Research Analyst

American Federation of Musicians of the United States & Canada, AFL-CIO

Research Analyst

Based in New York City, NY

Title: Research Analyst
Location: New York City
Salary: $63,000.00 plus full employee benefit package: medical, dental, and vision plans and retirement program.

Summary:
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) represents musicians from all fields and genres, including freelancers or “gigging” musicians, touring, recording, composers/arrangers—from the nightclub, in theater pits, to the symphony hall—and everything in between. The AFM is the largest union of musicians in the world with 70,000 members throughout the United States and Canada making the music industry work for musicians. The AFM is seeking a Research Analyst to work in the New York office.

Job Description:
The AFM is dedicated to collectively fighting for good wages, decent working conditions, healthcare, and a secure retirement for all musicians in a changing music industry. The International Union leadership is developing and implementing innovative strategies that challenge the immense power of many of the world’s wealthiest corporations, internationally renowned symphonies, and local employers of musicians. Our Research Analyst will conduct industry, corporate, political and regulatory analysis to develop and carry out campaigns focused on winning economic justice for musicians in all segments of the music industry. Working under the direction of the AFM President’s Office, the Research Analyst will work collaboratively with other union staff to develop campaign tactics that shed light on corporate abuses and build the influence of working musicians. The Research Analyst will assist the International Union in campaign, field and project research, utilizing information from and about workers, employers and a variety of resources on target companies or industries.

Duties
The Research Analyst performs a wide range of duties related to supporting organizing, contract campaigns, policy and member educational projects as assigned by the International Union.

These may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop summary histories and listings of current key issues and developments
• Provide basic analysis of industry profitability and finances
• Prepare basic profiles of public and private business entities, markets and industries
• Prepare basic summary of relevant government legislation and regulatory schemes
• Research and summarize firm's line of business / products / services; stature and relevant market dynamics
• Draft and manage public records / FOIA requests
• Compile firm's history as well as recent major events, current developments, mergers and acquisitions
• Identify points of vulnerability within firms and make recommendations to supervisors and union leadership
• Work with Supervisor to develop weekly work plans that fit within an overall strategic plan for campaigns and projects within the union
• Analyze and maintain worker surveys
• Manage, develop and maintain relevant industry relational database
• Interview or coordinate interviews of workers around regulatory, industry and quality of life issues
• Preparing materials, reports and presentations for use in organizing, bargaining, and training aimed at engaging various audiences (e.g. leafleting, delegations, elected officials, etc.)

Desired Qualifications

• A strong commitment to progressive social change, improving the lives of working people, racial justice, and a passion for AFM’s vision and mission
• Ability to maintain a close relationship with union leadership, take direction and guidance, and demonstrate good judgment
• Ability to develop work plans that reflect assigned work related to campaign and project objectives
• Ability to carry out assigned and required tasks in a competent and professional manner in keeping with AFM’s overall goals and expectations
• BA degree or relevant research and/or activist experience (labor, political, urban planning, as a journalist, teacher, or with a grassroots community/campus organization)
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to think creatively and innovatively and contribute to a forward-thinking team
• Demonstrated tenacity and intellectual curiosity. Creative problem solver around research challenges that use a variety of sources and methods to approach research problems
• Strong analytical, writing, oral communication, editing, computer and interpersonal/organizing skills
• Proficiency in Internet-based research, word processing, spreadsheet programs and database design and management
• Able to read, understand, analyze and explain complex financial documents
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments with diverse groups, on teams and independently when necessary
• Effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks
• A keen sense of detail and organization, including the ability to comb through dense documents and identify what is useful and relevant
• Ability to sort through large amounts of data and identify relevant facts, summarize them accurately and beyond simply assembling a list of facts
• Ability to come to conclusions or analysis based on their/her/his research, as well as the context for the project.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours and travel as needed
• A good sense of humor

The AFM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. The AFM is dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates and is seeking applications from members of underrepresented groups. 

The AFM is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email View email address on us.fitly.work . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

To Apply:
Please send cover letter and résumé to Cynthia Pellegrino, HR Manager, at View email address on us.fitly.work no later than August 31, 2026 .

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .