Sr Policy Research Analyst

SRI International•Arlington, VA

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

Overview SRI International’s Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy (CISP) helps organizations, regions, and countries achieve long-term economic and social impact through effective investments in science, technology, and innovation. Based in Arlington, VA, CISP operates in a collaborative, project-based research and advisory environment, supporting public and private sector clients around the world through research, analysis, evaluation, and strategic planning in the following areas: Innovation & S&T strategy Science, technology, and innovation policy & systems design Science and technology program development, implementation and support Complex program evaluation and assessment Technology-based economic and workforce development Research security & policy implementation Advanced analytics in R&D analysis We are seeking an experienced Senior Research Analyst to join CISP in a hybrid work environment (2 days per week in the Arlington VA office, plus occasional client visits). Senior Research Analysts are individual contributors who lead complex analytical workstreams within larger projects, integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence into executive-ready narratives and recommendations that support client decision needs.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required due to government contract requirements
Doctorate plus 3+ years; or Master’s plus 6+ years; or Bachelor’s plus 8+ years of related experience (including internships, fellowships, research assistantships, or consulting-style project work) related to science, technology, and innovation policy
Degree in a STEM field, public policy, or a related social science discipline: Desired areas of study often include Science & Technology Studies; Science or Technology Policy; Engineering & Public Policy; Innovation Policy or Studies; or related interdisciplinary fields bridging science, technology, and policy
Demonstrated interest in addressing real-world science, technology, and innovation policy challenges
Ideal experiences may include science or technology policy fellowships; internships or research assistantships supporting STI policy or programs; policy practicums or applied research projects; work with government, think tanks, or nonprofits on innovation-related initiatives; or experience with technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, or policy-oriented analysis and writing
Demonstrated research or analytical experience using both qualitative and quantitative methods
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively about complex policy subjects, including: Writing for senior client audiences Collaborating with multiple coauthors Reading, synthesizing, and summarizing technical and policy materials Critically assessing external strategic reports Organizing written and visual content for client deliverables Writing samples may be requested
Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing project needs
Ability to work effectively within small, multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced consulting environment

Nice To Haves

Experience working in or with federal agencies or government contractors
Experience mentoring junior staff and coordinating contributions across multidisciplinary teams
Demonstrated experience contributing to proposals, marketing, or other business development efforts
Domain expertise in one or more science, technology, and innovation policy areas relevant to CISP’s portfolio
Comfort with data analysis and visualization tools

Responsibilities

Lead one or more analytical workstreams within larger client projects, coordinating closely with project leadership and other workstream leads
Translate ambiguous client needs into structured work plans, clear analytic questions, and defensible research designs for workstreams
Design and conduct mixed-methods analysis using both quantitative and qualitative data (e.g., datasets, document review, literature review, and stakeholder interviews)
Synthesize findings across data sources and translate results into clear, well-structured, client-ready insights, reports, and presentations
Produce near-final report and proposal sections with limited rework; contribute to publications and presentation content as appropriate
Present focused sections of integrated briefings; communicate results effectively in written and oral formats to internal team members and external clients
Support effective project delivery for assigned workstreams by anticipating challenges, managing task dependencies, and escalating risks to project leadership with options
Coordinate and review contributions from staff, subcontractors, and temporary hires supporting the workstream; provide task-level guidance and developmental feedback
Contribute significantly to business development activities (opportunity shaping, proposal development, and identifying logical follow-on opportunities)
Occasionally travel domestically and internationally