About Cascade Policy Institute:
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 Vice President of Research Opening:
The Vice President of Research is Cascade Policy Institute’s primary research expert on state and local public policy issues that fall within Cascade’s research and advocacy agenda. The Vice President of Research will be an innovative problem-solver who can own and execute research projects and produce high-quality work under tight deadlines, with superb organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and supervise multiple research projects and Cascade’s policy team.
This position is located at Cascade Policy Institute’s office in Southwest Portland and reports to Cascade’s President and CEO. A hybrid work schedule including on-site and remote workdays may be arranged.
Responsibilities:
Management:
- Oversee Cascade’s research agenda, in concert with Cascade’s President and Executive Vice President.
- Directly manage Cascade’s policy team (staff and contract).
- Supervise Cascade’s internship program, advise and work with research associates (interns), and direct their research projects.
- Collaborate with Cascade’s communications, marketing, development, and social media staff and contractors to ensure promotion of research and advocacy in relevant and effective forms to various audiences.
Writing and Research:
- Maintain knowledge of current Oregon economic, tax, budget, and regulatory issues; and identify new research opportunities.
- Research and write studies, reports, op-eds, and blog posts on public policy issues within Cascade’s agenda.
- Write, or assist with development of, grant proposals and other funding requests relevant to Cascade’s priority policy focuses and new research opportunities.
Strategy & Outreach:
- Contribute as a member of the leadership team on policy priorities, vision, and strategy.
- Assist Cascade’s leadership in tracking issues and legislation that fall within Cascade’s policy agenda.
- Balance engagement of timely issues with long-term projects and with building networks for future issues and eventual implementation of policy solutions.
- Serve as a lead spokesperson on policy.
- Cultivate relationships with key audiences, including state and local policymakers and their staffs, reporters, allied groups, and interested stakeholders, to enhance Cascade’s position as a respected source on issues within its policy agenda.
- Speak/provide testimony on behalf of Cascade before legislative and rulemaking bodies and to groups of donors, civic groups, and others.
- Respond to feedback/peer review and questions from peer organizations and state policy experts regarding Cascade’s research.
Qualifications:
- Four years of policy experience, including the quantitative skills necessary to conduct and oversee empirical public policy research.
- Passionate about the mission and values of Cascade Policy Institute and motivated to understand and promote the higher-level vision of the organization.
- Brings a high standard of professionalism and integrity to work.
- Self-starter who thrives in a small team environment. Comfortable bringing ideas and solutions to the team.
- Demonstrates tact and diplomacy.
- Handles confidential information and sensitive situations with discretion.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Proactive, analytical, and efficient with time management skills.
- Proficient skills with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn other software.
- Position involves travel within Oregon and SW Washington and to out-of-state conferences.
- Previous experience in a public policy organization (or analogous experience) preferred.
- Graduate degree preferred.
Benefits:
- Compensation commensurate with experience and competitive with peer nonprofit organizations.
- Cascade provides an employer contribution to a SEP retirement plan equal to 8% of the employee’s compensation. This contribution is not a match; that is, the employer contribution does not depend on the employee’s own (voluntary) contributions to retirement savings. If an employee wishes, the employee also may make pre-tax contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan. Employees become eligible for Cascade’s retirement plan benefits after 90 days of employment.
- Cascade provides employees with paid Personal Days off for vacation, sick leave, and all other personal reasons. In addition to accrued Personal Days, Cascade provides 8.5 paid holidays per year to full-time employees.
- Each staff member has an individual office within the office suite.
- Employees may arrange hybrid schedules including on-site and remote workdays.
- Cascade does not offer health insurance at this time. We have strategically prioritized Cascade’s 8% employer contribution to retirement. This above-market rate is designed to give employees a permanent, appreciating financial asset equal to or greater than the value they might receive from an employer-sponsored insurance program.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter addressing your interest in Cascade Policy Institute’s mission and your salary requirements
- Résumé
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:
https://talentmarket.org/candidates/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 Katelynn Barbosa, Director of Talent Engagement, at 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 consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit 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.
