Deputy Director, Research & Insights

Reason Foundation; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Flexible time off

Health and dental plans

Wellness & mental health support

Job summary

Stand Together is seeking a Deputy Director of Research to act as a trusted partner to the Director, leading projects from concept to actionable findings. You will deliver rigorous, policy-focused insights that guide strategy, messaging, advocacy, and organizational decisions, while strengthening partnerships and research capabilities.

Responsibilities include managing end-to-end research, coordinating with internal teams, and communicating results to senior leaders and external audiences.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in polling and public opinion research, including work at a political polling firm.
• Direct experience executing legislative district, statewide, and national surveys.
• Direct experience moderating qualitative research.
• Mastery of survey design, audience sampling, quota setting, crosstab design, and data set weighting.
• Familiarity with voter files, turnout models, sample design, and electoral audiences.
• Strong political judgment and understanding of policy and advocacy environments.
• Ability to translate research into strategy and communicate findings clearly to senior leaders and external audiences.
• Strong project management skills, analytical rigor, and attention to detail.
• Ability to travel up to 25% for conferences, focus groups, and presentations.
• Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects from questionnaire development through fielding, analysis, and final deliverables.
• Maintain an internal insights library and knowledge base.
• Support fundraising and grant reporting with data-driven evidence.
• Present findings to lawmakers, donors, coalition partners, and media.
• Represent YES in research coalitions and convenings, strengthening its reputation as a trusted insights partner.
• Partner and coordinate across internal teams.

Skills

Polling research

Public opinion research

Legislative surveys

Survey design

Audience sampling

Quota setting

Data weighting

Policy communication

Project management

Travel readiness

Job description

At yes. every kid. our purpose is to transform education to be as diverse as the kids it's designed to serve. Instead of allowing politicians and special interests to rule education, we can unleash the extraordinary potential of every kid by treating them with dignity and empowering them to make decisions that are best for them. Join us as we give a voice to every parent, student, and teacher who shares that goal.

yes. every kid. is part of the Stand Together philanthropic community.

How You Will Contribute

Research Strategy & Execution

• Work with the Director to set research priorities aligned with organizational strategy.
• Design and execute polling, focus groups, IDIs, mixed-method research, and message testing.
• Analyze findings across projects to identify trends and guide legislative strategy, regulatory engagement, and communications.
• Identify emerging research needs and lead rapid-response research.
• Ensure methodological rigor, compliance, and quality control.

Communications & External Engagement

• Present findings to lawmakers, donors, coalition partners, and media.
• Represent YES in research coalitions and convenings, strengthening its reputation as a trusted insights partner.
• Partner and coordinate across internal teams.

Project Management

• Execute projects from questionnaire development through fielding, analysis, and final deliverables.
• Maintain an internal insights library and knowledge base.
• Support fundraising and grant reporting with data-driven evidence.

What You Will Bring

• 8+ years in polling and public opinion research, including work at a political polling firm.
• Direct experience executing legislative district, statewide, and national surveys.
• Direct experience moderating qualitative research.
• Mastery of survey design, audience sampling, quota setting, crosstab design, and data set weighting.
• Familiarity with voter files, turnout models, sample design, and electoral audiences.
• Strong political judgment and understanding of policy and advocacy environments.
• Ability to translate research into strategy and communicate findings clearly to senior leaders and external audiences.
• Strong project management skills, analytical rigor, and attention to detail.
• Ability to travel up to 25% for conferences, focus groups, and presentations.
• Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.

Standout Candidates Will Bring

• Polling experience in education or other public policy areas.
• Experience with a political campaign, think tank, or advocacy organization.
• Candidates whose experience is primarily in consumer or customer research, brand research, product development, market research, or user experience research should also have substantial direct political or public policy research experience to be considered for this role.

What Success Looks Like

The Deputy Director is a trusted research partner to the Director and colleagues across YES, independently leading projects from initial question to actionable findings.

Success means delivering rigorous research on time, uncovering insights beyond the toplines, and helping colleagues apply findings to policy, communications, advocacy, and organizational strategy. This person strengthens YES's research capabilities and partnerships, ensuring that major strategic decisions, messaging, and policy positions are grounded in credible real-world data and tested public opinion.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
• A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
• Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop and apply their unique talents.
• Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive.

Our Values: Working for an organization within the Stand Together philanthropic community is different from many other places. The culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management, a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM empowers employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.

We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. That is why we're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.

120000 - 140000 USD a year

For this role, the anticipated base salary range is $120,000-$140,000 per year. This role may also be eligible for additional bonus or variable compensation designed to align total compensation with an employee’s overall contribution to the organization.

We believe incentives matter. Our Principles-Based Management philosophy is grounded in an individualized approach that rewards the long-term value each person creates for the organization. Compensation decisions are informed by a variety of factors, including relevant experience, capabilities, demonstrated skills, role responsibilities, and expected contribution. Consistent with this approach, compensation may vary within or outside of the anticipated range based on these considerations.