Senior State Policy Analyst

American Association of University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) seeks a Senior State Policy Analyst to monitor and analyze state higher education policy, public sentiment, and legislative trends. The hybrid role is Washington, DC-based with national scope, reporting to the Political Director and supporting AAUP members and labor allies.

This senior position requires extensive policy expertise, strong communication, data literacy, and the ability to publish influential reports like annual policy trends

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in state higher education policy analysis, government relations, or policy advocacy.
• Experience with labor unions or AAUP/AFT/AFL-CIO affiliates preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, political tact, and consensus-building abilities.
• Proven track record publishing major policy reports or survey analyses.
• Knowledge of survey data interpretation and legislative data synthesis.
• Ability to translate complex research into accessible narratives for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead state policy research, reporting, and public opinion analysis.
• Monitor state higher education legislation and policy changes across states.
• Produce rapid policy memos, briefs, and analytics for leadership and stakeholders.
• Build relationships with campus chapters, federations, and coalitions to support advocacy.

Skills

State policy background

Labor union experience

Interpersonal skills

Policy reporting

Data interpretation

Communication

Leadership

Education

Master’s degree

J.D. or Ph.D. preferred

Bachelor’s degree required

Job description

American Association of University Professors

Political Department

Senior State Policy Analyst – Hybrid position based in Washington, D.C.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a fast-growing union of higher education workers, is pleased to announce a professional position for a Senior State Policy Analyst, to be filled as soon as possible. Our goals are to build AAUP member power in order to defend the higher ed sector against increasing attacks and lead a fight for fair wages, job security, academic freedom, an end to student debt, and expanded access to postsecondary education.

The Senior State Policy Analyst leads the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)—an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO—in monitoring, research, and strategic policy responses on state-level higher education trends and public attitudes nationwide. Reporting directly to the Political Director, this strategist serves as AAUP’s leading expert on state legislative developments, higher education policy, and public perception metrics.

This role requires a rare combination of high-level policy expertise and exceptional interpersonal skills. Serving as a key relational bridge across the association and our national union federation, the Director must cultivate trusting relationships with campus chapters, state conferences, AFT state federations, local union affiliates, legislative allies, and national labor leadership.

A core deliverable of this role is serving as the primary author and researcher for two flagship publications: the Annual State Policy Trends Report and a regular report on public opinion of higher education. Through data-driven analysis and collaborative engagement, the Director equips AAUP members, state leaders, and labor allies to defend academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, collective bargaining, and robust funding for public higher education.

The AAUP is committed to a diverse workforce and strives to achieve a workplace environment respectful of the many cultures of our own employees and the higher education workers we represent, including a significant number of African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, and Latinx employees, as well as LGBTQl-identified employees, and those who have immigrated from various countries. The AAUP values the benefits that diversity brings to the faculty profession and the labor movement. We seek applicants whose experience and perspective will contribute to strong representation of our diverse members.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will include the following responsibilities:

Policy & Public Opinion Research & Reporting

• Annual State Policy Trends Report: Conceptualize, research, write, and publish the AAUP’s flagship annual report tracking legislative trends, statutory changes, and policy threats across all 50 states.
• Regular Public Opinion Reports: Author and publish a regular (e.g., quarterly or semi-annual) report on public opinion of higher education—synthesizing national and state survey data, public trust metrics, voter sentiment, and attitudes toward academic freedom, faculty status, and university funding.
• Data Synthesis & Macro-Trend Analysis: Aggregate multi-state legislative data alongside public sentiment polling to identify national patterns, model legislation spillover effects, and emerging messaging opportunities.
• Dissemination & Public Engagement: Present findings from both reports to AAUP leadership, AFT state federations, legislative caucuses, media outlets, and research partners.

Ongoing State Policy & Sentiment Tracking

• State Legislative Monitoring: Systematically track and analyze state higher education legislation, executive orders, gubernatorial budgets, and board of regents/trustees policy changes across all 50 states.
• Public Sentiment Monitoring: Continuously track national and state survey data, polling research, and media narratives surrounding public perceptions of higher education and academic freedom.
• Rapid Response Memos: Produce timely policy briefs, polling summaries, bill analyses, and strategic alerts for internal leadership, AFT state federations, and state advocacy leaders on fast-moving legislation or public sentiment shifts.

Interpersonal Engagement & State Advocacy Support

• Chapter & Federation Relationship Building: Build strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships with AAUP state conference leaders, campus chapter officers, AFT state federations, and faculty advocates across diverse higher education institutions nationwide.
• Advocacy Toolkits & Model Policy: Translate complex research and survey data into user-friendly advocacy toolkits, messaging guidance, talking points, and model state legislation tailored to the needs of state advocates and union locals.
• Direct Consultation & Technical Assistance: Provide empathetic, high-touch policy counseling, strategic messaging advice, and advocacy guidance to state conference leaders and collective bargaining chapters navigating active, contentious legislative sessions.

AFT Affiliation & Coalition Alignment

• AAUP-AFT Joint Alignment: Work in close partnership with AFT national, regional, and state federation legislative and political staff to ensure joint state advocacy campaigns leverage the full collective power and resources of the AAUP-AFT affiliation.
• Coalition & Partner Diplomacy: Cultivate active, collaborative partnerships with policy directors, researchers, and coalition leaders at partner labor unions (including AFL-CIO state federations), civil rights groups, public opinion research institutes, and policy think tanks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work seamlessly with internal AAUP and AFT departments—including Communications, Organizing, Legal, and Federal Policy—to ensure state policy trends and public opinion data inform national labor strategies, federal policy, and grassroots mobilization.

Qualifications

• State Higher Education Policy Background: 7–10+ years of progressive experience in state higher education policy analysis, state government relations, legislative research, or policy advocacy. Deep knowledge of state legislative cycles and state higher education governance structures is required.
• Labor Union & Affiliation Experience: Strong familiarity with the labor movement and union organizational structures; direct experience working with or within the AAUP, AFT, AFL-CIO affiliates, or labor-aligned coalitions is strongly preferred.
• Strong Interpersonal & Relationship-Building Skills: Outstanding interpersonal communication, political tact, active listening, emotional intelligence, and consensus-building skills. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational/political dynamics, manage sensitive stakeholder relationships, and build trust across diverse internal and external labor constituencies.
• Proven Report Publishing Track Record: Demonstrated experience conceptualizing, researching, writing, and publishing major policy reports, public opinion analyses, or survey research publications.
• Data & Survey Literacy: Working knowledge of survey research interpretation, demographic cross-tabulations, public opinion analysis, and legislative data synthesis.
• Mission Alignment: Deep commitment to the principles of academic freedom, faculty tenure, shared governance, equity in education, and collective bargaining rights.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with a proven ability to translate complex statutory language and polling findings into persuasive, accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
• Education: Master’s degree, J.D., or Ph.D. in Education Policy, Public Policy, Political Science, Social Research/Statistics, or a related field strongly preferred; Bachelor’s degree required.

This job description is not designed or intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee. Activities, duties, and responsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned during the course of employment.