Political Analyst

Third Way•Washington, DC

1d•$68,000 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Since our founding in 2005, we have served as a critical bulwark against political extremism by advancing values-driven, reform-oriented solutions on the defining issues of our time. Our work is grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, freedom, security, and democratic capitalism, and we advocate for the vital center across seven major areas: climate and energy, economy, education, health care, national security, politics, and social policy. Third Way’s Politics team advances the cause that pragmatic progressivism is the best path to create and sustain meaningful change and address our country’s most pressing policy problems. The Political Analyst will draft and deploy high-impact written materials, public opinion research, data analysis, digital content, and presentations to help policymakers and political influencers better understand American voters and persuade them to appeal to a broad coalition with a pragmatic progressive message and agenda. As the Political Analyst, a typical day might include… Drafting high-impact written reports, memos, op-eds, and presentations that offer persuasive evidence that American voters prefer a pragmatic approach and that winning elections and governing both require appealing to a broad coalition of voters, not just one party’s activist base; Collecting, analyzing, and summarizing qualitative and quantitative public opinion research to help policymakers, campaigns, and political influencers understand how American voters view a wide variety of issues, and how to best navigate them to build broad support; Analyzing historical and recent electoral and political data to come up with new insights and proof points that advance our case; Tracking key electoral data such as outside public opinion research, fundraising data, endorsements, and policy positions. Working collaboratively with the Third Way communications team to create written and graphic materials that will inform donors, partners, press, and other influencers and persuasively convey our political perspective in a way that is sticky and memorable; and, Performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

A sophisticated understanding of the major issues in American politics including the mechanics of elections and the motivations of the major players who influence them, as well as a passion for a pragmatic brand of progressivism
Experience independently analyzing public opinion research and ability to understand and communicate with polling teams hired to conduct original quantitative and qualitative projects
Experience handling primary data and producing analyses using Excel, statistical packages, or other software programs to generate valuable but clear insights about American politics and voters
Demonstrated ability to write clearly on complex topics for an audience of non-experts
An attention to detail for fact-checking, proofing, and other quality controls
A graduate or undergraduate degree in a relevant field and/or relevant work experience

Responsibilities

Drafting high-impact written reports, memos, op-eds, and presentations that offer persuasive evidence that American voters prefer a pragmatic approach and that winning elections and governing both require appealing to a broad coalition of voters, not just one party’s activist base
Collecting, analyzing, and summarizing qualitative and quantitative public opinion research to help policymakers, campaigns, and political influencers understand how American voters view a wide variety of issues, and how to best navigate them to build broad support
Analyzing historical and recent electoral and political data to come up with new insights and proof points that advance our case
Tracking key electoral data such as outside public opinion research, fundraising data, endorsements, and policy positions.
Working collaboratively with the Third Way communications team to create written and graphic materials that will inform donors, partners, press, and other influencers and persuasively convey our political perspective in a way that is sticky and memorable
Performing other duties as assigned