Research Director
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Boston, Massachusetts

OVERVIEW:

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MBPC), a leading Boston-based nonprofit, seeks applications and nominations for Research Director. Reporting to Executive Director Noah Berger, and leading a team of talented policy analysts, the Research Director will work collaboratively to define this new role within the organization and to provide clear, reliable information about tax and budget policy choices to the public. Active citizens, the media, grassroots and issue organizations, and policy makers across Massachusetts rely on MBPC’s non-partisan research to make informed contributions to critical debates and to make their voices heard. Among its various activities, MBPC publishes a variety of reports detailing how Massachusetts state budget, tax, and economic policies affect low- and moderate-income people. MBPC also conducts about 50 presentations each year in which it summarizes findings from its budget and tax research to organizations throughout the Commonwealth. The Research Director will lead MBPC’s team of policy analysts and oversee the development of MBPC’s research, reports, and publications including the organization’s signature publication, Budget Monitor. Additionally, the new Research Director will serve as the organization’s expert on Massachusetts tax policy. The successful candidate will have strong research, analytical, managerial and writing skills, along with the ability to communicate across a broad range of constituencies. 

MISSION & HISTORY:

Fiscal policy that makes a difference    

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MBPC) provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, that affect low- and moderate-income people in Massachusetts. Its non-partisan research sheds light on how public policies affect the state’s residents and the Commonwealth’s fiscal health.

In the mid-1990s with funding from the Ford and Charles Stewart Mott Foundations MBPC assumed its current form with a mission to provide independent research and clear, reliable analysis of state policies and issues, paying particular attention to the effects of those policies on low- and moderate-income people. MBPC has grown steadily to include a well-regarded staff (including policy analysts, development, and communications staff) and an operating budget of $670,000.

By providing high quality research and analysis to the media and to policy makers, MBPC makes sure that information on how policy proposals affect low- and moderate-income people is widely available. By providing this information to active citizens and to organizations that work on behalf of low- and moderate-income people, MBPC strengthens the public debate by giving people the tools to participate effectively. Organizations, coalitions and policy makers, who rely on research and analysis produced by MBPC have achieved critically important policy improvements, including: the second highest minimum wage in the nation; reforms that reduce corporate tax avoidance and provide revenue for needed services; and a more transparent budget and budget process that makes ongoing meaningful participation easier. As an independent nonprofit organization, MBPC is funded by foundations, individuals and organizations who share in a vision of building a stronger Commonwealth by making sure that everyone can participate effectively in our democracy and our economy.

MBPC’s reports are renowned for their quality and independence. They cover a wide variety of topics – from tax policy, to education spending, to the effects of budget cuts on safety net programs – and address both long-term economic trends and budget and policy choices that have an immediate effect on Massachusetts residents. Keeping It Real: The Effects of Increasing and Indexing the Massachusetts Minimum Wage, Creating a Transparent Budget, in addition to MBPC’s Budget Monitor are reports that have all played a role in recent policy developments.

Facing increasing demand for its research and policy analysis, MBPC now seeks to expand its senior leadership staff. The newly-created Research Director position is designed to lend support to MBPC’s staff while providing additional senior oversight to the writing, research and dissemination of MBPC’s reports on tax and budget issues. In partnership with Executive Director Noah Berger, the Director will help guide MBPC’s next stages of development.

More information about the MBPC may be found at: http://www.massbudget.org

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE RESEARCH DIRECTOR:

MBPC’s new Research Director will work to ensure that MBPC maintains and expands its positive impact on the public debates that shape short- and long-term budget and tax policymaking in the Commonwealth. The Director will collaborate with all staff to develop and produce the timely, high quality research that is MBPC’s hallmark. As MBPC’s lead tax policy researcher, s/he will manage a portfolio of research products and lead a talented staff of policy analysts. Key challenges and opportunities for the Director include:

Working to define and balance a portfolio of research and management responsibilities

The Research Director position is a new role within MBPC, and the new Director will collaborate with Executive Director Noah Berger to establish the position’s scope. Serving as resident tax expert and as manager, and mentor to the team of policy analysts, the Director will need to strike a balance between research and management responsibilities on a day-to-day basis. S/he will ideally bring experience and expertise to assist MBPC in the development of this role.

Managing MBPC’s talented team of policy analysts

The Director will lead MBPC’s team of policy analysts and foster an atmosphere in which collaboration and the free exchange of ideas are the norm. The number of analysts working within MBPC varies from four to six at any given time, and team members’ expertise and need for guidance varies. The new Director will assess each individual’s needs and will actively manage and bolster the strength of the team, partnering with analysts in some cases and mentoring in others, to ensure that each individual is supported and that his/her research and writing is serving the organization’s mission.

Leading MBPC’s analysis in matters of tax policy

The Director will serve as MBPC’s resident tax expert, guiding the organization and its analysis to inform positive developments in tax policy. S/he will be responsible for effectively communicating data relevant to the development of sound tax policy in a clear, non-partisan way. S/he will establish credibility as an authority on state tax and budget concerns and will balance strong quantitative skills with the communication skills necessary to reach a broad audience. The Director will establish credibility with grassroots activists, policymakers, and the media and will embrace MBPC’s commitment to use accurate, careful, and thorough research to inform public debates in a manner that allows regular people to understand and see the value of the findings.

Overseeing report production and organizing internal budget databases

The Director will be responsible for managing the quality and substance of information flow to external constituencies. Specifically, the Director will oversee the research and writing of MBPC’s in-depth reports and will work collaboratively with the Communications Director to manage rapid-response answers to policy issues as they arise and to broadcast important policy messages outside the organization. The Director will lead the publication of MBPC’s flagship publication, the Budget Monitor, other reports such as The State of Working Massachusetts as well as any reports commissioned by outside organizations. S/he will also supervise the maintenance of MBPC’s in-house budget database, which tracks every step of the budget process and thus contains the raw material for many reports and analysis. The Director will work with the analysts to ensure that the information in the database and in all reports is accurate, up-to-date and presented clearly. The Director will also oversee the development of web content and summary documents of the Monitor and other reports, and oversee the maintenance and updating materials for MBPC presentations to outside organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will have excellent research and analytical skills as well as experience managing highly-skilled teams. S/he will ideally have an advanced degree in Public Policy, Economics or a related field, though candidates with significant research and/or policy management experience will also be considered. Qualified applicants will have at least 5-10 years of relevant work experience in public policy, government affairs, or a related field. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes and experiences:

• Demonstrated managerial expertise. The ideal candidate will have experience supervising policy analysts’ research, analysis, and writing as well as the production of policy reports in a collaborative and non-hierarchical environment. S/he must be comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Strong quantitative, research and conceptual skills. S/he must be able to transform complex budget, tax and economic information and policy into clear and straightforward language for the press, policymakers, and other organizations. The ideal candidate will not be a purely “numbers” person, but should be well-versed in quantitative and analytical methods. S/he will be required to assess and develop the sophistication of policy analysts’ quantitative and research skills.

• Exceptional writing skills. The Director must be able to articulate a clear and meaningful message about complex topics. S/he will know how to use accurate, careful and thorough research to inform public debates in a manner that allows regular people to understand and see the value of the findings.

• Familiarity with state budget, tax and economic policy. Ideally, the Director will be intimately familiar with local public policy organizations and the Massachusetts State legislative community.

• Relationship building skills. The new Director will demonstrate the sophistication, agility, and confidence to operate effectively with citizens, advocates, policymakers, and members of the media.

• Proficiency with technology. The Director must demonstrate a working knowledge of Excel,

• Sense of humor, and integrity. The successful candidate will be a team player who understands and values the maintenance of a healthy, happy work atmosphere.

APPLICATION AND NOMINATION INFORMATION:

Nominations and applications are due by April 25, 2008. Due to the pace of the search, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), where you learned of the position and a salary history should be sent to: mbpc-rd@nonprofitprofessionals.com.

In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only content in the subject line of your e-mail.

 

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center is an equal opportunity employer.

It provides a generous benefits package including health coverage with no employee premium, 410 (k) plan with an employer contribution, three weeks paid vacation to start, paid holidays and family leave.