Research Assistant, Education Policy Studies

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks two full-time, in-person research assistants to support AEI’s education policy studies team, which promotes policy solutions to K–12 and higher education problems. Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter demonstrating their interest in AEI’s mission and education policy research, academic transcript, and 500-word writing sample on any topic.

The incoming research assistant will be dedicated to AEI’s Conservative Education Reform Network (CERN). Candidates interested in this opportunity should have a demonstrated interest in conservative education policy and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. In addition to research assistant duties, this person would:

• Coordinate and oversee CERN-specific events and programming.
• Maintain CERN’s website and public directory.
• Meet with AEI’s development and government relations teams to further CERN’s efforts, as necessary.
• Coordinate the production of CERN book projects, including the Sketching a New Conservative Education Agenda booklet.
• Oversee publication of the monthly CERN newsletter and all external email communication.
• Engage with CERN’s membership and manage outreach of the network

• Research and Writing
  • Conduct research and writing for research and policy papers, studies, and reports about education policy.
  • Perform library, online, bibliographic, and investigative research under the guidance of more experienced researchers.
  • Coordinate small-scale and major long-term research projects.
  • Participate in all stages of scholars’ writing projects, including writing first drafts of op-eds and reports, making revisions based on scholar feedback, and offering substantive edits and copy edits of drafts before publication.
• Administrative Support
  • Coordinate the program’s public event series and private meetings.
  • Manage the program’s contacts database.
  • Coordinate with AEI’s media team to pitch articles and schedule TV, radio, and podcast appearances.
  • Post education content on the AEI website.
  • Manage a daily calendar and arrange all travel for an assigned scholar.

Physical requirements and working conditions at AEI:

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close vision abilities due to computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds at times.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phone, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree at the start date is required.
• 0–2 years of previous full-time work experience—previous internship experience strongly preferred
• Candidates should have:
  • Excellent organizational skills,
  • Attention to detail and a high level of initiative,
  • Proficiency in performing administrative and logistical coordination tasks,
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a variety of people in high-stress environments,
  • The ability to juggle many tasks at once and adapt easily to shifting priorities,
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, and
  • A demonstrated interest in education policy.

Benefits

AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal floating holidays), 12 days of paid sick leave, paid family leave, medical and dental coverage, a health savings account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200, life and disability insurance at no cost to employees, and a 403(b) retirement plan with a 12 percent contribution from AEI, among others. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits here.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including the position’s scope and responsibilities, a candidate’s applicable full-time work experience, a candidate’s key skills and qualifications, and internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $50,000–$54,000. The salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.