Policy and Research Associate

This range is provided by Issue One. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$61,000.00/yr - $71,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Issue One

Full-Time (40 hours per week, full benefits)

Reports to
:
Policy Director

Salary Grade
:
Associate

Location
: DMV Region (Hybrid; in-office Tuesdays and Wednesdays required)

Issue One is a leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington, D.C. We unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build a democracy that works for everyone. We educate the public and work to pass legislation on Capitol Hill to bolster U.S. elections, build a healthier digital information environment for our democracy, improve the ability of Congress to solve problems, strengthen ethics and accountability, and limit the influence of big money over politics.

The Policy & Research Associate is a key member of Issue One’s Policy Team, providing cross-team support across our four main issue areas: technology reform, election protection, money in politics, and constitutional defense, with a particular focus on money in politics and technology reform. This role contributes to policy development, research, analysis, writing, project management, and administrative support that helps shape Issue One’s reform agenda and equips the organization with actionable, evidence-based insights.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven, proactive, organized, detail-oriented professional with excellent research, analysis, and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in democracy issues, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced advocacy environment. They will carry out multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work. This position offers the opportunity to develop policy expertise across multiple issue areas while supporting high-impact campaigns, legislative engagement, and public-facing communications.

They should enjoy working as part of a small team in a mission-driven environment.

• Track and analyze federal and state legislation, regulatory actions, court rulings, and political developments across Issue One’s core issue areas, with a particular emphasis on technology reform and money in politics.
• Conduct background research to support written products, policy development, advocacy strategies, and campaign planning.
• Identify emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities in the policy landscape.
• Provide analysis to help shape Issue One’s positions, recommendations, and long-term reform priorities.
• Provide timely, objective guidance to colleagues on policy details, legislative history, or issue-area developments.
• Regularly propose ideas for policy and research-related written products.
• Draft and contribute to writing projects and products related to Issue One’s core issue areas, including policy memos, reports, fact sheets, briefers, talking points, articles, and other materials for policymakers, partners, media, and the public.
• Regularly review news articles, academic reports, government filings, and other materials, and synthesize complex information into clear, accessible, actionable formats for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist with the fact‑checking of Issue One materials.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to create effective messages, including for social media content.

• Create, maintain, and clean datasets and databases in support of research and policy objectives.
• Conduct qualitative and basic quantitative research to inform Issue One’s policy, advocacy, and public education efforts.
• Help maintain Issue One’s internal knowledge base, trackers, and shared research resources.

• Support planning and execution of in-person and online policy events, round tables, and briefings.
• Contribut…