Senior Policy Analyst, State Fiscal Policy

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

As we gear up for high-stakes federal and state debates at the intersection of tax justice, economic opportunity, and democracy in the coming years, CBPP is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst to support its State Fiscal Policy (SFP) team. SFP conducts research on and analysis of tax and budget policies in the states, with a focus on how they affect low-income people and build antiracist, equitable, and inclusive communities and economies. SFP also coordinates and provides in-depth assistance to a nationwide network of state-level policy organizations called the State Priorities Partnership (SPP) network. The SPP network is the nation’s leading network of state policy organizations working to advance racial, social, and economic equity to build broad prosperity and thriving state economies.

The Senior Policy Analyst is responsible for a portfolio of tax and budget topics, with over half of their time focused on spearheading the organization’s State-Tribal Policy work. They will lead the creation of policy products within their work area, fulfill technical requests and provide strategic guidance to analysts within the State Priorities Partnership, and regularly present their analyses of tax and budget issues to internal and external audiences and the press. They will also contribute to strategic internal projects and working groups.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary analyst and point of contact for a portfolio of tax and budget issues. Analyze legislation, state budget and tax documents, and related policy options using academic research and other resource materials.
• Identify and complete policy products that directly respond to legislative developments, and which set a proactive agenda for antiracist, equitable state budgets. These products may include papers, blogs, social media posts, memos, and data analyses.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with partners and stakeholders, including government officials, advocacy organizations, and the Tribal Advisory Committee of the State Priorities Partnership to advance CBPP’s policy and implementation goals related to tribal-state policy and other issue areas as assigned.
• Provide policy expertise and strategic advocacy recommendations to state-level analysts for topics within their policy portfolio. Activities often include sharing knowledge through webinars or trainings, creating and curating resources to deepen analysis, and tracking legislation across states to understand and report on trends in policy approach.
• Present policy findings to internal stakeholders, the press, partners, and other audiences to impact policy design, inform policy advocacy campaigns, and influence media coverage.
• Serve as a lead contributor to teamwide projects such as developing content for CBPP’s annual conferences and participating in internal workgroups and discussions.
• Perform other job-related duties within the role’s scope as assigned to support the team’s goals.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of experience, of which five years should be in working on tax, budget, and/or economic issues at the state or federal level as legislative staff, executive branch staff, and/or as an independent researcher or advocate. A graduate degree in a relevant field may be substituted for two years of work experience.

Policy Interest 

• A commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to reducing racial, gender, and other inequities across all lines of difference.
• Demonstrated skill/experience in developing state-level strategies to improve public policies, and a desire to work on and learn about a wide variety of topics.
• Strong preference for expertise in tribal policy and/or fiscal policy interactions between states and tribal nations.

Policy Analysis

• Excellent qualitative research skills, including the ability to find and interpret sources such as academic studies, policy reports, and state legislative documents and clearly summarize their key takeaways in writing.
• Strong understanding of institutional and structural racism and knowledge of how to employ this analysis to improve public policies.
• Strong quantitative research skills, including the ability to locate and analyze relevant government or academic datasets. Experience working with Excel is essential.
• Familiarity with the process of advancing policy priorities within state legislatures.

Communication and Project Management 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences and synthesize data and research into clear, effective arguments.
• Demonstrated skill/experience engaging effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and allies.
• Previous experience managing strategic relationships, such as working within advocacy coalitions, client management, or similar capacities.
• Capacity to work on multiple tasks (often on a time-sensitive basis), strong task and project management skills, and proactive approach to improving processes.

This position is based in the Washington, D.C. office. CBPP is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule of two in-office days (Tuesday and Wednesday) per week as well as the first Thursday of each month in our Washington, D.C. office.

This position reports to the Director of State Fiscal Policy Research. 

Terms of Employment: Full-time; exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining unit position.

Please upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to state fiscal policy analysis.

Compensation: Salary for this position ranges from $83,000 to $115,000 per year; pay is based on a number of factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and internal pay equity. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.