The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a Washington, DC-based think tank that helps policymakers work across the aisle to craft bipartisan solutions. By connecting lawmakers, delivering data and context, negotiating policy details, and creating space for bipartisan collaboration, BPC ensures democracy can function on behalf of all Americans. We believe that bipartisanship combines the best ideas of both parties to create even better, lasting policy.

The Structural Democracy Project champions systemic reforms that put country over party and restore Americans’ faith in our governing institutions and electoral systems.

The governing institutions portfolio identifies and resolves challenges that prevent our institutions from meeting the needs of all Americans. While currently focused on reforming and modernizing Congress—the representative branch—this work is framed by the overarching goal of rebalancing power within our three branches.

The electoral systems portfolio recognizes that improving governing institutions requires electoral reforms that incentivize our leaders to prioritize national interests over party. These reforms should aim to improve the quality of representation, create a fair and competitive playing field for all parties, and encourage candidates that will choose consensus over negative partisanship.

The Policy Analyst/Senior Policy Analyst will conduct research, identify trends, and develop policy recommendations that support the Structural Democracy Project’s mission to improve American governing institutions and electoral systems. This analyst role is new and in the near to medium term will focus on primary election reform and congressional modernization. As the scope of the project grows, additional policy areas within the project’s mission may be added. Enterprising applicants with creative ideas and strategies for expanding the project’s scope are encouraged to apply.

The analyst should be knowledgeable in issues related to American democracy, such as polarization, U.S. elections and electoral reform, redistricting, campaign finance, separation of powers, oversight, legislative operations and procedure, and Congress generally. The analyst should also be familiar with social science research methodologies and be comfortable designing, conducting, and evaluating research. Applicants should be excellent researchers and adept at writing for a variety of mediums (blogs, issue briefs, reports, social media) and audiences (the general public, policymakers and their staff, and national, state and local media).

The position will report to the Director of the Structural Democracy Project, Michael Thorning.

The Policy Analyst will have the following responsibilities:

• Substantively support the Structural Democracy Project’s research efforts.
• Independently draft blogs, explainers, and sections of white papers, reports, and other written deliverables as assigned on an array of democracy topics.
• Assist in development of internal and external meeting agendas.
• Professionally engage with project stakeholders, fellows, members of Congress and congressional staff, and peer organizations/individuals.
• Work with BPC’s development team to craft development related collateral and ensure its accuracy, persuasiveness, and timeliness. Engage with current and prospective project donors as assigned.
• Assist with management of project interns.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, maintaining listservs, and organizing in-person meetings. (Limited to Policy Analyst).

In addition to the above responsibilities, the Senior Policy Analyst will:

• Independently and primarily lead on key areas of project research.
• Participate in the public communication of the project, through podcasts, events, media roundtables, and more.
• Develop (and/or oversee development of) internal and external meeting agendas. Facilitate internal and external meetings, representing the Structural Democracy Project’s policy priorities to a broad and diverse audience.
• Develop and maintain a network of key stakeholders (federal and state policymakers and staff, scholars, issue campaigns, and peers in the democracy field).
• Management of project interns.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong writing skills across a variety of mediums (short blogs, long reports, policy briefs and memos, etc.) is a must. Writing samples (and likely a short writing assignment) will be a core part of the interview process.
• Robust independent work ethic and ability to conduct research and writing with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge and interest in democracy policy, experience conducting policy research, and experience in project management a plus.
• Experience working in state or federal politics, campaigns, or government a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel required. Experience with data analysis or automation (web scraping and other means of streamlining data collection) is an added bonus.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in advocacy or working with government officials is a plus.
• Must work well independently and as part of a team.
• Bachelor’s degree in government, public policy, political science, or related discipline preferred.

Policy Analyst qualifications:

• Administrative, event planning, and coordination experience is a plus.
• 3 or more years of relevant experience preferred OR relevant advanced degree and 2 or more years of relevant experience preferred.
• Senior Policy Analyst qualifications:
• Experience managing projects from inception to execution, including development of timelines, delegating tasks, and developing high-quality deliverables.
• Experience working in a think tank or other research organization is a plus.
• 4 or more years of relevant experience preferred OR relevant advanced degree and 3 or more years of relevant experience preferred.