Associate Director, Policy
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Key details
- Location
- Washington, DC, United States
- Work style
- Onsite
- Level
- Lead / Staff+
- Function
- Operations & Strategy
- Focus area
- other
- Posted
- 16h ago
About the role
About Us
Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser expanding economic opportunity in America. We bring government, philanthropy, and business leaders together to improve systems and put capital to work in new ways. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized more than $500 million to create measurable results in workforce and education, health, and housing.
We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.
Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach.
The Opportunity
The Social Finance Institute is seeking an Associate Director of Policy to help advance a growing portfolio of policy research, analysis, and engagement. Working closely with the Head of Policy and other Institute team members, the Associate Director will support projects that translate research and practice into actionable insights for policymakers and other influential audiences.
The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of the federal policymaking process, excellent writing and analytical skills, and experience engaging policymakers and diverse external stakeholders. Congressional experience (legislative assistant, policy adviser, or committee staff) is highly valued, particularly in domestic policy areas related to finance, economic development, workforce development, government effectiveness, or philanthropy.
This is an opportunity for a thoughtful and entrepreneurial policy professional to help shape a growing policy function and advance ideas with the potential to improve public systems and expand economic opportunity.
Responsibilities
Project Management
- Coordinate targeted applied research projects led by external researchers, policy experts, and partner organizations
- Develop project plans, timelines, research questions, and deliverables; coordinate contributors; keep projects on schedule and to high standards of quality
- Support the Institute’s research portfolio by identifying emerging questions, potential research partners, and opportunities to connect research with policy and practice
- Synthesize findings from academic research, program experience, stakeholder interviews, and policy analysis into actionable recommendations
Policy Research and Analysis
- Monitor and analyze federal and state legislative, regulatory, and policy developments relevant to Social Finance’s work, including impact investing and outcomes-based funding for economic mobility in workforce development, housing, and public safety net programs
- Contribute to policy research, landscape analyses, and other projects that inform the Institute’s research and policy agenda
- Assess the implications of emerging policy developments for Social Finance’s programs, partners, and broader fields of work
- Translate complex research, legislation, and policy developments into clear, practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, funders, and other audiences
- Research and draft policy briefs, issue papers, blog posts, presentations, memos, talking points, public comments, and other educational materials
- Work with the Head of Policy and Institute colleagues to develop evidence-informed policy recommendations and communicate them to federal and state audiences
- Collaborate with communications colleagues to disseminate Institute research and elevate Social Finance’s expertise in policy conversations
- Ensure the Institute’s written products are accessible, nonpartisan, and tailored to their intended audiences
Policymaker and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with congressional and executive branch staff, state policymakers, researchers, advocates, practitioners, funders, and other stakeholders
- Represent the Social Finance Institute in coalition meetings, policy briefings, conferences, and other external forums
- Identify and help organize opportunities to showcase Social Finance’s work with policymakers, including briefings, roundtables, convenings, testimony, and educational activities
- Convene and facilitate conversations among policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to advance shared policy objectives