Research and Policy Policy Fellow
Job Description
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY
The Education Trust – Tennessee (Ed Trust Tennessee) seeks two Policy Fellows to join our team, one role will be focused on higher education policy and the other on P-12 policy. The Fellows will join a staff committed to fulfilling our mission of closing opportunity gaps that disproportionally affect students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
The Fellows will have the exciting opportunity to support an ambitious, equity-driven policy agenda and immerse themselves in Tennessee’s education policy and advocacy landscape. Fellows are integral team members who will support and lead projects that increase their professional skills and experiences based on their expertise and interests. By the end of the fellowship, our fellows will have multiple externally published written products for their portfolio, deeper expertise in our policy agenda priorities, and relationships with partners, stakeholders, and institutions in Tennessee and beyond.
Ed Trust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.
Both Fellows roles are available to begin July 10, 2023, are full time (37.5 hrs/week), and last no longer than 12 months. The Higher Ed and P-12 Policy Fellows are based in our Tennessee office and may be eligible for some telework. The Fellows report to the Executive Director of Ed Trust – Tennessee and support the team’s policy & research work.
ABOUT THE FELLOW ROLE
Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Monitor, analyze, and track policy developments in Tennessee related to Ed Trust priority issues to inform our policy strategy
- Collect and analyze local, state, and national education data to support policy, research, and advocacy efforts
- Produce written products (e.g., fact sheets, memos, reports, blog posts, and presentations) to advance our policy agenda
- Lead a policy research project from inception to release based on the fellow’s interests, organizational priorities, and policy windows
- Collaborate with partners, stakeholders, and institutions across the education policy landscape
- Conduct data analysis and research in response to inquiries from a variety of internal and external stakeholders
IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
- Shared belief in Ed Trust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills leveraged to translate complex data, research, and policy to a variety of audiences
- Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback
- Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
- Attention to detail and ability to multitask
- Ability to take initiative and be self-directed
- Comfort working both independently and collaboratively
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience and/or strong understanding of quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, analysis, and visualization, including advanced Excel, Tableau, and STATA
- Experience and/or strong understanding of federal, state, and local contexts and levers that affect the Tennessee education policy landscape, with an emphasis on either K-12 education policy or higher education policy.
- The fellow may be in the last year of pursuing their Bachelor’s degree, in a Master’s degree program, or a recent graduate focused on education policy or a related field.
COMPENSATION
The hourly rate for this position ranges from $17 to $28 per hour; offers are commensurate with education and experience.
VACCINATION FOR COVID-19
At The Education Trust, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all Education Trust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. Any new interns should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodation due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources.
The Education Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.
