Policy Analyst, Government Reform & Oversight Coalition

Texas Public Policy Foundation•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Policy Analyst for the Government Reform & Oversight Coalition (GROC) will focus on accountability and transparency in local government. The role conducts in-depth research, develops policy recommendations, and advocates for reforms that make local government answerable to taxpayers. GROC's top priority is ending taxpayer-funded lobbying by cities, counties, school districts, and their associations. The immediate goal is the 90th Texas Legislative Session in 2027. The analyst will research local government accountability, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government debt and bond elections, school district governance, and public resources used for political activity. The position will build and analyze datasets from public records, assess legislative proposals, develop policy solutions, and support advocacy through written materials, public presentations, testimony, and media engagement. The role also supports coalition partners and lawmakers and provides guidance 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; state and local government, public finance, government transparency, or education governance experience is preferred.
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.
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 environment, manage multiple projects and deadlines, and meet demands during legislative session.
Strong quantitative-analysis skills, including experience with statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, or R, and 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.

Responsibilities

Conduct original research on local government accountability, 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 comprehensive policy recommendations aligned with TPPF's foundational principles and GROC's Liberty Action Agenda.
Propose solutions in priority areas including 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 local government accountability reforms with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.
Draft op-eds, policy briefs, research reports, and bill-level analyses.
Present findings in public forums, legislative hearings, and media appearances.
Support GROC's legislative action plan before and throughout the 90th Legislative Session.
Equip 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.
Collaborate with other TPPF capabilities in support of the Foundation's broader goals.