Senior Officer, Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative – Pew Charitable Trusts

The Philadelphia and Scientific Advancement program houses all of Pew’s grantmaking initiatives, including three that support scientific research nationally and internationally-the Pew Biomedical Programs, Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation, and Lenfest Ocean Program-and those focused on supporting thriving communities in Pew’s hometown of Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, our grants support health and human services nonprofits, artists and arts organizations, and public spaces that make the city a better place to live for everyone.

We also perform research and policy work on local issues such as housing, jobs and the economy, poverty, and demographics to help inform discussion on important issues facing the city, and, more broadly, strengthening Philadelphia’s appeal to visitors and residents alike.

The purpose of the Philadelphia research and policy initiative (PRPI) is to enable policymakers to identify and enact policies and practices that improve city government and the well-being of the city’s residents by conducting rigorous research regarding important challenges and trends facing Philadelphia. Central to this policy work is the production of timely, well-documented reports on these issues for the benefit of policymakers, the news media, and the public at large.

Working directly with stakeholders, the initiative conducts in-depth research, looking beyond the city and region for relevant information from comparable locales. Our approach includes: (1) researching important policy topics and solutions; (2) analyzing administrative, demographic and polling data to benchmark progress; (3) holding policy-oriented convenings; (4) engaging extensively with policymakers and influential stakeholders before and after convenings to increase the impact of our work and consider promising solutions;

and (5) making direct policy recommendations.

Examples of the initiative’s work are available trusts.org/philaresearch.

In consultation with the project director for policy and other senior leadership, the senior officer, Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative, leads the development and implementation of strategies to leverage research, convening, and policy engagement tools to inform and enable Philadelphia policymakers. The senior officer brings a strong strategic focus to Pew’s policy engagement activities on fiscal policy analysis and government performance, among other topic areas, contributing the right mix of outreach, policy research, and Pew’s national expertise and resulting in actions taken by policymakers, institutional actors, and civic and advocacy groups.

The senior officer leads teams of colleagues in pursuing policy engagement strategies on specific topics. The ideal candidate will also have strong writing skills with experience conceptualizing and producing various types of publications for external audiences.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds and with lived experience related to the issues PRPI works on are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position, based in Pew’s Philadelphia, PA office, will participate in Pew’s core in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will have flexibility to work from home the remainder of each week.

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals.
• Help lead the conceptualization, design, and execution of research, analysis, and policy translation on key issues affecting the city of Philadelphia, with a particular focus on the city’s fiscal health and government performance.
• Lead policy translation, including developing presentations and “leave-behind” written materials, soliciting and responding to feedback from target audiences, and synthesizing research findings and related policy implications across PRPI products.
• In collaboration with communications and government relations colleagues, develop and implement PRPI’s external engagement strategy, including organizing and leading public and invitation-only convenings, government official…