Associate Director and Fellow, Governance

Associate Director and Fellow, Governance

R Street Institute

Washington, D.C.

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with regional offices across the country—seeks a collaborative associate director and fellow for our Governance program. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Governance policy director. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you!

Your typical day at R Street may include working with your team to produce timely commentary, analysis, and research on the federal budget or congressional process; managing grant deliverables; preparing to speak on the proper balance of powers at a conference or on a panel; developing an approach to a potential donor; or consulting with a congressional staffer about legislative procedure. This role will serve as part of the Governance program, with a particular focus on our First Branch portfolio, which examines the issues created by unfettered government growth, the ongoing decline of Congress as the primary lawmaker, and the waste of taxpayer funds.

Other Aspects of Your Role

• Contribute to the program’s overarching research agenda and help manage individual research projects and programming that are novel, rigorous, and relevant.
• Conduct research and provide thought leadership that aligns with the program’s mission, including writing a mix of opinion, analysis, and policy papers and participating in conferences, media, and other speaking engagements to help solve difficult problems and translate complex ideas.
• Work closely with the Business Development team to contribute to fundraising efforts and ensure financial sustainability.
• Coordinate with the Government Affairs, Communications, and Editorial teams to identify and consistently engage with target audiences to maximize impact.
• Collaborate with external partners to advance the policy conversation.
• Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations.

Skills and Qualifications

• Substantial experience working with members of Congress
• Deep knowledge of congressional processes, especially federal budget making, oversight functions, and rules
• Top-notch writing, editing, and public speaking skills
• Experience managing people and projects
• Experience working for a public policy institution
• Fundraising experience
• Demonstrated experience facilitating impactful research
• Ability to work productively with various groups and individuals, including those with whom you may disagree
• Entrepreneurial attitude and willingness to be a self-starter
• No particular educational background required—a proven record of achieving results is far more meaningful than credentials
• Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow within a multifaceted organization

R Street Institute consistently offers pragmatic, real solutions that foster American innovation, bolster competition, and safeguard individual liberty–all with the understanding that life in a democratic society sometimes requires compromises that don’t necessarily represent first, best solutions. We focus on deep scholarship and pragmatic policy solutions that many groups tend to neglect. Our goal is to publish timely, relevant research and analysis that advances a market-oriented society and limited, effective government. To that end, our motto is: “Free Markets. Real Solutions.” Read more about our mission & impact here.

Workplace

This is a full-time position based in Washington, D.C. We offer a flexible working arrangement that can either work the majority of the week in our D.C. office or work remotely.

Occasional travel may be required for events and conferences.

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. The salary range for this position is $120-135k, commensurate with experience. In addition to this competitive salary, we provide the following:

• Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
• Alternating Fridays off
• A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
• HSA employer contribution match
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement
• Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement
• Home internet subsidy
• Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
• A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance

R Street is committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe having a diverse workforce strengthens R Street’s ability to innovate, achieve our mission, and support long-term systemic change. As people dedicated to limited, effective government and free markets, we understand that a free society achieves its greatest triumphs by allowing and facilitating a wide variety of approaches to public policy problems. The concept of “broad coalitions,” one of our core operating principles, stems from that insight. People of all races, religions, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, life experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds perform at the highest levels in every type of work we do and have shaped the principles to which we subscribe. We believe that searching for talent everywhere is an integral part of living up to our principles.

We plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact qualified individuals for telephone screenings and conduct them on a rolling basis. Interviews take place virtually via Zoom.

To apply, please copy and paste your cover letter into the text box and upload your resume as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. If generative artificial intelligence is used during the application process, it must be disclosed.

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. The salary range for this position is $120-135k, commensurate with experience. In addition to this competitive salary, we provide the following:

• Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
• Alternating Fridays off
• A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
• HSA employer contribution match
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement
• Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement
• Home internet subsidy
• Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
• A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance

R Street is committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe having a diverse workforce strengthens R Street’s ability to innovate, achieve our mission, and support long-term systemic change. As people dedicated to limited, effective government and free markets, we understand that a free society achieves its greatest triumphs by allowing and facilitating a wide variety of approaches to public policy problems. The concept of “broad coalitions,” one of our core operating principles, stems from that insight. People of all races, religions, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, life experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds perform at the highest levels in every type of work we do and have shaped the principles to which we subscribe. We believe that searching for talent everywhere is an integral part of living up to our principles.