Policy Development Manager at The Policy Project

The Policy Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that acts as an accelerator for sound public policy through community education, grassroots organizing, relationships with community and state leadership, and the creation of public-private partnerships—taking both a top-down and bottom-up approach to do real good for real people. Our mission is to promote opportunity and dignity through thoughtful policy and the power of community. As a young and growing organization, we've achieved significant legislative wins in women's health, public education, food insecurity, and sexual abuse prevention. Currently, we're focusing on state-level policy in Utah, eager to expand our impact into areas like childcare, housing affordability, and other policies affecting working families' economic success.

The Policy Development Manager is responsible for the systemic research and development of policy initiatives that align with The Policy Project’s key objectives. The day-to-day functions of this role include monitoring policy trends, analyzing research, developing community outreach strategies to procure impactful policy solution ideas, and building strategic relationships with policy experts. This position is responsible for tracking policy outputs from key institutions, synthesizing large quantities of research into actionable insights, and helping shape The Policy Project’s policy priorities. The Policy Development Manager will work closely with senior leadership and external experts to develop policy initiatives that align with the organization’s mission. 

The ideal candidate will be proactive, strategic, and have a deep commitment to the mission of The Policy Project and a passion for addressing critical societal challenges through evidence-based policy solutions. As a small organization with a start-up feel, we’re looking for someone excited to help build systems and grow with us—someone who is adaptable, curious, and eager to take initiative in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

For full details and to apply for this position, please visit our website: https://www.thepolicyproject.org/job-openings

Job Responsibilities:

Policy Research & Analysis: Conduct ongoing analysis of legislative trends, policy publications, and academic research to inform organizational strategy and identify emerging opportunities.

Policy Index & Solution Development: Maintain and refine an index of key policy objectives and potential solutions. Provide data-driven recommendations to guide strategy discussions.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement: Develop outreach strategies to gather insights and policy ideas from diverse community members and stakeholders.

Policy Landscape Mapping: Identify relevant government agencies, advocacy organizations, and experts. Assess gaps, risks, and opportunities within the current landscape.

Partnership Building: Cultivate relationships with policy experts, researchers, and decision-makers to inform and strengthen policy initiatives.

Primary Research & Data Synthesis: Design and analyze surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Translate complex findings into concise, actionable insights for internal and external audiences.

Literature Reviews: Evaluate academic and industry sources to assess trends, best practices, and causal evidence for proposed policy solutions.

Other Duties as Assigned

Job Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, economics, communications, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

2+ years of experience in policy development, legislative affairs, research, or project management.

Strong research and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex information for various audiences.

Familiarity with public policy processes and the ability to monitor outputs from key institutions and experts.

Experience managing projects, meeting deadlines, and coordinating across teams.

Interest in a wide range of policy issues and willingness to collaborate across disciplines.

Comfort in a dynamic environment with evolving responsibilities.

Strong alignment with The Policy Project’s mission and a passion for driving social impact.