Deputy Director, Strategic 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

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.