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.

States and localities collect more than one-third of all taxes in the U.S. and spend half of all domestic public sector dollars, so fiscal policy choices made in state capitols nationwide play a crucial role in building better outcomes for children and families and in making prosperity and opportunity more widely shared. Specific areas of research for CBPP’s State Fiscal Policy (SFP) department include state budget and tax policies, taxes and state economies, anti-poverty programs and tax policies, criminal justice, immigration, and others. The team’s recent research work can be found here. SFP also coordinates and provides in-depth assistance to a nationwide network of state-level policy organizations, the State Priorities Partnership.

The Center is currently seeking a Policy Analyst to support the organization’s State Fiscal Policy department. SFP conducts research 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. The Policy Analyst is responsible for a portfolio of tax and budget topics and leads the creation of policy products within their work area. They fulfill technical requests and provide strategic guidance to analysts within the State Priorities Partnership, and regularly present to internal and external audiences and the press. They will also contribute to strategic team internal projects and working groups.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary analyst and point of contact for a portfolio of tax and budget issues. Likely topics include sales taxes, property taxes, and taxes and interstate migration.
• Analyze legislation, state budget and tax documents, and related policy options using academic research and other resource materials. Track policy developments and trends in policy portfolio.
• Identify and complete policy products that directly respond to legislative developments and partner requests in a timely fashion, and that set a proactive agenda for antiracist, equitable state budgets and tax systems. These products may include papers, blog posts, social media posts, memos, data analyses, and others.
• Provide strategic policy guidance to state-level analysts for topics within the policy portfolio, including by identifying and disseminating best practices, developing and sharing new policy ideas, and adapting resources for state policy contexts.
• Present policy findings to internal stakeholders, the press, partners, and other audiences, such as presenting policy findings to State Priorities Partnership staff, sharing policy information with reporters, serving on panels, and other presentation opportunities.
• Serve as a lead contributor to team-wide projects, such as developing content for CBPP’s annual conference and participating in internal workgroups and discussions.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant work experience in public policy, data analysis, economics, public finance, or a related field. A relevant graduate degree may be substituted for two years of work experience.

Policy Interest

• A commitment to the Center’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience in state fiscal policy analysis, and a desire to work on and learn about a wide variety of topics in this policy area.
• Strong understanding of institutional and structural racism and knowledge of how to employ this analysis to improve public policies.

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 quantitative research skills, including the ability to locate and analyze relevant government or academic datasets. Experience working with Excel is essential; experience with Stata or R is a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with legislative processes, and a desire to apply research to state policy debates. Experience working to advance policy priorities within a legislative process is a plus.

Communications, Project Management, and Partner Engagement

• 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, and interest in 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 is a plus.
• Capacity to work on multiple tasks, often on a time-sensitive basis; strong task and project management skills; and proactive approach to improving processes.

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 Deputy Director of State Policy Research.

Terms of Employment: full-time, exempt. Two-year term position.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: Salary for the role starts at $70,000 annually, with the exact salary to be determined based on total relevant experience, 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.

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

Please submit your application here.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.