The California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) seeks to hire a Senior Policy Fellow or Senior Policy Analyst to lead the Budget Center’s work on policy issues related to children and family well-being, including child development, early care, and learning, and our broader work on state budget policy. The successful candidate’s primary responsibility will be to help guide the Budget Center’s efforts to analyze and advance sensible policies to ensure that child development policies, and broader public supports for families, are accessible, affordable, and equitable, particularly for families with low incomes and families of color. Responsibilities may include supporting 1 to 2 staff through supervision and mentoring.
About the California Budget & Policy Center
The team at the Budget Center works every day to build a more inclusive California where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in the state’s economic, social, and political life. This requires our state to make smart policy choices and public investments. By examining the most pressing budget and policy issues and making them accessible and more understandable, we aim to broaden participation in state policy debates and help foster outcomes that work for all Californians, especially those individuals and communities who have not yet shared in our state’s economic prosperity.
How This Position Advances the Organization’s Work
Senior Policy Fellows and Senior Policy Analysts are highly valued members of the Budget Center’s growing team with responsibility to help develop our policy priorities, author innovative policy reports, make the case for solutions, and routinely engage with state, local, and national partners. Senior Policy Fellows typically possess advanced research and analysis skills, including research design, data analysis, and the ability to help other members of the analyst team advance projects. Senior Policy Fellows provide, as needed, supervision and mentoring to a senior policy analyst, policy analyst, research associate, and/or intern. Senior Policy Analysts typically lead individual and collaborative team policy research projects. The Budget Center is committed to advancing equity and inclusion and seeks to create an environment and culture that embraces employee differences. We value the lived experiences and diverse perspectives that staff bring to their work.
Responsibilities and Qualifications
Responsibilities of this position include:
- Leading organizational strategy and work planning on policy issues affecting children and family well-being, including early care and learning.
- Contributing to the Budget Center’s efforts to center equity in our external-facing and internal organizational work.
- Analyzing state budget and policy proposals, both independently and in collaboration with other members of the team. This includes data analysis and writing reports targeting key policy deliberations.
- Supporting 1 to 2 senior policy analysts, policy analysts, research associates, and/or interns through supervision and mentorship, as needed.
- Developing relationships with state and local groups and policymakers and helping guide their work through analytical and technical assistance.
- Providing assistance to community groups, legislative staff and government officials, the media, and funders.
Qualifications for this position include:
- Experience/evidence of leading organizational strategy and work planning on policy
issues. - Strong commitment to social, economic, racial, and gender justice.
- Written and verbal communications skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics to non-expert audiences.
- Ability to take initiative, problem-solve, and think strategically.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct policy research and analysis (qualitative and quantitative), independently and in collaboration.
- Experience supervising and serving as a mentor for 1 to 2 staff members is desired (for Senior Policy Fellows).
- Self-motivation, ability to work independently, and ability to prioritize tasks.
- Willingness to help lead and work as a part of a team and enthusiasm for building relationships with key stakeholders and partners in our work.
- Experience in policy analysis or research, including knowledge of state, federal, and/or local budget and policy issues.
- Graduate degree in a related field plus at least five years (Senior Policy Fellow) or two years (Senior Policy Analyst) of experience in related fields.
Application
This position is full-time. The salary range for the position is $120,000 – $160,000 (Senior Policy Fellow) or $95,000 – $120,000 (Senior Policy Analyst) based on experience and skill set. Includes excellent health insurance and dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, and paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and holidays. In-person, hybrid, or remote work arrangements will be considered. Budget Center staff are required to be located in California regardless of remote work arrangements. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications that are received by February 24. To apply, send the materials listed below to jselby@calbudgetcenter.org or by direct mail to the address below. No calls please:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Writing sample demonstrating the candidate’s capacity to conduct policy analysis, such as evaluation of a chart or table produced by the candidate
- An equity statement (under 1,000 words) addressing how your personal and professional experiences demonstrate your embrace of diversity, equity, and inclusion (see the Candidate Equity Statement for information on preparing an equity statement), and
- Names of 3 references.
Senior Policy Fellow / Analyst — Children and Family Well-Being
California Budget & Policy Center
1107 9th Street, Suite 310
Sacramento, California 95814
The Budget Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, disability, and any other classification considered discriminatory under applicable law.