About Us

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) seeks a Research Fellow to be part of its Center for Advancing Capitalism. CEI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy organization dedicated to reforming America’s unaccountable regulatory state. Our vision is a society thriving without unnecessary government burdens, where property rights are secure and Americans are free to prosper.

The Center for Advancing Capitalism, a project of CEI, was originally created and led by our founder Fred L. Smith, Jr. to unite the strands of the organization’s work in specific policy areas into a broad-based defense of economic freedom in general. We work to promote free enterprise and resist attacks on it from both left and right, independent of partisan alignment and short-term political expediency.

About the Role

We seek an able, articulate analyst to provide rapid analysis and critiques of attacks on American free enterprise, whether from the socialist left or the postliberal right, in particular of attacks on the financial system. The analyst should also be able to present a positive, uplifting vision of the roles of capitalism, markets, and free enterprise in making America great and prosperous.

The successful candidate will be closely aligned with the organization’s mission and have a passion for advancing classical liberal values of political freedom, moral agency, human dignity, and due process of law. Candidate should be able to engage with topical controversies in government policy, economics, and the law and explain the liberty-affirming position to a lay audience.

This is a full-time, in-person position based out of CEI’s offices in downtown Washington, D.C. CEI offers one-day-per-week remote work flexibility, subject to advance agreement with each employee’s direct supervisor. The Research Fellow will report to Senior Fellow Richard Morrison.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Be an advocate for free-market capitalism, property rights, and limited government through writing, public speaking, and ally engagement.
  • Create rapid-response content for hot topics in the news and social media related to economic freedom.
  • Cultivate expertise and create new research on specific topic areas relevant to the Center’s mission, including finance, corporate governance, and the role of markets in society.
  • Actively seek out publishing and speaking opportunities with a wide range of publications and organizations. Be engaged with both popular and academic audiences.
  • Contribute to CEI’s publications and outreach products, including the Open Market blog and Free the Economy podcast.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to produce the most effective and timely communications strategies for promoting CEI’s policy research and advocacy efforts, including our government affairs and fundraising teams.

Qualifications

Individuals with a strong background in politics, economics, philosophy, and history are preferred. While applicants with a B.A or M.A. in one of the above disciplines are welcomed, no specific academic credential is required. Autodidacts and those with a background in a different career field are encouraged to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $65,000 to $85,000.

This position includes a broad benefits package, with CEI covering most health, dental, and vision premiums, and fully covering life, short- and long-term disability insurance. Additional benefits include a 403(b) plan with limited matching, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and approximately 20 days of time off annually.

To Apply

To apply, qualified individuals should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter including:
    • An introductory paragraph describing why you are drawn to CEI.
    • Salary requirements
  • Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Katie Krout, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search: [email protected].

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.

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, the liberty movement’s talent agency, is a nonprofit that connects liberty-minded professionals with free-market nonprofit jobs at no cost to candidates or organizations. We work with 501(c)(3) organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation. Visit Talent Market to explore open roles, join our talent network, or work with us on your next hire.