About the Organization
Cascade Policy Institute is Oregon’s voice for liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility. We believe human happiness, prosperity, and social harmony require a limited government that upholds property rights and leaves people free to pursue their dreams. For more than 30 years, we have developed and promoted policy solutions to Oregon’s most pressing problems, consistent with the ideals of human freedom and the market economy. Cascade works to foster a society of free and responsible individuals, promote economic opportunity for all, and reduce government intrusion in the lives of Oregonians.
About the Role
The policy analyst will be mentored and supervised by the Vice President of Research and work closely with the rest of the research team. Cascade focuses on these policy areas: educational choice, K-12 education finance, state-level fiscal issues, state and local regulations, public pension reform, workplace freedom (right to work), transportation/public transit, land use planning, free-market environmentalism, electric grid reliability, homelessness, and health care. Under the direction of the Vice President of Research, the policy analyst will conduct original research, analyze, and write about public policy issues in the State of Oregon from a limited-government, free-market perspective. This candidate will specialize in several different policy areas and become responsible for that “portfolio” of issues. Cascade is open to an entry-level candidate eager to learn or a candidate with more experience. Regardless of the candidate’s seniority, as this person grows, they will take on more of the responsibilities delineated below. This role is located in Portland, OR at Cascade Policy’s headquarters.
Responsibilities
- Devise and recommend policy solutions that support and advance individual liberty, personal responsibility, and economic opportunity
- Prepare internal policy memos and backgrounders for senior policy staff, management, and the Board of Directors
- Produce policy reports, white papers
- Write short articles for Cascade’s website, social media platforms, and weekly e-newsletter
- Produce audio commentaries to air on radio and Cascade’s “Coffee with Cascade” podcast
- Submit op-eds and letters to the editor to local, state, and national media
- Prepare and present informal lectures and policy presentations (in person and online) on the topics on which the policy analyst will specialize
- Give media interviews
- Attend public meetings and government hearings at the State Capitol in Salem and around the Portland metro area
- Prepare and present testimony in public hearings (in person and online)
- Support Cascade’s development activities by providing policy-specific copy for direct mail letters, donor communications, e-newsletters, and print newsletters
- Meet with donors to discuss policy topics and Cascade’s work in general
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- 0-5 years of experience
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Demonstrates attention to detail
- Able to work well in a small team environment
- Motivated to take on more responsibility and independence as knowledge, skills, and experiences are developed over time
- Shows aptitude and is eager to learn
- Brings a high standard of professionalism and integrity to their work
- Ability to travel approximately < 5% (normally within Oregon, plus out-of-state conference attendance)
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Résumé
- A cover letter detailing your philosophical interest in Cascade Policy Institute and how your background matches the responsibilities
- An essay-length writing sample, and a writing sample in the form of a letter to the editor responding to a recent article in a major U.S. newspaper
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Director of Network Engagement of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected]
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity-building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise.
