Application Guide
How to Apply for Program Officer, Research to Impact Lab (R2i Lab)
at Center for Cultural Innovation
🏢 About Center for Cultural Innovation
The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) operates the Research to Impact Lab (R2i Lab), which uniquely combines research, advocacy, investment, and incubation to create systemic change for gig workers in creative and care fields. Unlike traditional nonprofits, CCI takes an entrepreneurial, cross-sector approach to building new structures that support diversity, culture, and self-determination. Working here means joining a team that bridges philanthropy, grassroots organizing, and innovation to address economic inequity in dynamic ways.
About This Role
As Program Officer for the R2i Lab, you'll be at the heart of turning research into action—refining strategy, building partnerships across gig work sectors (arts, home health care, domestic work), and incubating projects from ambiguity to implementation. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape initiatives that improve social and economic conditions for marginalized workers, while managing consultant engagements and ensuring alignment with CCI's principles. You'll work closely with the Director and Program Specialist to translate vision into tangible outcomes.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a strategy session with the Director to refine R2i Lab's vision, followed by outreach to a gig worker organization in the arts sector to build partnerships. In the afternoon, you could facilitate a project incubation meeting, guiding a team through ambiguity toward actionable steps, then review deliverables from a policy consultant to ensure alignment with CCI's principles. The role blends high-level planning with hands-on project management in a remote, collaborative environment.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Center for Cultural Innovation Is Looking For
- Has 8+ years in the third sector with deep experience in cross-contextual partnerships—think someone who's navigated collaborations between nonprofits, tech-for-good startups, and grassroots organizers.
- Demonstrates a track record of co-creating or incubating entities (e.g., launching a nonprofit project, co-founding a social enterprise) and thrives in ambiguous, iterative environments.
- Possesses strong project management skills, ideally with tools like Monday.com or Basecamp, and can manage multiple consultant engagements while upholding CCI's guiding principles.
- Has a network or expertise in gig work fields (arts, care work) and related areas like policy, technology, or journalism, enabling them to build meaningful cross-sector relationships.
📝 Tips for Applying to Center for Cultural Innovation
Highlight specific examples of incubating projects or partnerships in the third sector—quantify outcomes if possible (e.g., 'co-created a nonprofit initiative that served 500 gig workers').
Tailor your resume to emphasize cross-sector relationship-building, especially in gig work fields like arts or home health care, and mention any experience with Monday.com or Basecamp.
Research CCI's R2i Lab projects (e.g., past initiatives on worker advocacy or economic systems) and reference how your skills align with their approach to research-to-impact.
Showcase your ability to navigate ambiguity—describe a time you guided a project from uncertainty to clarity, emphasizing iteration and adaptation.
Avoid generic nonprofit language; use terms from CCI's mission like 'self-determination,' 'systems change,' or 'cross-contextual partnerships' to demonstrate fit.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Explain how your 8+ years in the third sector (e.g., philanthropy, organizing) prepare you to refine R2i Lab's strategy and build cross-sector relationships in gig work fields.", 'Provide a concrete example of co-leading or incubating a project, business, or nonprofit, highlighting how you moved it from ambiguity to implementation.', "Discuss your approach to managing consultant engagements and ensuring alignment with principles like diversity and self-determination, referencing CCI's guiding principles.", "Express why CCI's unique blend of research, advocacy, investment, and incubation resonates with you, and how you'd contribute to advancing economic conditions for gig workers."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore CCI's R2i Lab website or reports to understand their current projects, advocacy work, and impact on gig workers in creative and care sectors.
- → Review CCI's guiding principles and strategic goals—note how they emphasize diversity, culture, and self-determination—to align your application language.
- → Investigate CCI's partnerships or past initiatives (e.g., with gig worker organizations, tech for good) to identify potential cross-sector connections you could leverage.
- → Look into the broader context of gig work challenges in arts, home health care, or domestic work to demonstrate informed perspectives during interviews.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning gig work fields (arts, care work) or CCI's specific focus on research-to-impact and systems change.
- Failing to provide concrete examples of incubating projects or co-leadership experiences—vague descriptions won't stand out for this senior role.
- Overlooking the importance of cross-sector relationship-building; candidates who only highlight single-sector experience may seem ill-prepared for R2i Lab's collaborative model.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Center for Cultural Innovation!