Research Director

About the role

ThinkTennessee is a nonpartisan, results‑oriented think tank in Nashville that uses research and advocacy to promote civic engagement and economic security for Tennesseans. The Research Director leads the organization’s research portfolio, defines research questions and methodology, conducts original quantitative and qualitative analysis, and translates findings into policy briefs, reports, and public presentations that support the Working Families and Civic Engagement priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead ThinkTennessee’s Research Portfolio: support Working Families and Civic Engagement teams through research and data analysis.
• Work with the president and policy staff to define research projects, identify questions, establish methodology, and locate high‑quality data sources.
• Direct and execute original quantitative and qualitative research using R, Stata, SAS, or similar tools, ensuring rigor, accuracy, and quality within timelines.
• Develop datasets: identify sources, evaluate quality, scrape, clean, and merge data as needed.
• Produce high‑quality data visualizations (graphics, maps, tables, charts) to communicate findings clearly.
• Oversee the State of Our State and State of Our Counties dashboards.
• Distill research into key findings for general audiences and contribute to policy briefs, reports, and other resources.
• Manage and develop research team staff (associates, research assistants, interns).
• Serve as ThinkTennessee’s research and issue‑area expert: author policy briefs, represent the organization in media, at events, and on coalitions; deliver presentations to policymakers, funders, and civic audiences.
• Maintain subject‑matter expertise in Working Families and Civic Engagement areas, monitor Tennessee’s data landscape, and identify new research opportunities.
• Collaborate with policy and communications staff to ensure research is accurately reflected in external‑facing materials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of work experience in a relevant field (public policy, advocacy, academia, economics, or government) with demonstrated increasing responsibility.
• Exceptional research and analytical skills, including ability to conduct high‑quality data analysis in R, Stata, SAS, or similar programs.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including data visualization, with ability to distill conclusions and use text and graphics to communicate clearly to wide audiences.
• Demonstrated managerial skills to lead associates, research assistants, and interns.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple short‑ and long‑term projects effectively.
• Comfort and effectiveness representing an organization publicly, including public speaking, media engagement, and presenting research to non‑technical audiences.

Qualifications

• Preferred: Advanced degree in public policy, economics, political science, or a related field.
• Preferred: Academic or professional experience in public policy and/or issue expertise.
• Preferred: Familiarity with Tennessee's political and policymaking environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid family leave.
• Generous paid time off (sick leave, vacation days, holiday schedules).

Pay

Competitive salary range: $130,000–$140,000 (commensurate with experience).

Schedule

Hybrid work schedule: core hours 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; required in‑person Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the downtown Nashville office; Wednesday and Friday may be worked either in‑person or remotely.