Public Policy & Data Insights Associate

National Journal • Washington, DC

2d • $52,000 - $57,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

National Journal’s Presentation Center seeks a Public Policy & Data Insights Associate to join our Concierge team of experts producing insight and intelligence on how Washington, D.C. works.

National Journal is a premier research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for nearly 50 years, our expertise is unmatched with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, as well as exceptional journalism. Our mission is to equip the thousands of government and business leaders in the nation’s capital with the intelligence, insights, and connections they need to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success.

This role will be part of National Journal’s associate program. This program’s curriculum intends to give our associates the benefit of comprehensive training plus real-world experience in analysis, research methods, and approach to insight-led reporting. The training will range from identifying client challenges and synthesizing research findings to visualizing data and communicating insights.

What is National Journal’s Presentation Center Concierge?
We analyze, synthesize, and visualize news and information related to policy and politics, creating content exclusively for senior public policy practitioners and government affairs executives. Our diverse membership includes policymakers and senior professionals from leading companies, nonprofits, and associations.

Each week, we develop hundreds of slides, curating and translating complex policy information and election analysis into easy-to-edit slides and charts. Using this background and our expertise, our Concierge team creates custom content tailored to members’ needs, delivering 40-60 bespoke deliverables per week.

About Our Future Public Policy & Data Insights Associate
You are excited by all types of research–both quantitative and qualitative–and apply a high level of rigor and strong data hygiene practices to all phases of work
You “nerd out” when presented with data outputs, and you creatively apply tools to uncover critical (and unexpected) trends in data
You know when to shift gears, when to dive deep into data exploration and when to distill the information gathered to produce actionable insight, keeping to project deadlines
You know that research must be made accessible to be consumed and are skilled at producing graphically-oriented research summaries
You are always excited by the prospect of teaching what you’ve learned, putting your superior writing skills and excellent oral communication skills to good use
You listen and quickly adapt when requirements change, exhibiting a willingness to “go above and beyond” in service to others; you are equally effective working independently or in a team
You are skilled at identifying the appropriate way to present complex material based on the intended message, context, and audience
You are a “policy wonk,” and while you may be deep on one topic, you are conversant and knowledgeable across several topic areas

Requirements

• Basic fluency with Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini); background in computer science or programming strongly preferred
• 1-3 years (post-undergraduate) experience conducting research in a professional setting; an excellent academic record
• Excellent data management skills and ability to synthesize quantitative/qualitative research, distilling large amounts of information into concise bullets, charts, and graphics
• Experience analyzing and visualizing data, including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent time management and judgment; demonstrated proficiency managing competing project priorities and adhering to timelines
• Demonstrated interest in public policy and politics
• Outstanding client-service ethic and entrepreneurial spirit; track record of building new initiatives from conception to execution
• A self-starter with strong creative thinking skills and resourcefulness in problem-solving

Responsibilities

• Synthesizes and analyzes data, contextualizing and interpreting research findings within larger ideas, topics, and trends
• Creates high-quality presentations based on primary (quantitative and qualitative) data sources and secondary news sources
• Extracts key insights for an executive audience, conveying them in clear, concise written and visual summaries, employing data-driven charts, maps, and graphics where appropriate
• Explains public policy issues for a non-Washington audience, develops expertise in a particular policy area and plans and oversees content production within a defined policy area
• Produces content for publication in “white label” slides and decks, published through newsletters and on the website
• Refines and shapes findings and ideas with the support of senior researchers; transforms member-provided public policy messaging in a creative, useful, and insightful manner, and engages with members to clarify inbound research requests
• Explores opportunities to integrate AI, automation, and other tools into our workflow, increasing efficiency and enhancing output quality

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed