Policy Analyst

 Position: Policy Analyst (12-14 month temporary employee)
Reports to: Legislative Policy Manager
Location: Remote, with 5%-10% travel
Priority Application Deadline: February 9, 2025

The Challenge and Opportunity

The Institute for Responsive Government helps policymakers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings. We start with the mechanics of democracy: our key focus areas include practical pro-voter policies like Automatic Voter Registration and voter-centric election administration, and resource solutions like predictable federal funding to loosen chronic policy problems. Then, we work to make democracy meet its promises. Government should provide customer service and material benefits at every touchpoint—from health benefits to taxes to the DMV. If we choose to come together with our neighbors to make up a democracy, that government must deliver well enough to make us choose participation. 

The Organization

Building on a decade of success working in partnership with state political leaders from both parties, lawmakers, NGOs, and academic leaders, the Institute for Responsive Government 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 Policy Analyst  you will produce  summaries of legislation and provide research support for Responsive Gov’s policy team’s work. You are a detail-oriented, proactive, and strategic professional looking for a flexible job that helps strengthen our democracy.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

State-level legislative tracking and analysis

• Review relevant introduced legislation in state legislatures for tracking
• Provide quick snapshot summaries as well as detailed summaries of a bill’s provisions that clearly convey to a general audience how the bill would change existing law
• Conduct rapid analysis of complex policy issues, delivering clear and concise summaries

Research and content development

• Research existing laws on issues relating to voter access, election administration, and  other Responsive Gov policy areas and present the information in an easily accessible format
• Create 50 state surveys of existing law on topics as needed
• Participate in the creation of reports and other research content

Cross-team collaboration and coalition building

• Assist with questions from policy and campaigns teams on specific legislation and legislative trends
• Participate as a member of the Policy Team in weekly meetings,  and occasionally with other departments (campaigns, communications, etc.)
• Research and write about policies as assigned, in support of Responsive Gov’s policy and research priorities

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
• 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
• Meticulous and detail-oriented
• Strong at prioritization and time management
• Excited to tackle new projects and ideas
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible and able to work in a remote structure 
• A do-er and connector, not a “meetings for the sake of meetings” person

Education and Experience

• Experience working in/with a state legislature is highly desirable
• Legal background preferred
• Familiarity with voting and election law preferred

The Tangible Good

The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $90,000. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package, including a 401(k) program with a 3% employer contribution plus a 3% employer match that is fully vested day one and 100% of health/dental/vision premiums fully covered.