What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Policy Analysts position at America First Policy Institute?
Senior Policy Analyst, Higher Education Reform Initiative.
Overall Responsibilities
Work with the President/CEO, Executive Director, Chief Policy Officer (CPO), Center Director, and policy leaders to develop the Initiative’s strategic vision and operational plans. Assist the Center Director in managing the day-to-day execution of the Initiative’s goals. This includes oversight of the development of HERI’s research and content deliverables and working with the Center Director to disseminate center products to its constituencies. The Senior Policy Analyst will help lead HERI’s work in several of the following areas, depending on his or her research and policy background: University governance, civic centers, student loans, accreditation, aligning degree offerings to labor market need, apprenticeships and other workforce development, dual enrollment, and other higher education reforms.
Responsibilities and Duties:
• Clearly champion AFPI’s servant leadership culture.
• Assist with the strategic development of all Center research and policy goals, planning, and related work in coordination with the Center Director.
• Work with the Center Director and AFPI Research Director to develop a research agenda for the Initiative that anticipates future legislative and regulatory action, media interest, and state policy priorities.
• Work with Center Director and Communications/Digital to disseminate policy work and build AFPI’s
research profile among counterparts at other research institutes and policy stakeholders.
• Work with the Center Director to oversee the production and quality control of all Center research output, including planning, scheduling, and editing. Ensure that research and related output reflect the principles of AFPI and, with the assistance and guidance of the Research Director, uphold rigorous standards of research and analysis. Potential output may include but is not limited to white papers/research papers, blog posts for the AFPI website, and op-eds for major media sources.
• Identify external scholars and subject matter experts to contribute to specific research priorities on a
contractual basis and/or as a Senior Fellow, in coordination with the CEO, CPO, and Research Director.
• Work under the direction of the Center Director to manage the day-to-day operations of the Center team, including supervising interns and policy analysts, directing work assignments, providing training and mentoring, monitoring progress, and leading performance reviews.
• Collaborate closely with other centers on education, workforce, and culture issues.
• Explore and, in consultation with the Center Director, propose new initiatives and programs to broaden
the reach of the Center’s content.
• Actively participate in the peer-review process, editing papers and providing helpful feedback for
colleagues to ensure consistent, quality work products; take ownership of shepherding work through the
process in a collaborative manner.
• Identify key stakeholders and coordinate with AFPI leadership, including Engagement and Development
teams, to ensure targeted, effective outreach and collaboration on key policy priorities to maximize
impact.
• Effectively collaborate with various stakeholders, including those on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch, and in state/local/tribal government leadership as appropriate, and other experts.
Qualifications
• Leadership style that supports others, promotes a positive team culture, and encourages the growth and success of the Center’s staff. Demonstrated servant leader.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience, 8-10 years preferred.
• Demonstrated level of competence in the core areas necessary to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the position. Candidates should possess a master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• A significant level of relevant legislative and policy experience in the Center’s focus area with a
consistently high level of performance, including knowledge of Federal and state legislative and
regulatory issues and processes.
• Demonstrated support of free market principles that support American citizens and American rights and liberties, and a willingness to combine these with personal integrity in the making of all Center and
Institute decisions.
• Excellent managerial ability, including the ability to organize and manage the day-to-day activities of the Center team and coordinate effectively with the Policy and Research teams.
• An entrepreneurial mindset that seeks out new opportunities to grow and advance the mission of AFPI
and the Center.
• Excellent writing, research, editing, and public presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate policy recommendations into action at the Federal, State, and local
levels.
• The ability to maintain productive, collaborative, and collegial relationships with staff and external
stakeholders and uphold the public reputation of the Institute.
Preferred Qualifications
A preferred candidate will have a background in several (not necessarily all) of the following: law, policy advocacy, communications, teaching, academic administration, research, political theory, economics, statistics, and academic publication.