Research and Policy Intern

Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp • Round Rock, TX

8h • Remote

About The Position

Trellis Company is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through post-secondary education and learning. For over four decades, Trellis has operated as a student loan guarantor, offering trusted guidance and services to help student borrowers successfully repay their federal loans. During this time, the company has pioneered various technologies and services and has significantly invested in improving student success programs through numerous grants to colleges, universities, and research groups. More recently, Trellis has expanded its scope beyond higher education, collaborating with employers and community organizations to align the aspirations, goals, and skill requirements of both employees and employers. By connecting these resources and learning pathways with its expertise in enhancing student outcomes, Trellis aims to create more predictable and positive futures for those it serves. The company describes its current state as a unique intersection of a startup environment and a stable foundation, offering an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to help shape its future. The Research and Policy Intern role is designed to assist staff in developing public-facing materials related to critical areas such as college access, student success, and workforce outcomes. This support includes contributing to the creation of public-facing briefs, aiding in the development of social media campaigns, designing communications for relevant constituencies, and exploring specific research questions on an as-needed basis. The ideal candidate is a motivated and detail-oriented student with a keen interest in research, policy, and communications within the domains of college access, student success, and workforce outcomes. They should enjoy translating complex information into clear and engaging content for public audiences and be comfortable supporting various communication initiatives and special projects while working collaboratively with staff.

Requirements

• Ability to conduct research, assessments, and translate findings into professional reports.
• Demonstrated experience in developing communication tools related to social media.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
• Knowledge of higher education, enrollment, costs, and matriculation.
• Experience conducting research and analyzing policy issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft policy briefs and social media content.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools and productivity software such as O365 and Teams.
• Experience working in a team as well as independently.
• Flexibility to engage in a variety of tasks and adapt to a dynamic work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Degree program preferably in Education, Higher Education, Public Affairs / Policy, or Sociology.

Responsibilities

• Apply strategic, analytical, and creative thinking to help promote policy issues on higher education.
• Engage in communications strategies to advance higher education, including writing blogs and social media posts.
• Research topics, draft communication, participate in team meetings and strategy discussions, collaborate in communications tactics, and engage in a support role for policy related issues.
• Identify and analyze opportunities to creatively promote higher education policy issues utilizing Trellis Strategies data.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with flexibility to work independently.
• Adhere to all corporate policies and procedures and perform all work functions in a safe and efficient manner.
• Contribute to team meetings using productivity tools like O365, Teams etc.
• All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees