The Trust & Safety Org (T&S) is one of Reddit’s biggest divisions, and Safety Insights works across the whole Org to provide research services for security, privacy, threat intelligence, safety ops, scaled abuse detection/mitigation, and product development. We exist to unravel hard problems that cut across T&S domains. As a Staff Safety Researcher, Privacy with the Safety Insights team, your role is to define the privacy research agenda and support cross-functional partners in working toward meaningful outcomes.

What You’ll Do

Within the first 6-12 months of joining the team, you’ll accomplish these T&S objectives:

Objective #1: Be the first privacy researcher on our Safety Insights team and define how Reddit understands privacy

• Interact with cross-functional partners from multiple orgs to align and help them better articulate their challenges and constraints; factoring in these inputs, define research objectives and design research approaches that are adaptable to shifting schedules and priorities
• When selecting methods, maintain a high degree of rigor while also being open to experimenting in your approach and methodology
• Mentor partners on simple research methods so they can carry out research on their own (your role primarily focuses on strategic and generative research, but our product partners still need other research support)

Objective #2: Identify and undertake formative research projects that address privacy problems with significant implications across the entire company

• Identify emerging trends and areas of concern; drive the research agenda to provide a thorough understanding that equips multiple Orgs with strategic insights
• Shape and lead strategic systems thinking based on safety insights gathered through research

Objective #3: As the need arises, work with data scientists to develop custom longitudinal metrics for privacy, implement them, and prove their efficacy in tracking the impact of product releases and enforcement actions

• Work with ambiguous inputs and use appropriate research methods to inform what is worth measuring
• Collaborate with data scientists to transform qualitative insights into durable quantitative metrics
• Tweak and prove the efficacy of longitudinal metrics over time

Who You Might Be

• Masters or Ph.D. in Social Science, Behavioral science, HCI, Anthropology, Economics, or equivalent experience
• Substantial experience with privacy on a social media platform
• A command of qualitative and ethnographic methods with a strong understanding of their strengths and shortcomings, including when and how to apply them during each product phase
• Proven ability in managing relationships with partners, stakeholders, and communities of interest
• Experience building consensus and facilitating difficult conversations across multiple stakeholders
• Bonus: Experience with SQL, R, and quantitative data analysis

Your Qualities

• Demonstrated flexibility and non-dogmatic approach to strategy, learning, and impact
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, manage, and meet deadlines across multiple time-sensitive initiatives
• High tolerance for ambiguity and ability to adapt to changing priorities and timelines
• Ability to produce results independently as well as in a team environment
• Willingness to ‘get your hands dirty’ doing a variety of research-related tasks, including recruiting participants

In addition to your application, please submit a portfolio or case studies that highlight the breadth and depth of your research experience. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.