Urban Institute
Senior Policy Fellow, Federal Higher Education Policy (Center on Education Data and Policy) (Education)
At the nonprofit Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. Our employees are empowered to open minds, shape decisions and offer solutions. We encourage intellectual honesty, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect, and our analysis elevates the debate, wherever it takes place.
Urban's greatest asset is our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community. Our employees drive Urban's mission through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, effective communication, results-orientation, and relationship cultivation. Our success depends on engaging individuals who possess and value these attributes.
The Center on Education Data and Policy (EDP) undertakes policy-relevant research on issues from prekindergarten through post-secondary education. We believe that education policy informed by hard data and rigorous research is crucial to realizing the education system's potential to increase socioeconomic mobility and address growing inequality.
The Center on Education Data and Policy plays a critical role in providing data and original analysis for federal policymakers focused on improving the higher education system and its ability to serve students. Through independent, nonpartisan data and analysis, we help inform policymakers' decisions on issues such as student aid, student loan repayment, and institutional accountability. We bring together in-depth research, in-house modeling capacity, quick-turnaround analysis, and strategic communications to inform federal policy debates.
To continue expanding our reach and impact, we are seeking a Senior Policy Fellow who will play a leadership role on our federal higher education policy work, contributing to management, research, and outreach. The Senior Policy Fellow will both lead their own projects and contribute to projects led by other researchers in EDP.
Responsibilities:
Management (30%)
Refine EDP's federal higher education policy strategy, with an eye toward maximizing impact and with input from center leadership and staff
Manage work streams and budgets
Develop proposals for external funding
Supervise and mentor junior researchers
Policy Research (50%)
Conceptualize policy research projects in coordination with federal policy stakeholders
Lead and contribute to products on higher education policy, including reports, briefs, blogs, and data visualizations
Maintain bandwidth to take on quick-turnaround opportunities to contribute to policy discussions when they arise
Provide substantive input on colleagues' work
Outreach (20%)
Help ensure EDP's work is relevant to Hill staff and other key stakeholders (such as the U.S. Department of Education and higher education advocacy groups)
Speak at panel discussions, briefings for policymakers, and other public and private events
Help to conceptualize engagement opportunities to connect key stakeholders with Urban researchers and Urban research
Serve as a resource for journalists, Hill staff, and other stakeholders
The successful candidate will:
Possess a combination of post-graduate education and experience in government, practice, or policy research, and a record of effectively advancing knowledge, policy, or practice at the federal level
Have at least 10 years of experience working in higher education research or policy, including experience managing people and projects
Be widely recognized as a policy expert in one or more areas of federal higher education policy, such as the grant and loan programs in the Higher Education Act
Have a substantial track record of publishing work on federal higher education policy, such as influential reports, policy briefs, and contributions to books.
Demonstrate prior fundraising success and experience growing resources to support knowledge-building, policy analysis, and/or evidence-based policy and practice.
Produce clear, concise, and compelling analysis of complex policy issues and research evidence and have outstanding oral and written communications skills.
Display strong interpersonal skills, and have experience collaborating successfully with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
Be flexible, collaborative, and creative
Believe in the power of independent data and analysis to drive policy and outcomes
Working in the Nation's Capital, the epicenter of public policy among a network of policy experts, you can expect to have an impact on policy areas you care about and work with great colleagues who are smart, mission-driven, and collaborative. You will blend academic rigor with on-the-ground collaboration, be encouraged and supported to fulfill your potential through meaningful work that matters, and enjoy a welcoming workplace free from harassment, discrimination and intolerance.
In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage. Competitive paid time off allowance, and eligibility to participate in a generous retirement savings plan and reimbursable commuting expense program.
The Urban Institute is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected status under applicable law.
The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Women/Disabilities/Veterans.