Senior Policy and Research Associate

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

Boston, Massachusetts

Overview

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF), a nationally recognized, independent, public policy research organization, is seeking applications and nominations for a Senior Policy and Research Associate.


The Senior Policy and Research Associate will play an active role in shaping and executing the organization's broad agenda, including state and municipal finances, health care reform, transportation, economic development, and public higher education. Based on its award-winning work, the non-partisan Foundation has earned broad credibility among decision makers and opinion leaders and has made major contributions on a wide range of important issues. This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned researcher and thoughtful communicator with at least five years of relevant experience using data, research and analysis to influence the public policy debate. 


The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

Founded in 1932, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation has been a recognized leader in providing accurate, unbiased research and analysis with balanced, thoughtful recommendations that strengthen the state’s finances and economy and foster the well-being of the Commonwealth. MTF’s success and credibility has positioned the organization to have a significant impact on a wide range of issues, from transportation funding, business costs and health care to tax competitiveness, capital investments and the state budget. As the premier independent watchdog of state and local finances, MTF collects and analyzes a wide variety of data focusing on Massachusetts revenues and spending. MTF has, for more than a decade, prepared an independent forecast of state tax revenues most frequently used in developing the annual state budget. One of the hallmarks of MTF has been to provide comprehensive, accurate and timely facts and figures to members, public officials, opinion leaders and the media. The Foundation has received both state and national acclaim for its work.

The quality and impact of the Foundation's work is reflected in ten prestigious national awards earned over the past decade for research on managing state finances, addressing the Commonwealth's capital funding shortfall, restructuring the MBTA, reducing business costs, spearheading state government reform, and helping to achieve health care reform. Because of its credibility, the Foundation enjoys unusual influence with the state legislature and other political leaders, most recently playing a critical role in the enactment of the state's landmark health reform legislation. 


Senior Policy and Research Associate

Reporting to the President, the Senior Policy and Research Associate will have a major opportunity to inform policy developments in the state of Massachusetts through thoughtful generation and effective communication of policy research and analysis. Specifically, s/he will:

• Communicate in a skilled and flexible manner, presenting complex, often arcane data to state policy makers and opinion leaders in ways that can be clearly understood.

• Produce the high quality analysis that administration officials, legislators, reporters and editorial writers, and other organizations have come to expect from MTF on a variety of state financial and policy issues while continuously striving to raise the bar on research quality, effectiveness, and timeliness.
   

• Understand changing political landscapes, spot unrealized opportunities, and shape research direction and messaging for maximum impact.
   

• Represent MTF in the media, to legislators, to members and among other constituents as a partner, giving expert testimony or translating research findings into applicable sound bites.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned researcher and persuasive communicator with experience utilizing data and research to inform the development of public policy. While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• At least five years of relevant work experience; experience in public policy analysis or budget analysis strongly preferred. An advanced degree in public policy, public administration, finance, economics, or a related field is preferred.

• Superb writing skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues to a wide variety of audiences. 

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team. 

• The ability to simultaneously juggle several projects, all of equal priority with often competing deadlines. 

• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills. Comfort with and the capacity to excel in settings requiring public speaking and testifying before legislative committees.

• Proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software; strong mathematical reasoning skills.

• An understanding of MTF’s content areas with preference given to candidates with expertise in one or more areas. Familiarity with the Massachusetts political arena is preferred.

Applications and Nominations

Applications will be reviewed as received. Please send a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word or pdf format), salary history and how you learned about the position to: mtf-spra@nonprofitprofessionals.com.

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

More information about Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation may be found at: http://www.masstaxpayers.org/