California Research and Policy Associate

Full Time, Exempt; one-year grant-funded position

Remote in U.S., California strongly preferred

Position Summary

The California Research & Policy Associate supports Economic Security California’s (ESCA’s) research and policy work for cash and market-shaping campaigns, with a primary focus on California initiatives and providing backup support for federal campaigns. They assist in developing policy analysis, conducting research, and creating materials that advance our advocacy and communications strategies. This role combines hands-on research and analysis with project support responsibilities, offering an opportunity to learn and grow in progressive policy work.

The Associate works closely with the Senior Director of Research and other Economic Security Project (ESP) colleagues to execute research projects and maintain organized systems for our policy work. They help craft accessible materials that communicate our ideas effectively to various audiences and support relationship-building with research and policy partners. They work closely with the rest of the ESCA team to advance our agenda in California.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for someone early in their career to develop expertise in economic policy and advocacy while contributing to meaningful change in California and beyond. The role provides mentorship and growth opportunities while supporting the organization's mission to advance progressive economic policies.

About Us

We believe in an America where everyone has the freedom and stability required to thrive.

We are strongest when people are the authors of their own lives. But the inequalities in wealth and power created by bad actors, structural racism, and outdated ideas on how the economy should work have left us all more insecure and less resilient. We can make a different set of choices.

The Economic Security Project advocates for ideas that build economic power for all Americans. We legitimize bold ideas by supporting cutting edge research and elevating champions, win concrete policy victories for the communities that need to see change now, and provoke the conventional wisdom to shift what’s considered possible. Our team of academics, organizers, practitioners and culture makers disburse grants, run issue campaigns, develop creative interventions and research products, and convene to encourage investment and action from others.

We pick our fights based on our analysis of where strategic mobilization of people and resources could turn emerging trends into concrete policies. Our current efforts include putting cash into people’s pockets with a guaranteed income and policies like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; and keeping corporations out of them by checking the unprecedented concentration of economic power with antimonopoly action. We believe these fights will get us closer to a world where families can pay the heating bills and make the rent, where consumers have choices and small businesses, a fighting chance. A future where we all have a chance not to just survive, but thrive with dignity.

Our Track Record

We’ve convened thousands in briefings, workshops, and marquee events to strategize and set the agenda for a more just political economy. We passed policies in over seven states to modernize the tax code, won over $1 trillion in checks for families in response to the pandemic, and spearheaded the federal fight for a guaranteed income for kids in the form of the expanded Child Tax Credit. These cash-based policies reduced poverty in the middle of a recession, in the words of one observer, “defying gravity”.

And we’ve built the field by investing over $25 million directly into groundbreaking research; pilots and task forces; coalitions and campaigns; new initiatives and organizations; and trend-setting narrative and cultural interventions to advance racial and economic justice and reset the conversation. As a result, ideas that were once considered impossible are now at the center of a vision for an economy where people are the authors of their own lives.

We’ve worked alongside thousands across the country exercising political muscle, moral imagination, and on-the-ground experimentation. It’ll take this and so much more in the years ahead; we are in a broader fight for a multiracial democracy and an economy that works for all. Our task is to deliver and we’re looking for talent to join us in the fight.

Our Team & Culture

Our successes are due in large part to the diverse team we’ve assembled from a wide range of fields – from campaigners to policymakers to activists to academics. We’re building an organization that supports and resources our staff to drive forward work that is critical to our mission.

We are committed to creating a best-in-class staff experience that promotes growth and performance, which requires a culture of active problem-solving, feedback, communication, and accountability. As a fully remote organization, ESP staff can work from anywhere in the country. We actively support and encourage people taking time away from work, including two weeks of full office closures and a six-week sabbatical at 5 years of service, in addition to our standard PTO. You can find more information on our full benefits offerings below.

Our internal work is deeply rooted in our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that our policies and processes are equitable and informed by a wide range of lived experiences. We invest in our people’s professional development and promote regular conversations about career goals and growth opportunities. We provide opportunities to come together in person for both strategic planning and relationship-building, and we’re always up to take a game of trivia a little too seriously.

Responsibilities

Research and Policy Support (75%)

• Conduct research and analysis to support ESP's policy initiatives, with a focus in California, including:
  • Creating factsheets and brief policy analyses
  • Researching policy proposals from policymakers and partner organizations
  • Gathering supporting evidence, examples, and quotes for our policy positions
  • Tracking and summarizing relevant research publications
  • Drafting policy sections for speeches, op-eds, and other communications
  • Developing compelling slide decks to present our ideas and research findings
  • Tracking policymakers’ positions on relevant issues
• Support policy development and analysis by:
  • Maintaining awareness of current research in our issue areas
  • Assisting in the preparation of technical assistance materials
  • Contributing to policy briefs and other written materials
  • Helping synthesize complex research for different audiences
• Assist with research quality control and documentation by:
  • Fact-checking materials
  • Maintaining citation records
  • Organizing research files and materials

Project Management & Administrative Support (25%)

• Maintain organized systems for policy and research materials:
  • Organize shared drives and document repositories
  • Create and maintain resource libraries
  • Ensure important documents are properly filed and easily accessible
  • Keep track of key deadlines and deliverables
• Provide administrative support for ESP and ESCA research and campaigns:
  • Schedule and support meetings
  • Take and distribute notes
  • Help coordinate with external partners and consultants
  • Assist in tracking project timelines and deliverables

Job requirements

• Experience and Qualifications
  • 1-3 years of relevant experience in policy research, analysis, or related field
  • Bachelor's degree in public policy, economics, political science, or related field
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills—effective writing for nontechnical audiences is a particularly important requirement
  • Excellent research and analytical abilities
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace
  • Ability to coordinate multiple projects and meet deadlines
  • Strong attention to detail, project management, and organizational skills
  • Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, accessible formats (fact sheets, slides, emails)
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  • Commitment to economic justice and racial equity
  • Initiative and problem-solving orientation
  • Flexibility and ability to learn quickly
• Preferred Attributes & Skills
  • Experience with California state policy
  • Familiarity with economic security issues
  • Background in progressive advocacy or campaigns
  • Experience creating data visualizations and presentations
  • Experience with maintaining or developing databases and trackers