THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
Senior Associate, Research
Pew Center on the States
The Pew Center on the States (PCS), an internal operating division of The Pew Charitable Trusts, identifies and advances effective policy approaches to critical issues facing states. It researches emerging topics, develops 50-state comparisons, and highlights innovative approaches among states to complex problems. When the facts are clear, PCS advocates for nonpartisan, pragmatic solutions.
PCS makes use of the basic tools required to help states explore and advance effective policies, regardless of the issue: credible, timely and user-friendly research; assessments of public support for change; strategic outreach and dissemination to ensure that good information is widely communicated to state decision-makers, media, influential stakeholders and the public; the capacity to bring together diverse perspectives and find common ground; and the ability to
identify approaches that have proven successful elsewhere.
PCS staff have expertise in research, communications and coalition building; those engaged in issue-specific projects have deep substantive expertise.
Project Description:
The mission of the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative area of the Economic Policy department is
to promote policies and practices that strengthen the U.S. economy. The department seeks to advance solutions to complex economic policy issues by identifying strategic opportunities to educate and engage the public and policy makers.
Policymakers face difficult budget policy decisions in light of the nation's precarious fiscal position. The budget deficit reached almost $1.3 trillion in fiscal year 2010. Although the deficit is projected to decline as the economy recovers, it will remain stubbornly high and growing even after the economy gets back on track. With federal resources under strain, lawmakers are under great pressure to take steps to reduce the budget deficit. But making those budgetary decisions
will be difficult without solid information about their economic and long-term implications.
The goal of the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative is to provide timely, objective and nonpartisan economic and long-term fiscal analysis of emerging budgetary issues and the major legislative proposals that significantly affect revenues and/or expenditures. The initiative produces reports that frame the major fiscal issues facing policy makers and provide high-quality assessments and issue briefs to help them better understand the economic implications of alternative policy
choices. Those reports also discuss the economic advantages and disadvantages of alternative strategies for addressing the growing budget deficits, highlight the various tradeoffs of choosing among alternative options and, when practicable, provide quantitative estimates of the budgetary and economic effects of those alternatives.
Position Overview
At a time of major national interest in related issues, the successful candidate will provide the Fiscal Analysis Initiative staff with research assistance on budget, fiscal, and economic issues. The successful candidate will author research papers and issue briefs, critically review project materials, oversee contracts, help implement the project’s communications and outreach strategy, help maintain and use the project’s budget model and present research findings in appropriate venues. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues across PCS on projects and on explorations of new research opportunities, including work related to where federal-state policies intersect with regard to fiscal and economic issues.
The senior associate will be based in the Trusts' Washington D.C. office and will report to the project's director.
Responsibilities:
- Provide core research capability for the project. Carry out policy analysis of emerging revenue and expenditure policy issues and proposals. Build and/or maintain economic and fiscal models under the guidance of management.
- Review and provide regular summaries of new legislative proposals before the Congress.
- Coauthor/author research reports and issue briefs for the project. Critically review and fact-check materials produced by contractors and other staff.
- Help manage the project's contracts. Identify potential contractors, evaluate proposals, monitor progress and ensure products are delivered on time, within budget and meet the contract's objectives.
- Maintain sound budgeting records and work closely with the Trusts' internal operations units to meet institutional requirements.
- Work with the project director to support and execute the project's communications and outreach strategy.
- Prepare materials for the project's web site and ensure that they are timely, accurate and relevant.
- Participate with PCS colleagues that are state fiscal experts on collaborative work related to where state and federal policies intersect and work with management on development of new research proposals, particularly with regard to this line of work.
Requirements:
- A master's degree in public policy, public administration or economics.
- At least four years of public policy experience. Familiarity with revenue and/or expenditure policy issues. Experience on Capitol Hill is highly preferred.
- Experience summarizing and distilling the essence of legislative proposals. Familiarity with economic and federal budget data.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills. Excellent spreadsheet skills. Familiarity with at least one statistical software package (STATA, SAS, AREMOS, or equivalent).
- Excellent written and oral communications skills, including an ability to synthesize issues effectively. Ability to write quickly and succinctly.
- Strong interpersonal skills. Able to develop and manage productive and collaborative relationships both internally and externally.
- Proven ability to think strategically and creatively, juggle multiple priorities, adjust to changing circumstances, organize time efficiently, and remain attentive to details.
- Ability to fit into a creative, fast-paced, and highly professional corporate culture which emphasizes excellence, collegiality and teamwork.
Travel
It is anticipated that the senior associate will undertake a nominal amount of travel, including conferences and occasional trips to promote the project's work.
Compensation
We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including a generous 401(k) plan, four weeks paid vacation and flexible benefits.
Qualified candidates please apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to:
Andrew P. Zalman
Senior Executive Recruiter
azalman@pewtrusts.org