Principal Associate, Fiscal and Economic Policy, State Fiscal Health

The Government Performance Portfolio within Program

Pew's Government Performance team provides the nonpartisan research, solutions, and momentum decisionmakers need to ensure our institutions improve the health of people in the United States and enable them to successfully climb the economic ladder.

Those goals are pursued through a wide range of the portfolio's policy-focused projects (with explorations into new areas underway)-from ensuring states' finances are prepared for future volatility, to unlocking gateways to mental health care, to addressing the nation's lack of attainable housing.

Pew's Government Performance team is successful when we:

• Foresee systemic challenges that could be avoided, mitigated, or resolved before they become insurmountable or politically toxic.

• Fill information gaps with data, research, and proven models.

• Hold leaders of institutions accountable to ensure they anticipate future challenges and operate efficiently.

• Minimize missed opportunities when people intersect with our nation's institutions.

We hope for policymakers, funding partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate when Pew's Government Performance team enters a new policy space, launches a new effort, or expands an existing project because they recognize we help:

• Elevate the public profile of a problem

• Demonstrate that success is possible

• Bring cohesion to siloed fields

• Create momentum for broader and lasting change

State Fiscal Health

The state fiscal health project helps states advance sound, data-driven policies and practices that build fiscally well-managed states.

The project: 1) conducts independent and nonpartisan research that documents states' fiscal and economic challenges and opportunities to address them; 2) provides targeted technical assistance that helps state and local policymakers design and execute policies that improve their governments' long-term fiscal health; 3) designs and promotes fiscal management models and tools that help state and local government officials evaluate policy options; and 4) supports networks and seminars that engage and educate key stakeholders.

Position Overview

The principal associate, fiscal and economic policy, state fiscal health, plays a leading role in helping policymakers enact data-driven reforms that deliver lasting results for state budgets. Reporting to the manager, fiscal and economic policy, state fiscal health, the principal associate will help states prepare for budget challenges and achieve long-term fiscal stability by producing research and providing technical assistance informed by qualitative and quantitative work.

Located in Pew's Washington D.C. office, this position will participate in Pew's core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project's related goals.

• Serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert on the project's work.

• Use mathematical models and econometric techniques to inform research and technical assistance on long-term budget assessments, budget stress testing, and other fiscal issues.

• Collaborate with project leadership and contribute to explorations of new topics in state fiscal health. Identify key fiscal policy issues, develop research questions, produce state-specific content, conduct and manage research, and prepare internal and external materials.

• Lead the writing and editing of research products, including major reports, issue briefs, and shorter pieces of timely content.

• Build and maintain a deep understanding of the policy and political landscape across states. Identify and monitor emerging issues relevant to the project's issue focus and goals.

• Identify and cultivate relationships with subject-matter experts, key organizations, and in-state stakeholders.

• Represent the project and Pew at conferences, meetings, and other events, including preparing materials for distribution and making presentations. Contribute to and participate in broader portfolio and Pew-wide projects and activities as assigned.

Requirements

• Exceptional writing and editing skills. Experience with producing various written products for a range of audiences, both independently and in collaboration.

• Aptitude with Excel required. Experience with statistical software (e.g., Stata, EViews, etc.) is strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated project and time-management skills, juggling multiple priorities, and adjusting to changing circumstances.

• Experience synthesizing and summarizing large amounts of information, focusing on the essence of an issue, as well as understanding and integrating different policy perspectives.

• Applying a non-partisan, evidence-based approach to projects and campaigns that require support across the political spectrum.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

• Generally, six years of applicable experience.

Key attributes and preferred experience

• Knowledge of state fiscal policy and public finance issues and trends. Experience in state government, especially in budget and forecasting processes.

• Skillful at setting short- and long-term planning goals in line with program strategies.

• Interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity.

Travel

This position requires occasional domestic travel to meetings and conferences.

Work Authorization

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without visa sponsorship.