KAP 2027-2028 - Education Policy Research Fellow - Show-Me Institute

Stand Together • Missouri, MO

12d • $80,000 - $105,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Show-Me Institute (SMI), a nonpartisan Missouri think tank dedicated to advancing free markets and individual liberty, seeks an Education Policy Research Fellow to design and conduct rigorous research that advances the Institute’s mission and policy objectives. The Fellow’s work will focus on education policy, including charter schools and school choice, teacher labor markets, school accountability, school finance, school effectiveness—particularly early literacy and numeracy—and other issues relevant to SMI’s mission.

The Fellow will conduct high-quality, policy-relevant research for publication and dissemination by SMI, working under the direction of the Director of Education Policy. The role also involves communicating research findings to policymakers, stakeholders, and the public. The Fellow may write commentaries and other publications, present research, provide legislative testimony and objective research, and work with SMI’s development team to secure financial support for research projects.

This is primarily an in-person position based in St. Louis, Missouri. A hybrid arrangement may be available, but regular in-person attendance at the SMI office is required. The start date is flexible based on the successful candidate’s availability. The expected annual salary is $80,000–$105,000, with compensation and benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or PhD in economics, education, political science, public policy, or a related field.
• Strong research, analytical, and written communication skills.
• Submit a writing sample that was not generated by artificial intelligence as part of the application package.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with Stata, R, Python, or comparable statistical software.
• Training in statistics, econometrics, or quantitative research methods.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute rigorous education policy research projects that advance SMI’s mission and policy objectives.
• Conduct high-quality, policy-relevant research for publication and dissemination by SMI.
• Communicate research findings to policymakers, stakeholders, and the public under the direction of the Director of Education Policy.
• Write commentaries, op-eds, news releases, and other publications to extend the reach and impact of SMI’s education research, as needed.
• Present research findings to public and professional audiences, as needed.
• Provide legislative testimony and objective research to Missouri legislators and other public officials to inform policy discussions and decision-making, as needed.
• Work with SMI’s development team to identify and secure financial support for research projects, as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level