Research Associate

Democratic National Committee • Washington, DC

62d • Onsite

About The Position

Research is the messaging and strategy backbone of campaigns. We scour public records, campaign finance reports, articles, interviews, social media, books, legislation, and more to gain a deep understanding of the topics and candidates we research. We also closely follow the news and current events as we look for opportunities to effectively deploy our findings through rapid response products. The Research Department’s work has a direct impact on upcoming elections through our collaborations with other departments throughout the DNC as well as with campaigns and state parties. We look for applicants who have great political instincts and knowledge of politicians, political parties, outside groups, and the legislative process. The ideal Research Associate candidate should possess a basic understanding of the dynamic political climate and major policy issues in the U.S., as well as strong research and writing skills. If you’re interested in helping us relentlessly dig for the truth - come join us!

Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Strong attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to take direction, ask questions and quickly learn new tasks and databases
• Self-motivated with the ability to meet strict deadlines
• Creative thinking and desire to explore new avenues
• Ability to keep up with the 24-hour news cycle
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Political training or background to understand and explain the significance of events and findings

Nice To Haves

• Specific knowledge of Nexis, campaign finance databases, federal and state-level vote analysis, statistical data gathering, and primary source materials a plus
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Political research, campaign, or government experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Quickly read, analyze and format news clips, legislative voting histories, campaign finance data, corporate filings, public government records, legal records and related items
• Develop succinct research documents for rapid response and communications staff that can be used to generate public-facing content
• Monitor and extract key points from local and national news
• Simplify very complex issues into factual and concise narratives
• Other duties as assigned to support the department and the DNC's mission

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including federal holidays and open leave
• Health and dental insurance for employee and dependents; 90% paid by the DNC, 10% paid by employee
• Supplementary vision plans available to employees for purchase
• Up to a 5% employer match DNC 401(k) plan
• Pre-tax flexible spending account benefits available to employees and dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level