Policy Analyst, Government Reform & Oversight Coalition

Texas Public Policy Foundation•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Policy Analyst will join the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government Reform & Oversight Coalition (GROC) and focus on accountability and transparency in local government. The role advances reforms intended to make local government answerable to taxpayers, with ending taxpayer-funded lobbying as GROC’s top priority and the 90th Texas Legislative Session in 2027 as the immediate goal. The analyst will conduct research, develop policy recommendations, advocate for reforms, support coalition partners and lawmakers, and collaborate across TPPF campaigns and capabilities. The position also provides guidance and mentorship to policy scholars and interns.

Requirements

Deep commitment to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
At least 3 years of experience in public policy research, ideally focused on state and local government, public finance, government transparency, or education governance.
Working knowledge of how Texas cities, counties, school districts, and special districts are funded, governed, and represented at the Legislature.
Ability to conduct independent research and develop well-supported policy recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in public speaking, legislative testimony, and media engagement.
A track record of successfully advocating for policy changes at the state or federal level.
Experience working with coalitions, grassroots organizations, or legislative offices.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple projects and deadlines, particularly during legislative session.
Strong quantitative-analysis skills, including experience with statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, or R and with building datasets from public records and government filings.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public policy, law, economics, political science, or a related field (preferred but not required).

Responsibilities

Conduct rigorous, original research on local government accountability, including taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government debt and bond elections, school district governance, and public resources used for political activity.
Build and analyze datasets using public records, including Texas Ethics Commission lobby filings, local debt data, and city, county, and school district budgets.
Analyze state and local legislative proposals for their impact on taxpayers.
Develop policy recommendations aligned with TPPF’s principles and GROC’s Liberty Action Agenda, including reforms addressing taxpayer-funded lobbying, school district cooperatives and investment pools, regulatory consistency, local-government DEI offices, school district electioneering, and school board trustee oversight.
Advocate for reforms with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public; draft op-eds, policy briefs, research reports, and bill-level analyses; and present findings in public forums, legislative hearings, and media appearances.
Support GROC’s legislative action plan before and during the 90th Legislative Session by equipping coalition partners, grassroots supporters, and lawmakers with research, testimony, and talking points.
Collaborate with other TPPF campaigns on policy advocacy involving local government accountability, taxes, education, and parental rights.
Guide and mentor policy scholars and interns, and collaborate with other TPPF capabilities in support of the Foundation’s broader goals.