State Policy Research Associate - Writing & Analysis

Cicero Institute; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cicero Institute is seeking a Research Associate to support the development of state-focused policy reforms in Austin. You will work closely with senior staff to deliver rigorous research and polished written products, independently and as part of teams to meet ambitious deadlines.

This entry-level position offers a front-line opportunity to deepen expertise in policy verticals, contribute to external briefings, and build analytic skills that support academic-grade research and policy

Qualifications

• Strong writing and analytical capabilities demonstrated in policy work.
• Ability to turn loosely defined assignments into well-scoped projects and clear outputs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with attention to detail.
• Willingness to learn new policy domains quickly.

Responsibilities

• Produce well-sourced resources to support state-focused policy proposals and advocacy material.
• Draft and revise memos, briefs, position pieces, blogs, and longer research products to a public-ready standard.
• Translate complex information into decision-grade outputs: tables, exhibits, and basic analytics.
• Track policy developments and synthesize findings into internal or external briefs.
• Support cross-team requests with clear scoping and tight timelines.
• Conduct 50-state legislative mappings and summarize statutes, bills, and rules.
• Develop policy language drafts and plain-English summaries, with enactment notes.

Skills

Strong writing

Critical thinking

Self-direction

Project scoping

Communication

Growth mindset

Tools

Excel

R

Python

Stata

Job description

The Cicero Institute is seeking a Research Associate to support the development of state-focused policy reforms in Austin. You will work closely with senior staff to deliver rigorous research and polished written products, independently and as part of teams to meet ambitious deadlines.

This entry-level position offers a front-line opportunity to deepen expertise in policy verticals, contribute to external briefings, and build analytic skills that support academic-grade research and policy