff member of Center CIRCL, in order to meaningfully connect the work of these two complementary organizations.

The Associate Research Scientist will also support existing partnerships, and develop new partnerships with communities, Indigenous governments, organizations, and institutions to extend the work of Local Contexts and Center CIRCL, including through shared programs, internships, research, and other initiatives. The Associate Research Scientist will communicate findings from these efforts across domains in both text and compelling visual displays to research practitioners across NYU, in order to increase capacity related to Indigenous research collaboration and Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles at NYU. The Associate Research Scientist will develop fluency in all of these areas of Local Contexts and Center CIRCL’s work in order to provide direct assistance to community researchers, university-based researchers working with communities, and students learning to do research with Indigenous communities. The position requires strong research and writing skills, and timely and professional communication, including with international collaborators, Local Contexts and Center CIRCL staff, NYU researchers, and the public. The Associate Research Scientist will be encouraged to handle increasing responsibility for these and other activities as appropriate. The position reports to the Center CIRCL Director and PI of Local Contexts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

50% Grant and Fellowship Programming

+ Create and communicate the themes and guiding questions (informed by research and best practices in Indigenous Data Sovereignty) for up to four in-person convenings per year. One annual convening will be the gathering of all Local Contexts collaborators and staff advancing the development and implementation of Labels and Notices, and the adoption of Indigenous Data Sovereignty practices across institutions. Another annual convening will coincide with Climate Week in New York City, to meaningfully connect the work of Local Contexts to addressing climate change. The ideal candidate has a keen ability to prioritize/make decisions within frameworks of engagement with Indigenous communities, with limited supervision and a proven track record of working sensitively and expediently with individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds situated around the world.

+ Research and create new pathways for engagement between Local Contexts, Center CIRCL, and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held every spring in New York City. Up to two of the annual in-person convenings will coincide with UNPFII. The Associate Research Scientist will be responsible for research and creation of the pathways and connections for Local Contexts collaborators to participate in the Permanent Forum. They will also co-lead the Center CIRCL UNPFII Student Fellows initiative, which launched in April 2025. This is an initiative that allows NYU Students to attend the Permanent Forum and participate in forum and side events. The Associate Research Scientist will expand this program to a more substantive internship for undergraduate and graduate students interested in Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

+ For all above events, create a timeline, tracking a budget, working with venues, supporting speakers, and maintaining registrants/RSVP lists. Lead week-of and day-of in-person logistics, including creating detailed run-of-shows, coordinating staff, speakers, and attendees, and identifying venue needs. Maintain ethical, respectful, and responsive relationships with invited presenters and attendees. Accurately and clearly represent Local Contexts and Center CIRCL’s mission, programs, and use.

+ Research to identify opportunities for partnerships, events, and extensions of existing programs to enhance programming and future work of both Local Contexts and Center CIRCL.

+ Implement payment processing / procurement (POs, requisitions) for convenings and other programming. Coordinate event requests including travel arrangements, issuing honoraria, and reimbursements.

+ Support the Center CIRCL Native Studies Forum Speaker Series, a program offering a diverse range of speaking opportunities for Native American and Indigenous Studies-affiliated scholars representing diverse academic and geographic backgrounds.

+ Budget and forecast available funds for the Convenings, ensuring financial and programmatic compliance with donor restrictions and Center CIRCL and NYU policies.

+ Maintain payment records, solicit and maintain receipts from program-related vendors and collaborators, and maintain external vendor accounts, including coordination with Local Context’s organization-wide vendor payment schedules.

+ Regularly contribute financial and narrative data for donor/grant reports on the Local Contexts Convenings.

+ Onboard and register payment recipients into NYU’s payment system (iBuy) for payments related to the above activities.

50% Engagement with Research Partners and NYU Infrastructure

+ Bridge the work of Local Contexts and Center CIRCL by meaningfully integrating themes, programs, events, and activities between the two organizations.

+ Research academic associations and potential partner networks in various regions for Local Contexts Labels and Notices building initiatives.

+ Research new opportunities for partnerships, events, and extensions of existing programs to enhance programming and future work of both Local Contexts and Center CIRCL.

+ Research higher education systems and institutions in strategic countries for prospective partnership outreach.

+ Meet/offer professional development to researchers, librarians, IRB, data technicians, and research centers to improve practice and principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty across the university.

+ Raise the capacity for engagement and adoption of best practices in IDSov across the university.

+ Create systems and mechanisms to support this work in various Schools and Programs at NYU.

+ Research and recommend appropriate operations standards and system updates to maximize efficiency.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS: Local Contexts (localcontexts.org) is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous data sovereignty and cultural authority. Through innovative digital tools, Local Contexts supports Indigenous communities to find, control, and manage their intellectual and cultural properties. We offer a practical mechanism for Indigenous communities, institutions and organizations, databases and platforms, and researchers with the Traditional Knowledge and Biocultural Labels and Notices. Together, they identify Indigenous materials, rights, and interests to legitimize locally-based decision-making around ownership, access, and culturally appropriate conditions.

Local Contexts is an international, public-spirited organization. Our core values are sovereignty, transparency, trustworthiness, accountability, utility, authority, and generational sustainability. We actively work to foster an environment of mutual respect and belonging. Our goal is to provide a workplace environment that is conducive to collaboration, focused on achieving our mission, and supportive of employee career development. Learn more at https://localcontexts.org/

The new Provostial Center for Collaborative Indigenous Research with Communities and Lands (Center CIRCL) grows the practice, theory, and reach of Indigenous studies and Indigenous research at New York University. Recognizing that research can have an important role in Indigenous communities’ efforts towards justice and creating the futures they desire, Center CIRCL is dedicated to supporting communities to address their research needs. Center CIRCL supports the proliferation of scholarship by students, staff, faculty, artists, youth and community researchers at NYU. It is an intellectual homebase for all scholars who engage in Indigenous Studies and seek to work alongside Indigenous communities to meet their research needs. Learn more at https://centercirclnyu.com/

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS : This is a fixed-term, at-will position through August 31, 2026, with the possibility to extend one additional year, then an additional 6 months (or 12 months at part time), subject to further extension based on program priorities, exemplary performance, and availability of funds. In compliance with NYC ’ s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $82,000-85,000.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

+ Master’s degree required

+ Exceptional research, writing, and editorial skills.

+ Demonstrated commitment to Indigenous research and/or community research.

+ Demonstrated collaboration and communication skills with internal team, external contacts, and general public.

+ Experience with Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms), scheduling platforms (e.g., Calendly, when2meet), and events/ticketing systems (e.g., Eventbrite), and best practices.

+ Detail-oriented and committed to high-quality work.

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED:

+ PhD in Indigenous Studies, History, Anthropology, Education, International Policy, or related field preferred.

+ At least 2+ years of experience organizing in-person events or programs, ideally in a NYC cultural, arts, academic, and/or research space and with venues, invited speakers, donors, and community members. Experience with hybrid/recorded events preferred.

+ Coursework and/or experience in Indigenous research, human rights, education, international studies, non-profit management, data analysis, and/or accounting.

+ Familiarity with organizing UN events.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS:

+ Ability to handle communications and planning with discretion and care.

+ Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively.

+ Excellent organizational, problem-solving, prioritization, and planning skills.

+ Commitment to listen, learn, ask questions, and constructively and collaboratively discuss feedback and develop ideas.

+ Graphic design skills and an understanding of social media best practices.

+ Collaborative and team-oriented mindset.

+ Familiarity with Indigenous rights and data sovereignty, Local Contexts, or willingness to learn.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply by uploading the requested materials in one combined PDF: (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, (3) name and email address of the person writing a letter of recommendation, and (4) a writing sample (chapter or article length). ALSO: An appropriate mentor, supervisor, senior scholar who can speak to your research experience and fit for the position should send a letter of recommendation directly to [email protected] before the deadline. DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPLICATION REVIEW IS June 20, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until the position is filled. No phone calls or email inquiries, please. Local Contexts/Center CIRCL is an equal opportunity employer. Local Contexts/Center CIRCL does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds are encouraged to apply. (Regrettably, Local Contexts/Center CIRCL is not able to sponsor work-eligible visas for this position.)

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