This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.

You can learn more and apply here.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) is seeking an experienced analyst with significant research and writing experience to join our program team. The role will support development and analysis of research with a well-developed racial equity lens and the composition of reports and related tasks. This is a full-time position based in the United States.

The Research Analyst will play a critical role in assessing the ballot measure landscape and BISC’s priority campaigns. They will provide detailed reports on the ballot campaigns BISC supports and provide context within the overall electoral landscape. They will be a strong writer with a keen sense of persuasive communication that can translate research findings into action-based recommendations for campaigns and tell the compelling stories of our priority campaigns, with a deep understanding of racial equity and disparate impacts. This person will take data from multiple and diverse sources and information to connect the dots of the political landscape. They will be able to evaluate events prior to elections, what took place during the cycle, and evaluate the post-election environment to help BISC and partners understand the qualitative and quantitative data and other factors to inform future strategy.

BISC’s programmatic work seeks to accomplish the goals outlined in BISC’s Strategic Framework through convening a broad spectrum of partners in the ballot measure ecosystem; building capacity and skills for the field; shifting the culture of the way we work together and run ballot measure campaigns; and centering and supporting the leadership of traditionally marginalized communities. The Research Analyst will work to ensure an accurate and holistic approach to advising and supporting how we collect essential and relevant data about our priority campaigns in a way that aligns with BISC’s organizational values and supports our expanded definition of winning and long-term sustainable gains that build independent political power in states.

BISC is a mission and values-driven organization that recruits and seeks to retain a staff committed to excellence by fostering a work environment that is flexible, fairly-compensated, respectful, and fun.

Location: BISC HQ is located in Washington, DC, but the location for this position is flexible. This position may require some travel. This position reports to the Strategic Partnerships Director.

Primary job responsibilities:

• Manage data collection and analysis from a variety of sources, review relevant literature and analyze statistical information findings with a well-developed racial equity lens
• Draft and design reports from BISC’s research platforms, interviews with key partners and ballot measure which produce key findings and actionable information for BISC and our partners;
• Assist in survey design and implementation for BISC research;
• Communicate findings and progress to relevant stakeholders and collaborate with partners and gather input for projects;
• Manage multiple projects and ensure timely completion including prioritizing tasks and deadlines effectively;
• Maintain high standards of accuracy and quality in research methodology and analysis. Review and validate data to ensure reliability;
• Support BISC’s ballot measure tracking program including monitoring statewide ballot measures and status, opposition tracking, and attacks on the ballot measure process;
• Work with the program team to deepen relationships and respond to the needs of ballot measure practitioners in real time through informed data, literature review and emerging trends;
• Work with BISC’s Communications and Development teams on effectively communicating our priority campaigns externally with funders, media, and other stakeholders on our communications platforms;
• Support the development and execution of BISC’s program work with a commitment to excellence and appetite to share skills with peers and partners and acquire new skills;
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional responsibilities:

• Aid the program team in implementation of BISC’s 5-year strategic plan focused on changing culture, centering directly impacted communities, capacity building, convening, and internal continuity and growth;
• Represent BISC by attending meetings and convenings of stakeholders and partners;
• Work to deepen BISC’s racial equity work, both internally and in the field;
• Work with the program team to develop the Road Ahead agenda and other duties related to BISC’s annual conference; and
• Support other BISC and BISC Foundation projects and activities as needed

Education, Knowledge and Experience Requirements:

Position requires familiarity with advocating for an issues-based agenda with a diverse array of partners and organizations in coalition settings, at least five years of related professional or academic experience. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and analytical communicator with proven experience in data analysis, report writing, and project management, demonstrating strong critical thinking and a commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality in research methodology and analysis and a well-developed racial equity lens.

Ideal candidates will have the following:

• Analytical Skills: Proven ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and ensure that findings are accurate. Experience doing so with political/ballot campaigns is a plus.
• Report Writing: An ability to compose findings in written format with minimal guidance and a keen sense of highlighting the most salient portions of research findings. Demonstrated ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Project Management: Experience in managing projects and meeting deadlines.
• Attention to Detail: Proven attention to detail in previous work or projects.
• Critical Thinking: Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with Survey Design: Previous experience in designing surveys with a racial equity lens.
• Superior organizational skills and interest and ability to process and synthesize complicated information.
• Commitment to progressive change and movement building required

• Willingness to travel, sometimes on short notice
• Adept at cross-team collaboration – internal and external – ensuring that relevant stakeholders are engaged in discussions relevant to disseminating of research findings and other relevant analysis.

• Good-humored, team player a must

Additional skills:

• Knowledge of Statistical Software: Familiarity with tools like SPSS, R, or similar.
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of the political landscape and election processes.
• Graphic Design Skills: Ability to create compelling visualizations and graphics.
• Experience working with progressive policy issues, coalitions, organizations, state tables or issue campaigns.
• Familiarity with and interest in opinion research.
• Some experience leading and facilitating meetings and trainings/workshops and giving presentations.

Apply to this position if you are:

• • Researcher: You have experience conducting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative research. You have experience conducting literature review of research findings and have a knack for making research findings plain and actionable.
  • Collaborative: You know that building a coalition and building true partnerships takes time, trust, and transparency. You understand the complexities of coalition work, including the inherent race, power and privilege dynamics often present, and are able to address them. You also are collaborative with your co-workers: willingly sharing information and tasks to get a job done.

• Strong written communication skills: You have an ability to take dense and complex information and make it easily digestible for a variety of audiences.

• Results and evaluation driven: You show relentless commitment to meeting a high bar and a history of getting things done even in the face of obstacles. You are receptive to feedback and know that evaluating and re-adjusting is critical to long term learning.
• Organized and flexible: You have a plan, but you can quickly adapt when needed. And you understand the plan is better when you collaborate with those around you.
• Effective interpersonal skills: You have a proven ability to communicate effectively with different personalities to move projects forward.
• Strong time management skills: You can balance many projects at once and prioritize accordingly.
• Movement Focused: You have a demonstrated commitment to social, economic, gender, and racial justice.

Notice of Exempt Position:

This is a full-time position and in accordance with the provisions of Federal and DC wage and hour laws, this position is classified as Exempt, which means that you will not be eligible for overtime for hours worked in excess of forty (40) during a work week.

Salary & Benefits:* (see BISC’s Compensation Philosophy below)

• Salary: $70k – $75k per year
• 100% Medical insurance for family paid for by employer
• Dental insurance
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer contribution

To apply: Submit a cover letter and resume through BambooHR. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About BISC:

BISC’s mission is to strengthen democracy by implementing a national progressive strategy for ballot measures rooted in building state-based power.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), a 501(c)(4) organization, is the only progressive organization that works across many policy, organizing, and political organizations, with local, state, and national leaders to analyze and support the ballot measure landscape.

We believe direct democracy can be a tool for liberation. We leverage ballot measures across the United States as part of a larger movement to strengthen democracy, center people of color, queer, low-income, immigrant, indigenous and other marginalized communities, move towards racial equity, build and transform power, and galvanize a new progressive base. In February 2020, we launched our strategic framework to help move towards our vision of building a world where all people are fully liberated, live with dignity and thrive so that equity and justice prevail.

We lead by supporting the use of ballot measures as a tool for transformational impact, not just in a measure’s outcomes, but at every stage of the ballot measure process—from policy development, signature gathering, civic engagement, the campaign itself, implementation and beyond. We believe in movement building and empowerment, bringing communities into the work and leaving lasting infrastructure for continued social change.

We know that success is not just defined by getting 50% + 1 of the vote. If we are serious about building a more equitable world, we also must consider who is driving the change and whether it will have a transformational impact on the people and communities who have been pushed to the margins for too long.

We achieve impact through training the field and developing leaders, convening state and national leaders and funders in a co-created strategy that results in transformative wins, leading innovative research and providing assistance to support ballot measures as a tool to build long term power.

BISC’s Racial Equity Stance:

At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through our research, training and organizing work with ballot-measure campaigns, partners and funders.

BISC’s Compensation Philosophy:

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center seeks to recruit, retain, and develop high-talent individuals in order to achieve our mission. In 2022, BISC created a compensation philosophy that provides a framework for compensation decisions and shows how those decisions are a reflection of our organizational values.

Salaries are benchmarked to the most expensive geographic markets in the U.S. Incoming staff have the opportunity to negotiate within the published salary range but final offers will preserve relative salary parity with similarly experienced staff who have similar roles at BISC. Annual raises (budget permitting and after one year of tenure) are flat rate rather than percentages of salary and are not connected to annual performance reviews. We have chosen to structure salary bands so salaries can continue to grow even without a promotion (BISC is a small organization and upward mobility may be more limited than in larger entities). We offer above-market benefits to support employee medical, retirement, and other needs and strive to create opportunities for continued learning and investment in staff professional development.

EEO Policy:

BISC follows an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and employs personnel without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40 or older), marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities (including pregnancy), matriculation, genetic information, disability status, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to employment, internships, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, dismissals, relationships with vendors, use of contractors and consultants, and in dealing with the general public.