Consumer Watchdog Associate

Consumer Watchdog Associate

PIRG’s Consumer Watchdog team is hiring an Associate to work to end consumer scams that threaten nearly a half-trillion dollars over the next 10 years. Scammers are using technology – calls, texts, emails and AI – to swindle unsuspecting consumers, often the elderly. Victims of these scams have planned and saved their whole lives, only to have it taken away in a flash. The Consumer Watchdog Associate will join our long-standing and award-winning team to expose scams and protect consumers from unsafe products and unfair business practices. 

Key Responsibilities

• Researching scam trends nationwide and communications technology, such as “ringless voicemails,” spoofed calls, imposter websites and hijacked call forwarding.
• Writing articles and short updates on breaking news and trends dealing with consumer scams.
• Developing and writing guides to offer tips to consumers on how to protect themselves and their assets.
• Developing social media posts to market our reports, articles and consumer guides.
• Working with the Consumer Watchdog Director on other ways to reach consumers and their circle of loved ones, both to educate them and destigmatize getting scammed.
• Developing relationships with professionals whose clients include vulnerable consumers, to work with them on education and outreach strategies.
• Monitoring developments and proposed rules at the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that deal with scams and protecting personal and financial information.
• Meeting with regulators and other consumer-focused non-profit organizations to brainstorm, advocate and develop strategy.
• Running a grassroots campaign office each summer to raise money to support our campaigns, build our organization and membership, and help build critical and timely grassroots support to win key campaigns in locations across the country. You may be assigned to a different office location for the summer and should be flexible to move.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, social work, education, public policy, political science or similar field.
• Strong writing skills, and good interpersonal and public speaking abilities.
• A calling to help people and make a difference.
• A creative drive to come up with new solutions to consumer problems.
• A self-starter who is results-oriented.
• Bonus: Ability to design materials and graphics using Adobe, Canva or other software. Ability to create short videos for social media or blog posts

Details

The target annual compensation for this entry-level position is $37,000. PIRG offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long-term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement. 

Location: This position could be based in Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; or Boston, MA. 

Why work with PIRG? Check out 10 reasons: https://pirg.org/why-work-with-us/

Our Mission and Values

PIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit https://pirg.org/core-values/ for things you should know about our network when you apply.

PIRG is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.

About PIRG

PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for the public and stand up to special interests on problems that affect the public's health, safety and well-being.

How is it possible that, in the richest country the world has ever seen, dissatisfaction is rising and life expectancy is lower than in any other high-income country? Is it just inequality? Or could it be that, in the name of producing and consuming more "stuff," we’ve lost sight, as a society, of what really matters — including health, well-being, community, and a clean environment? 

PIRG’s mission is to spotlight these problems and find new solutions. Let's make more of the things we need reusable, repairable and recyclable, instead of single-use and designed for obsolescence. Let's choose conservation and renewable energy over fossil fuels. Let's value clean air and water over short-term profits and lower costs. Let's grow food that nurtures us as well as the land, with fewer pesticides, antibiotics and other quick fixes. 

Getting governments and corporations to make these choices is hard, and steps in the right direction are almost always small. But we have a 50-year track record of training and putting even our newest staff in a position to overcome powerful interests and win real results for the public interest.