About the Organization

Libertas Institute, part of the Libertas Network, is an award-winning, Utah-based think tank with an 87% success rate in turning our policy recommendations into law. We operate both as a state-based think tank in Utah—where we innovate policy reforms in a receptive legislative environment—and as a national institute that exports proven policy victories to other states.

About the Role

Libertas Institute is looking for an Education Policy Analyst to lead its education reform work, with an emphasis on higher education: expanding access, cutting cost and time-to-degree barriers, and building the Institute’s presence with Utah’s higher ed system, while sustaining its K-12 footprint and expanding its national reach.

Libertas’s education policy portfolio has historically focused on empowering the core participants in education—parents, students, and teachers. This role expands that focus to empowering students and institutions at the higher education level, while continuing to support K-12 innovation.

Some of the policies we have worked on in this space include:

  • Higher Education Transparency
  • Education Savings Accounts
  • Microschools
  • Relaxing Homeschooling Restrictions
  • Occupational Licensure

This position reports to the Executive Director and is based in Lehi, Utah. A hybrid schedule is available, with at least two in-office days per week.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for:

  • Leading Libertas’s higher education reform portfolio, including competency-based education, credit-for-prior-learning, transfer pathways, and reducing time-to-degree and cost barriers for students.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE)—the Commissioner, deputies, and university officials—as well as relevant national higher education reform networks.
  • Maintaining relationships with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), key legislators, and other stakeholders.
  • Continuing to support Libertas’s K-12 education work as a secondary priority, including microschools, education choice (Utah Fits All).
  • Continuing to support occupational licensing reform.
  • Helping draft model legislation.
  • Being a face and voice of education for Libertas, representing the organization at meetings, conferences, and other functions.
  • Conducting in-depth research to produce policy briefs, legislative analyses, and scholarly articles.
  • Synthesizing external research into op-eds, videos, one-pagers, press releases, and interviews that inform and persuade.
  • Supporting outreach efforts to build coalitions and promote Libertas’s education policy initiatives nationwide.

Qualifications

You will bring to the role your:

  • 2–3+ years’ experience in education policy research (or related work, such as practicing/studying law or working in higher education administration). Higher education policy experience preferred. Internships count as experience.
  • Genuine interest in higher education policy specifically—areas such as accreditation, financial aid, competency-based education, or transfer/articulation policy.
  • Ability to travel, up to 5%.
  • Exceptional ability to cultivate deep, trust-based relationships with legislators, policymakers, and advocacy partners.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; able to persuasively advocate in diverse political contexts.
  • Self-starter who thrives in dynamic, lean environments and creates opportunities where none exist.
  • Deep belief in individual liberty and ability to collaborate respectfully across ideological differences.
  • Ability to travel occasionally to conferences and policy events, up to 15%.

Benefits

You will enjoy:

  • Matching 403(b) retirement plan
  • Healthcare reimbursement
  • Generous PTO
  • Flexible schedule
  • Meal stipend and occasional work parties and outings
  • Making a difference with a mission-driven organization that is materially improving people’s lives

What Success Looks Like in this Role:

90 days:

  • Review and familiarize yourself with Libertas’s past K-12 and higher education policy work
  • Establish relationships with key USHE and university contacts
  • Begin publishing content regularly (blog posts, Substack articles, short videos)

6 months:

  • Publish a policy brief on a higher education reform (e.g., competency-based education or transfer pathways)
  • Begin drafting model legislation for the 2027 session
  • Maintain Utah’s microschool policy and continue K-12 relationship-building

1 Year:

  • Help pass a significant higher education reform in Utah
  • Publish research in an academic or industry publication
  • Begin expanding higher education reform efforts to at least one additional state

How to Apply

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

  • Cover letter including:
    • Your interest in the mission of Libertas Institute, and why you’re a good fit for the role
    • 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 Bailey Drouant, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [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.