Deputy Director, Research & Insights

Stand Together; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6% 401(k) match

Flexible time off

Health and dental plans

Wellness and mental health support

Job summary

Stand Together seeks a Deputy Director, Research & Insights to lead political polling and public opinion research for state and national campaigns. You will own research design, fielding, analysis, and presentation, translating insights into advocacy and policy strategy.

This role reports to the Director of Education Marketplace & Insights and collaborates across governance, communications, and external partners.

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, sampling, quota setting, cross-tab design, and weighting.
• Familiarity with voter files, turnout models, and electoral audiences.
• Strong political judgment and understanding of policy and advocacy environments.
• Ability to translate research into strategy and present findings to senior leaders.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for conferences and focus groups.

Responsibilities

• Design and run polling, focus groups, IDIs, mixed-methods research, and message testing.
• Analyze findings to guide legislative strategy, regulatory engagement, and communications.
• Lead major research projects from design to presentation, ensuring rigor and quality.
• Identify emerging needs and perform rapid-response research.
• Present findings to lawmakers, donors, coalition partners, and media.
• Manage projects end-to-end and maintain an insights library; support fundraising with data.
• Collaborate across internal teams and partner with external organizations.

Skills

Polling & public opinion research

Legislative district surveys

Statewide and national surveys

Qualitative research moderation

Survey design & weighting

Data interpretation for policy

Travel up to 25%

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.

yes. every kid. (YES) is seeking a strategic and experienced political and public opinion research professional to advance and expand our research capability. The Deputy Director, Research & Insights will lead the design and execution of political polling and focus groups to support public policy campaigns, legislative strategy, and stakeholder engagement.

This includes owning major research projects from design through analysis and presentation, translating complex public opinion data into clear, actionable insights that shape advocacy, communications, and policy design across state and federal efforts.

This is an ideal role for an experienced pollster who can operate independently, manage complex projects, and serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership and colleagues. The position will report to the Director of Education Marketplace & Insights and work closely with organizational leadership, public affairs, government affairs, communications, policy, and external partners.

The position will also have a dual role at Homeroom Research, LLC, a polling and research firm, wholly owned by yes. every kid.

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 e xperience executing legislative district, statewide, and national surveys.
• Direct e xperience 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 toshare inthe success you help drive.

$120,000 - $140,000 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™ (PBM) compensation 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,demonstratedskills, role responsibilities, and expected contribution. Consistent with this approach, compensation may vary within or outside of theanticipatedrange based on these considerations.

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® (PBM®), 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.