Senior Fellow, Finance and Insurance

On Think Tanks; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 160,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited paid time off

Employer-paid health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

401(k) with match

Job summary

R Street Institute seeks a Senior Fellow to join its Finance and Insurance program. You will research and write on financial services and insurance policy, engage with lawmakers and regulators, and translate complex policy concepts for diverse audiences.

The role demands strong writing, analytical rigor, and willingness to engage in public discourse. The position reports to the Policy Director for Finance and Insurance, with a focus on practical, market-oriented policy solutions and proactive

Qualifications

• High-level subject matter expertise in financial services legislative and regulatory policy.
• Professional experience in financial services preferred.
• Credentials in consumer banking, commercial banking, investments, or property/casualty insurance.
• Fluency in insurance and/or housing policy is highly desirable.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills for policymakers and the public.
• Experience speaking with legislators and regulators; testifying before bodies is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conceive and coordinate high quality, credible research projects.
• Write op-eds, regulatory comments, and policy papers on finance, insurance, and housing policy.
• Adapt policy and engagement strategies to legislative/regulatory changes.
• Collaborate with Government Affairs and Communications to engage target audiences.
• Participate in conferences, briefings, and media engagements to explain complex issues.

Skills

Subject matter expert

Policy writing

Regulatory/legislative knowledge

Communications/public speaking

Analytical research

Media engagement

Policy advocacy

Job description

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with staff located across the country—seeks a collaborative Senior Fellow to join its Finance and Insurance policy program. If you are the right fit, you will report to the Policy Director for Finance and Insurance. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this may be the opportunity for you!

Your typical day at R Street might include researching and writing policy papers, op-eds, and blog posts about significant financial policy topics (e.g., new credit card regulations); engaging directly with leaders of key policy issue areas, such as Congressional staff considering proposed banking regulations; and interacting with a range of national and local media outlets to educate and provide context on topics like open banking policy. These examples are part of a broader umbrella of impactful finance, insurance, and housing policy areas including consumer credit, fintech policy, property and casualty insurance, capital formation, fraud and scams, and other relevant topics.

R Street seeks a Senior Fellow with subject matter expertise in financial services and insurance legislative policy to join its Finance and Insurance program.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Conceive and coordinate high quality, highly credible, and timely research projects.
• Write a mix of op-eds, regulatory comments, and policy papers to help solve difficult problems and translate complex ideas in finance, insurance, and/or housing policy.
• Adapt policy, engagement, and communication strategy in a fluid legislative and regulatory landscape.
• Work with Government Affairs and Communications teams to identify and engage with target audiences, often encompassing subject matter knowledge, ranging from general audiences to expert stakeholders.
• Participate in conferences, media, state and/or federal policymaker briefings, and other engagements to communicate complex issues to varied audiences.
• Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations.

Experience and skills expected of the post holder

• High-level subject matter expertise in financial services legislative and regulatory policy. Professional experience in the financial services industry preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise and credentials in one or more of the following areas: consumer banking, commercial banking, investments, or property/casualty insurance.
• Fluency in insurance and/or housing policy strongly desired.
• Top-notch writing and editing skills in both short- and long-form products that translate complex analysis for policymakers and the public.
• Exceptional communication and advanced writing skills, including experience speaking with legislators and regulators.
• Experience testifying before legislative and regulatory bodies highly desirable.
• Willingness to speak publicly and/or appear on camera, including in interviews.
• Willingness to engage in the policy debate on social media or other creative venues a plus.
• Ability to synthesize research using methods common to the program’s work (e.g., legislative analysis, literature review, secondary analysis, descriptive statistics, case studies). Familiarity with econometric approaches a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively with a wide variety of groups and individuals including state and/or federal policymakers, even those with whom you may disagree.
• Ability to adapt to new challenges and respond to rapid policy developments.
• Ability to provide strategic, research-backed policy insights.
• No particular educational background required—a proven record of achieving results is far more meaningful than credentials.
• Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government.
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow within a multifaceted organization.

The R Street Institute consistently offers pragmatic, real solutions that foster American innovation, bolster competition, and safeguard individual liberty—all with the understanding that life in a democratic society sometimes requires compromises that don’t necessarily represent first, best solutions. We focus on deep scholarship and pragmatic policy solutions that many groups tend to neglect. Our goal is to publish timely, relevant research and analysis that advances a market-oriented society and limited, effective government. To that end, our motto is “Free Markets. Real Solutions.” Read more about our mission and impact.

Salary & benefits

R Street strives to offer a compensation and benefits package that is competitive, transparent, and supportive of employee well-being. The salary range for this position is $160,000-$170,000, commensurate with experience.

In addition to this competitive salary, we provide the following:

• Unlimited paid time off, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
• Alternating Fridays off
• A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
• HSA employer contribution match
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement
• Home internet subsidy
• Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
• A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance

At R Street, we strive for preeminence in every area in which we engage, driven by our commitment to excellence and innovation. Our culture thrives on action, creativity, and courage, with an unwavering focus on quality, credibility, and impact. We believe progress requires diverse experience and expertise, which is why we champion non-traditional yet prudent approaches to public policy. This principle guides how we build our programs, recognizing that each team member’s uniqueness strengthens our collective identity. We approach our mission with intellectual rigor, embracing free inquiry and honesty to ensure our work is grounded in solid research and thoughtful analysis. While serious about our purpose, we value the joy of collaboration and the fun that comes from working together. Our collaborative spirit fosters trust and transparency, with respect and openness guiding our actions. We celebrate our individual contributions while recognizing that we are stronger as one team, united in our work and relationships. Thus, R Street does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity or expression, relationship structure, or anything else that’s illegal, immoral, or stupid to use as a basis for hiring. “We plan to accept applications for this job until filled. We will contact qualified individuals for telephone screenings and conduct them on a rolling basis. Interviews take place virtually via Zoom. An early 2027 start date is anticipated due to our paid annual Winter Break.

To apply, please copy and paste your cover letter into the text box and upload your resume as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. We encourage thoughtful use of AI tools. If you use them, please describe how they contributed to your work.