Senior Policy Advisor - Democracy That Delivers

Remote

Full Time

Experienced

Position: Senior Policy Advisor - Democracy That Delivers
Reports to: Director of State Policy
Location: Remote, with ~20%-30% travel
Application Deadline: Rolling
_________________________________________________________________________________________

The Challenge and Opportunity

Responsive Gov helps policymakers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings. Our work begins with the mechanics of democracy, including practical pro-voter reforms like Automatic Voter Registration and modern, voter-centered election administration, as well as structural reforms that strengthen representative government and the institutions that support it. But we don’t stop at elections. We work to ensure democracy delivers meaningful service and tangible benefits at every interaction people have with government—from accessing health benefits, to paying taxes, to renewing a license at the DMV. A democracy that asks people to participate must also earn that participation by delivering clear, reliable, and human-centered public services.

The Organization

Building on a decade of success working in partnership with state political leaders from both parties, lawmakers, NGOs, and academic leaders, Responsive Gov is a hub for policy and technical experts, organizers, and government officials working together to craft pragmatic, human-centered policies designed to make government more responsive to all of us.

The Person

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you will lead and execute policy work focused on government efficiency, modernization, and state capacity within state-level policy campaigns. Your work will directly support positive legislative and administrative actions—and help prevent, mitigate, or improve poorly designed reforms—by bringing deep substantive expertise in how government actually functions.

You are a detail-oriented, strategic, and proactive professional who understands the practical mechanics of government systems, not just their formal rules. You bring experience either inside government or working directly with government (for example, in consulting, digital services teams, or implementation-focused reform efforts), and you are motivated by the challenge of making public institutions work better.

Areas of Substantive Expertise

One or more of the following areas:

Government efficiency and modernization initiatives
State and local administrative capacity
Permitting and regulatory reform
Digital services and technology modernization, including digital service teams, procurement reform, or service delivery redesign
Process improvement, performance management, or service delivery reform
Cross-agency coordination and implementation challenges

A JD is strongly preferred, though not required.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Develop an understanding of state legal and administrative environments to inform analysis of policy proposals and identify opportunities for pro-active change
Conduct rapid analysis of complex policy issues
Leverage strong judgment to provide strategic guidance on key policy decisions and prioritization
Serve as a subject matter expert on our policy portfolio
Educate stakeholders and advocacy groups on policy proposals and relevant analysis
Prepare well-crafted policy briefs, reports, and advocacy materials with clarity and precision
Draft and edit bills and regulations on key policy reforms
Advocate for policy reforms in meetings, legislative hearings, presentations, and written communications
Partner closely with implementation staff to ensure policy strategy aligns with on-the-ground advocacy and execution

Skills and Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate is:

Committed to our core mission of supporting democracy
Committed to resilience and dynamic perseverance in the face of evolving strategic challenges
Eager to continue to scale existing campaigns, open new doorways, and forge new, strategic partnerships
A self-starter, with an ability to quickly integrate and explain complicated policy concepts in an accessible way
A strong writer and communicator, with an ability to convey complex concepts concisely
Dedicated to producing results and maximizing impact
Strong at prioritization and strategic decision-making
Excited to tackle new projects and ideas
Creative and solution-oriented
Comfortable in a fast-paced environment
Flexible and able to work in a remote structure
Oriented towards what is and could be possible at all times, embodying a growth abundance mindset
A do-er and connector, not a “meetings for the sake of meetings” person

Education and Experience

Subject matter expertise in Government Administration (State Capacity) Reform & Red Tape Reduction is highly desirable
Legal background strongly preferred to assist in navigating regulatory frameworks and policy impacts
Experience in state legislative processes, government relations, or policy advocacy is desirable
Experience in dynamic political environments is preferred
Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders from a variety of ideological backgrounds

The Tangible Good

We are committed to providing our employees with a competitive, comprehensive benefits program that gives staff and their families the support they need to lead healthy, productive lives. The compensation and benefits package for this role includes:

Compensation

Annualized salary range of $145,000 - $160,000
401(k) program with a 3% employer contribution plus a 3% employer match that is fully vested day one
Monthly cellphone and wellness stipends

Health and Wellness

Comprehensive health insurance (medical – platinum PPO, dental, vision) with 100% of premiums fully covered for employees and dependents
Generous health reimbursement account (HRA) that is 100% employer-paid and is intended to offset co-pay, deductible, and a variety of other health-related expenses incurred by employees and dependents
Short and long-term disability and a $50K term life/accidental death benefits that are 100% employer paid
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) and care navigation assistance, up to 12 free video sessions on Talkspace annually, discounts on services provided through OneMedical and Kindbody

Time-off

15 company holidays (including a week long winter break from December 25th through December 31st) and 4 floating holidays
20 days of front-loaded vacation time and 10 days of personal leave annually (pro-rated based on start date)
Reduced Summer Friday schedule, starting the week in which Memorial Day is observed and ending the week in which Labor Day is observed.

Apply for this position

Required*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

In lieu of a traditional cover letter, please provide brief responses to the following five questions. We value clarity and impact, so please limit each answer to 3–5 sentences.

Describe a time you analyzed a complex government process or system (e.g., election administration, permitting, or service delivery). What was the problem, and what recommendation did you make?*

Explain your experience drafting or editing legislation, regulations, or administrative rules. What was your role, how did you work with non-lawyers or implementers, and how did you ensure clarity and implementability?*

Describe a situation where you had to balance ideal policy goals with political or practical constraints. What trade-offs did you make, and why?*

Describe a time you needed to build buy-in for a policy recommendation or system change. Who was in the room (or the inbox), where did resistance come from, how did you adapt your message for different stakeholders, and what tools—written or interpersonal—helped you get there?*

How do you evaluate whether a proposed policy reform will actually improve service delivery or state capacity? List 2–3 criteria you would use, and briefly explain why each matters.*

Which of the following best reflects your background? (Select all that apply):* Experience in a state government agencyExperience with state legislative advocacy on government modernizationWorked on digital services or government modernizationWorked on regulatory reform or process redesignNone of the aboveOther

If you selected "Other" as one of your responses to the previous question, please provide your answer below.

Do you have a law degree or legal background?

Please attach a writing sample (no more than 2 pages). An excerpt from a longer piece is totally fine—just pick a section that shows your thinking and communication style. In 2–3 sentences, tell us: What was the goal? What decision or action was it meant to inform? Who was the intended audience? What were the key conclusions or takeaways?

Human Check*

Submit Application