Policy Advocacy - Political Research

Anthropic•San Francisco, CA

3d•$230,000 - $265,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Anthropic is seeking an experienced public opinion researcher to establish and lead its in-house polling and research function. This role is crucial for understanding how key audiences, including policymakers, third-party groups, and the general public, perceive Anthropic's policy positions, messages, and campaigns. The position is foundational, offering high autonomy and limited precedent, and will be integral to the Central Policy team, supporting policy and communications strategies with rigorous research on stakeholder sentiment. The insights generated will directly influence high-visibility campaigns and policy efforts. Anthropic operates as a research lab, policy think-tank, and technology startup, emphasizing the safe development of AI systems and proactive policy engagement. This role provides a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of AI policy, applying research discipline to strategy. Success involves building global polling firm relationships, delivering consistent high-quality research, becoming an internal expert on audience perceptions of AI and Anthropic, and translating insights into strategic recommendations to improve campaign effectiveness. The role also includes building scalable processes for future growth.

Requirements

Experience designing and executing public opinion research, including survey and questionnaire design, sampling approaches, and message testing.
Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative polling data and translate findings into clear, decision-ready written recommendations.
Experience selecting, briefing, and managing external polling or research vendors.
Strong writing and presentation skills, including distilling complex research for senior, non-technical audiences.
Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
A field relevant to the role as demonstrated through coursework, training, or professional experience.
Years of experience required will correlate with the internal job level requirements for the position.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of professional experience in political or public opinion research, ideally spanning multiple campaign cycles and policy environments.
Corporate public affairs experience, ideally in a highly scrutinized or regulated industry.
Strategic thinking that spots emergent issues, identifies and tests the right messages, and translates those insights into tactical recommendations.
A track record of building relationships with vendors, external experts, and complex stakeholder ecosystems.
Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintain clear priorities, and deliver on tight timelines.
Comfort operating in ambiguous environments, taking ownership of problems, and proactively driving initiatives with limited precedent.
A resourceful, collaborative working style and genuine commitment to being a strong teammate.
Passion for AI policy and alignment with Anthropic's safety mission and commitment to responsible AI development.

Responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive strategy for the in-house political research function aligned with Anthropic's policy goals.
Identify, evaluate, and establish relationships with leading research and polling firms across demographics, geographies, and political perspectives.
Conduct detailed, proactive research to test core messages, policy proposals, and campaign themes, and to evaluate Anthropic's brand perception and performance.
Execute rapid-response polling to assess Anthropic's messaging strategy in response to external events, policymaker actions, competitive developments, or emerging opportunities.
Collaborate with external affairs colleagues (federal, state, and international) and policy communications to identify research priorities, interpret findings, and translate insights into actionable strategic recommendations.
Develop and maintain a knowledge management system for polling data, insights, and recommendations to ensure accessibility and actionability.
Manage polling vendors at scale, including performance management.
Participate in strategy sessions and provide thought partnership on the design of messages, policy proposals, and campaigns prior to polling and testing.
Create clear, compelling deliverables that distill polling findings into insights and recommendations.
Identify opportunities to build and scale the polling function over time, including staffing needs, process improvements, and capability expansion.
Track and report on the impact and utility of research, measuring how insights translate into more effective campaigns and strategic decisions.