Associate Director, Economic Analysis

Position description

Launched in 2018, Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that We Are The Economy: when all of us are doing well, that is when our economy thrives. We fight for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and affirmatively centers people too long left out of prosperity. We understand that taken together, these actions will lead to a stronger and more resilient economy.  

Groundwork’s unique structure – part strategic communications, part think tank, and part issue advocacy organization – allows us to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. We work across four core audiences – the media, policymakers, economic experts, and grasstops leaders – and use targeted policy campaigns and timely research and messaging to advance a truly inclusive economic worldview. 

We’re savvy, strategic thinkers who know how to spot an opportunity to advance our worldview and influence national economic policy debates, identify new audiences for Groundwork’s resources, and support and amplify the great work our partners are already doing so we’re all better aligned to achieve our common goals. We’re fearless in our approach to narrative change and are focused more on how to make the right economic messages popular tomorrow than we are on the poll-tested messages of today.

Groundwork Collaborative is searching for an Associate Director, Economic Analysis. 

Position Summary

The Associate Director will serve as Groundwork’s lead data analyst and in-house authority on fiscal and monetary trends and economic research. The AD will help us learn and understand developments within the tax debate, inflation and pricing, the labor market, corporate profits, GDP and growth, and other topics. Reporting to the Director of Policy and Research, the Associate Director will leverage their facility with economic analysis to unearth stories about the state of the economy, translating data into meaningful insights. The AD will conduct original and timely research to intervene in economic debates, producing incisive reports and other written products to enhance Groundwork’s impact and reach. As a lead internal advisor, the Associate Director will also clarify technical and academic debates around the economy, ensuring Groundwork is always at the forefront of economic discourse. Finally, the AD will support the Director in policy engagements with peer organizations and on Capitol Hill. 

As an Associate Director you’ll… 

• Generate ideas for persuasive research products and supervise the execution of those products, including reports, white papers, blogs, congressional testimony, fact sheets, messaging guidance, and op-eds.
• Support the Director of Policy and Research ahead of policy and press engagements.
• Closely track and analyze government data around fiscal policy, employment, wages, corporate profits, inflation, GDP, and other metrics in a rapid response environment
• Serve as a lead internal advisor ready to provide timely technical assistance to the Groundwork team – including the Executive Director – on all things policy and research;
• Use your quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to ensure the accuracy and methodological soundness of products crafted by Groundwork, enhancing org-wide quality control. 
• Follow and participate in key economic debates to bolster Groundwork’s mission and goals. 
• Represent Groundwork at conferences, on Capitol Hill, and other public speaking venues and engagements. 
• Identify and maintain relationships with policy experts and academic researchers who can serve as co-authors, partners, reviewers, and validators;
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

• You’re committed to a just economy that delivers opportunity and dignity to all people.
• You believe in the potential of timely economic research to move policy debates, shift perspectives, and shape narratives about the economy and who it works for. 
• You are relentless about ensuring accuracy in every aspect of your work. 
• You are skilled at gathering, describing, and analyzing datasets, have familiarity with econometric techniques that are standard in labor economics, and keep abreast of the latest economic research;
• You are a pro at multitasking and excel in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, taking on quick turnaround research and writing tasks. 
• You are poised under pressure and comfortable with shifting priorities and tactics. 
• You have an advanced degree or commensurate experience in the quantitative social sciences (e.g. economics, public policy, political science, sociology, or similar field.);
• You have expert-level proficiency in spreadsheet analysis, and standard proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python; 
• You are familiar with Congress, the Federal Government, and legislative and rulemaking processes.
• You have experience or a strong interest in tax policy, willing to get into the weeds of the 2025 tax debate. 
• You are a strong writer and enjoy translating academic jargon into accessible and compelling language. 
• You are a skilled project manager, able to plan and execute a multifaceted project and coordinate effectively with colleagues;
• You are committed to continuous learning and improvement and are excited to learn new topics and push the boundaries of your knowledge. 

In addition, it would be a bonus if you… 

• Have staffed an organizational principal in a policy or legislative context. 
• Are deeply familiar with economic data releases and reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Federal Reserve, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and/or other similar bodies. 
• Have facility with data visualization tools

The salary band for this position is $97,000-$134,000. We offer a generous benefits package, including five weeks of vacation and personal leave, two week-long office closures, additional time off for floating and federal holidays, zero-premium health insurance, a generous HRA, a retirement match of up to 6%, up to 16 weeks parental leave, health club and cell-phone reimbursements, among other benefits.

We are a hybrid workplace, with two days a week in the office (located in Washington, D.C.) and three days remote, as well as the occasional need to work in person for events and special projects. 

Groundwork is a unionized workplace and is represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). This position is in the bargaining unit and is covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. 

Application instructions

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