Post-Graduate Fellowships

OPENS: June 30, 2026

CLOSES: July 15, 2026

REPORTS TO: Director, Office of Program Research

LOCATION: Thurston County — Olympia, Washington

SALARY: $7,157 monthly + benefits

The Office of Program Research (OPR) is currently seeking candidates for two post‑graduate fellowships: the Budget Fellowship and the Policy Fellowship.

• The Budget Fellow will serve as a Fiscal Analyst with the House Appropriations Committee, which considers the operating budget bill and related legislation, budget processes, and fiscal issues.
• The Policy Fellow will serve as a Research Analyst or Counsel with one or more House policy committees, which consider legislation relating to a broad array of policy areas consistent with committee descriptions.

These fellowships include specialized training on legislative process and other subjects related to committee assignments, such as budget development and bill drafting.

As part of OPR, the fellowships are non‑partisan and exempt from civil service laws. They are full‑time, temporary positions with anticipated start dates by October 1, 2026, and end dates of August 31, 2027.

• Meet office standards for nonpartisanship, objectivity, and confidentiality.
• Develop subject‑matter expertise for assigned agencies, programs, or policies.
• Conduct research and analysis.
• Analyze budget proposals and/or policy options.
• Draft budget provisos and/or legislation as well as staff reports.
• Develop and evaluate options to assist House members in meeting their goals.
• Present and explain budget proposals and/or legislation.

Successful Candidate Will Meet These

Qualifications:

• Availability for full‑time work beginning October 1, 2026.
• Graduated after January 1, 2025, or expected to graduate by January 1, 2027, from one of the following graduate programs:
  • Budget Fellow:
    Masters or Ph.D. in public administration, business, economics, or an allied field.
  • Policy Fellow:
    Masters or Ph.D. in public administration or an allied field, or a J.D. or other graduate program in law.

They Will Also Have:

• A substantial interest in a career in public service.
• An interest in budget development or policy development.
• An ability to perform high‑quality, objective research and analysis.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and other relevant computer applications. (Budget Fellow: demonstrated ability to use Excel is necessary.)
• Excellent research, writing, oral presentation, and organizational skills.
• A proactive, creative, flexible, collaborative, and service‑oriented approach to work.
• An ability to deal effectively with the complex situations found in the fast‑paced, high‑pressure legislative environment.
• An ability to develop and maintain cordial, effective working relationships.
• An ability to work independently and within a team.
• An ability to work the long, irregular hours common during a legislative session.

• Session – An on‑site or in‑person presence on the Capitol Campus in Olympia is generally required during session. Some telework outside of normal business hours may be authorized in limited circumstances. Hours typically exceed 40 hours weekly, are often irregular, and may include evenings, weekends, and holidays during sessions.
• Interim – Interim schedules allow for more flexibility. In‑state telework is allowed during interim for up to five days per week with an expectation to have an on‑site or in‑person presence when requested.

Employee benefits include vacation and sick leave; paid state holidays; health, life, and other optional insurance; retirement; social security; and military leave.

The Washington State Legislature is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, honorably discharged veteran, or military status, or using a trained service animal by a person with a disability. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including those listed above and those with other diverse life experiences.

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring information in an alternative format may contact House HR Director  or 360‑786‑7030, or TTD 1‑800‑635‑9993. Those with a hearing impairment in need of accommodation are encouraged to contact the Washington Relay Service at 1‑800‑676‑3777 or

Please submit the items combined in one document to

• One‑page letter of interest that addresses your qualifications and specifies the fellowship(s) of interest.
• Current resume (one page).
• Unofficial graduate school transcript.
• Minimum of three professional or academic references with email addresses and telephone numbers.