Policy Associate Jobs

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative (EIC) at Penn State , University Park, PA is seeking a Policy Associate . We are hiring an Industry Relations Coordinator (Policy Associate) to provide direction and management of an innovative, nonpartisan research translation model while working with a legislative audience. The selected applicant will contribute to policy implementation and cross-functional initiatives and serve on the leadership team. Leadership responsibilities may include hiring, onboarding, training, or supervising the work of Policy Associates and/or other trainees.

A tremendous gap between research and policy communities limits the effectiveness of policymaking and makes the government susceptible to misinformation and inefficient use of resources. Researchers are rarely involved in policy efforts because they lack training and opportunities for engaging with the right policymakers at the right time when their subject matter experience could be useful to policy development. The Research-to-Policy Collaboration (research2policy.org/rpc-model) revolutionizes how legislators interact with the research community by providing an agenda-neutral resource for connecting legislative officials with those specializing in data and scientific studies relevant to policymakers’ current policy agendas. This also provides a resource for researchers navigating policy engagement opportunities. Our team sits at the intersection of research and policy by organizing researchers’ policy engagement and evaluating our impact and strategies for improving researchers’ experience. Our rigorous study has demonstrated that supporting researcher-policymaker interactions can improve the value and use of research evidence in policy as well as provide a benefit to researchers’ policy skills, engagement, and future research.

We are hiring a Policy Associate who would be trained in this innovative, nonpartisan research translation model. This position provides an opportunity to learn translational skills while working with a legislative audience. The Policy Associate would be supported by a team that does the “legwork” of connecting policymaking staff with researchers, coordinating researchers’ rapid responses, and providing technical assistance to both parties. This is consistent with the educational goals of research institutions; therefore, no lobbying occurs as part of this model. We emphasize building trusting relationships between researchers and policymakers. The current project also involves supporting a racial equity initiative among researchers of color who connect with one another to offer support and advice for one another's policy efforts. Our study involves action-oriented data collection in practice that will allow us to improve researcher and policy staff experiences and engagement with one another. The primary aims of this project involve enhancing how RPC leadership and staff engage with these “two communities” (e.g., communication and organizing process), developing technical tools for researchers’ digital policy engagement, and improving racial equity in researchers’ policy engagement experiences. This is an entry-level policy position for an individual eager for professional growth.

Job Responsibilities

The Policy Associate implements the Research-to-Policy Collaboration model by connecting and brokering relationships between the research and policy communities. Policy Associates will receive policy training and support to fulfill the responsibilities associated with this position, which include:

• Write, edit, and review evidence-based communication materials (fact sheets, policy briefs, op-eds, blog posts) tailored for non-academic and congressional audiences.
• Organize panels, roundtables, or congressional briefings for policymakers.
• Frequently meet with legislative staff about policy goals, priorities, and research needs.
• Act as a liaison with the BIPOC scholar community by communicating the community's needs to the RPC team, producing tangible resources, and planning events.
• Maintain thorough tracking and reporting of activities, including detailed note-taking and use of data collection systems (e.g., meeting information).
• Conduct outreach with partnering organizations or those engaged in relevant advocacy activities to coordinate our response to legislative requests.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to trainees/interns affiliated with the Research-to-Policy Collaboration.
• Work collaboratively with other Policy Associates and team leads across projects.
• Act as a relationship broker and build, lead, and maintain partnerships between researchers and policymakers via rapid response meetings to respond to legislative requests for research-based information.
• Identify and recruit research-oriented professionals with subject matter expertise into RPC’s Rapid Response network and coach them in policy engagement.
• Receive training to implement the relationship brokerage model with fidelity.

Skills and Traits Needed by Applicants:

• Solid writing skills tailored for a non-academic audience
• Experience in building and maintaining partnerships or collaborations
• Curiosity and a generalist attitude with an interest in learning about diverse social policy issues
• A balance of independent initiative that bolsters problem-solving while also approaching work with a learning attitude for mentored training in a cutting-edge, novel policy strategy
• Strong time management skills and ability to adapt well to changing circumstances
• Strong diplomatic communication and interpersonal skills
• Thoughtful interpersonal communication and detailed documentation for coordination across an interactive and diverse team
• Enthusiasm and commitment to accelerating the translation of science-to-policy.

Eligibility:

• Experience with scholarly academic literature and/or research methods is also preferred.
• Must be available 9-5 pm ET for co-work and external meeting availability, though non-meeting working hours may be flexible if discussed with a supervisor.
• Although a large portion of work is done remotely, commuting distance to Washington, D.C., is required for in-person meetings. Our team is committed to working according to public health guidelines to protect the health and safety of our employees.
• Applicants may have degrees from any discipline, but degrees in human development, public policy, social work, prevention science, psychology, or public health will be a particularly good fit.
• Remote work requires a high-quality, high-speed internet connection in a home office.
• Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree or higher, plus "0" years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master's Degree is preferred.
• Prior collaborative experience and strong interpersonal skill is required, with some policy experience preferred.

Supervision will be provided by RPC leaders Emily Warthman, J.D., the Associate Director of Policy Operations; Taylor Scott, Ph.D., the RPC Co-Director and Assistant Research Professor at Penn State University; and Max Crowley, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Penn State University.

Expected Duration:

This is a limited-term staff position, funded for one year from the hire date, with an excellent possibility for renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and available funding. The current project is funded for at least two years.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The start date is negotiable, though we anticipate this role in early or late Summer 2023. Applicants who wish to start in the Spring of 2023 are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please include a cover letter, resume or CV, a writing sample (preferably written for a non-academic audience; may include samples of creative/artistic work; 1-2 samples, 35-page cumulative max), and three references. A letter of reference may be requested upon review of materials.

General questions regarding the position may be addressed to:

Emily Warthman

[email protected]

Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center

College of Health and Human Development

434 Health and Human Development Building

University Park, PA 16802

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