Senior Associate, Policy Lab

Pay range: $90,000–$140,000 (depending on location and candidate experience)

Reports to: Executive Director, Policy Lab

About RAISE US

RAISE US is a national nonprofit collaborating with governors, employers, and training partners to help the American workforce make a successful transition to an AI economy. As AI reshapes the labor market, millions of workers will need to train for or move into new roles, often multiple times over their careers. Today’s workforce and training infrastructure wasn’t built for that. RAISE US designs and funds practical solutions that not only address the labor-market disruption caused by AI, but harness the technology itself to make our workforce system better and connect people to good jobs.

RAISE US is co-chaired by CEO Gina Raimondo, the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the 75th Governor of Rhode Island, and Eric Holcomb, the 51st Governor of Indiana. Our growing team of 35 experts across government, business, and policy is led by Presidents Eric Beane, former Deputy Under Secretary of the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security, and Janet Foutty, former CEO of Deloitte Consulting. We are a nonpartisan organization funded by a mix of companies, foundations, and individual philanthropists.

Position Overview

The Policy Lab is where RAISE US develops and tests new ideas. We find the most promising policy responses to AI-driven labor market change, design them into pilots that states and employers can run, and partner with leading economists to rigorously evaluate what works.

As we build out the Policy Lab, we are looking for a Senior Associate to support the development of our policy agenda; drive projects with state, research, and other partners from start to finish; and ensure we deliver, track, and scale impact in our first full year.

This role is a good fit for someone who is analytically strong, highly organized, a clear communicator, and energized by the chance to do high-impact work at an ambitious, early-stage organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Material Preparation: Draft and refine documents, including memos, policy briefs, pilot summaries, partner-facing materials, and presentations, for internal and external audiences.
• Project Management & Pilot Execution: Drive Policy Lab projects from start to finish, tracking progress against milestones and surfacing blockers or decisions that need leadership attention.
• Research & Analysis: Conduct research on topics relevant to the Policy Lab, from workforce, labor, and education policy to labor market trends and state government dynamics, to support our policy agenda, pilot design, and investment decisions.
• Expert & Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with leading economists, researchers, and policy experts, and support senior leadership with preparation for external meetings, briefings, and convenings, including background research, talking points, and follow-up coordination.
• Serve as a versatile contributor to the Policy Lab’s highest-priority work, taking on substantive research, analysis, project management, and written deliverables. Depending on interest and needs, specific projects may include:
  • Designing and launching pilots with state partners and academic researchers
  • Researching workforce, education, or technology policy to develop new ideas for the Policy Lab’s agenda
  • Working with research partners to design evaluations and track pilot outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience: 2–5 years of experience in a fast-paced policy, program strategy, or project management role (e.g., in government, consulting, a think tank, or nonprofit program management)
• Problem-solving and analysis: Proven ability to take ambiguous, complex topics and break them down into clear, actionable plans. Strong capabilities in research and analysis, with ability to synthesize disparate data points into clear recommendations.
• Project management and execution: Experience managing fast-paced workstreams and projects, from idea to implementation.
• Executive-level communications: Ability to lead meetings with experts, partners, and internal stakeholders; proficiency drafting concise memos, briefs, and presentations for RAISE US leadership, funders, and partners.
• Stakeholder relations: Ability to navigate multi-stakeholder environments, build trust quickly, and drive alignment among diverse groups.
• Startup friendly: Adaptable, resourceful, and mission driven.
• Nice to have: Experience in, knowledge of, or interest in labor, workforce, education, or tech policy; state or federal government; program evaluation; or AI usage and adoption.

Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid vacation and holidays; HSA options; 401(k) option; life and disability insurance; other care and wellness benefits (including online mental health therapy and telehealth services); a home-office stipend for all new employees; and a generous professional development stipend. Benefit eligibility may vary based on employment status and applicable waiting periods and is subject to the terms and conditions of the benefit plan documents. The organization reserves the right to modify or terminate any benefit plan at any time.

Employment type: Full-time, exempt, at-will

RAISE US is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, national origin, disability, or military or  veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.