Policy Research Analyst

Responsibilities

• Contribute to science, technology, and innovation policy research, analysis, strategic planning, and program evaluation by executing defined research and analytic tasks with guidance.
• Apply foundational research methods with guidance (e.g., literature reviews, environmental scans, survey administration, data analysis, and data visualization).
• Support data collection, analysis, quality assurance checks, and storage activities for qualitative and quantitative sources, including datasets, document review, literature review, and stakeholder input.
• Build and maintain project documentation, including sources, datasets, notes, trackers, and file organization that enables efficient quality assurance and smooth handoffs.
• Draft slides, tables, short summaries, meeting notes, and other work products for review; revise quickly based on feedback.
• Communicate status and findings clearly and concisely in written and oral formats to internal team members and, as appropriate, external clients.
• Manage assigned tasks to deadlines; escalate risks, blockers, or uncertainty early.
• Support proposal production, including background research, resumes/past performance inputs, formatting, and compilation.
• Occasionally travel domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required due to government contract requirements.
• Master's; or Bachelor's plus 2+ years of related experience (including internships, fellowships, research assistantships, or consulting-style project work) related to science, technology, and innovation policy.
• Desired areas of study often include Science & Technology Studies; Science or Technology Policy; Engineering & Public Policy; Innovation Policy or Studies; Business Administration; or related interdisciplinary fields bridging science, technology, and policy.
• Demonstrated interest in addressing real-world science, technology, and innovation policy challenges.
• Ideal experiences may include science or technology policy fellowships; internships or research assistantships supporting STI policy or programs; policy practicums or applied research projects; work with government, think tanks, or nonprofits on innovation-related initiatives; or experience with technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, or policy-oriented analysis and writing.
• Demonstrated research or analytical experience using qualitative and/or quantitative methods, including in coursework or applied projects.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely about policy or technical subjects, including: Drafting slides, tables, meeting notes, short summaries, and report sections for review; Collaborating with multiple coauthors; Listening actively, asking clarifying questions, and incorporating feedback quickly; Reading, synthesizing, and summarizing technical and policy materials; Critically assessing strategic reports; Organizing written and visual content for team and client deliverables; Writing samples may be requested.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing project needs.
• Ability to work effectively within small, multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced consulting environment.