Third Way Hiring for Policy Advisor, Education at Washington, DC Full Time

Third Way is a national think tank that was founded back in 2005 to champion modern center-left ideas. Our work is grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, freedom, and security. We are proud of the organization that we have built and continue to seek out talent who contribute to our ambitious mission. We are deeply committed to promoting a culture of results and respect where every employee has opportunities to contribute, develop, and grow professionally.

Third Way’s higher education team is committed to changing the conversation about federal higher education policy from one narrowly focused on cost to one that prioritizes students and taxpayers truly getting a return on their investment in higher education. We are seeking an Education Policy Advisor to join our efforts to promote policies that improve student outcomes in our higher education system and hold schools accountable if most of their students can’t graduate, get a good-paying job, or pay down their loans.

The Education Policy Advisor will produce and deploy compelling data analysis, written and digital content, and presentations to explain how current federal guardrails are insufficient to protect students and taxpayers from poor performing institutions and how we can update them to work better. This individual will be a core part of Third Way’s educational engagement with federal policymakers on higher education issues and collaboration with external partners to advance key policy priorities.

As an Education Policy Advisor, a typical day might include…

Conducting in-depth, original-source research and thorough quantitative analysis to shed light on issues involving higher education quality, accountability, and value;

Authoring high-impact reports, memos, op-eds, and presentations that persuasively illuminate the problems in our higher education system and explain how we can better ensure that students leave college better off than when they entered;

Producing data-informed policy recommendations on key actions that the federal government can take to help ensure students and taxpayers get a return on their investment and institutions of higher education are held accountable for student outcomes;

Crafting educational materials for and managing relationships with Members of Congress and Congressional staff, as well as other key constituencies—such as institutional leaders, advocacy groups, and partner organizations—to promote Third Way’s higher education agenda; and

Working with the higher education team and other Third Way staff and partners to plan and execute events, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement activities to further our mission.

This might be the job for you, if you have…

An undergraduate or graduate degree in education, public policy, or another relevant field;

A minimum of two years of relevant experience working on higher education policy issues, including working in or with Congressional offices or the Administration;

Advanced understanding of the US higher education system and the major players that drive the politics of higher education;

Demonstrated experience working with data from IPEDS, College Scorecard and/or other federal higher education datasets to produce sophisticated quantitative analyses using Excel, statistical packages, or other software programs;

Exceptional writing skills, including the ability to explain complex topics to a non-expert audience in a clear, concise, and engaging way;

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in writing, proofing, and working with data; and

A desire to make a difference and an imprint as Third Way’s newest Education Policy Advisor.

In the Third Way Culture, we are looking for…

Self-starters : People who see and seize opportunities, take risks, learn from failure, and will bring a sustained passion for our mission.

Collaborators : People who work in teams—sharing ideas, brainstorming, co-authoring products, and advancing its shared priorities.

Creators : People who fosters divergent thinking; that aren’t afraid to take on the orthodoxies of the left or the right. Team members come up with original insights, find unique ways to look at data, and challenge their preconceptions.

Results-oriented : People who function with an organizational commitment to clear objectives, ambitious timelines, accountability for results, and a focus on impact.

Third Way is an equal opportunity employer; women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.