Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Little Rock, seeks a full-time analyst to conduct analyses of state budget, taxes, and other economic/public policy issues impacting families. Position will work to promote social and economic justice by conducting analyses of data, writing reports and blogs, making presentations, working in coalitions, and testifying at state legislature. Must have Masters’ degree in economics, public administration, public policy, law or related field and three years of experience. Complete job description follows:

Senior Policy Analyst

Qualifications: Masters’ degree in economics, public administration, public policy, economics, law or related field and 3 years of experience.

Special Skills Required:

• Excellent analytical, writing, public speaking, and communication skills
• Proficient skills and knowledge of statistics and research design principles
• Proficient computer skills for analyzing data, including Excel and online database management
• Knowledge of public finance issues
• Understanding of public assistance policies that impact children and families
• Working knowledge of state fiscal issues, including state and local taxes and budgets
• Ability to think analytically, conduct analyses of complex public policy issues, and deliver understandable summaries to groups with various levels of knowledge on these issues
• Ability to write technical reports and issue briefs
• Capacity to critically review statistical analyses that have been conducted by others
• Ability to communicate data findings to external audiences, including policymakers, the media, and the general public.

Job Summary: Conduct analyses of state budget, tax, and public assistance policies that impact the economic well-being of children and families.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct analyses of state budget, tax, and economic policies that impact the economic well-being of the state’s children and their families, tax fairness, and funding for vital state services that serve children and low-income families.
• Monitor local, state, and federal tax and budget issues and emerging trends by tracking state and national economic, budget, and fiscal data sources and news stories in the Arkansas and national news media.
• Conduct research on policy options for helping working-poor families meet the basic needs of their children and improve their ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
• Support our state fiscal outreach work by giving public presentations on state tax, budget, and economic issues.
• Contribute to the agency’s social media efforts through the writing of blog pieces on state economic, tax, and budget issues.
• As requested, provide research and policy analysis support for other staff members.
• Support the work of coalition partners on state economic, budget, and tax issues impacting low-income families.
• Maintain the Arkansas data for the online Kids Count Data Center.
• Work closely with the Governmental Affairs director on state economic, budget, and tax legislation. Testify at the legislature on state budget, tax, and economic policies.
• Work closely with national partners and networks to share information and seek advice on state economic, budget, and tax issues.
• Assist the Executive Director with raising grant funding, including finding potential funders, and writing grant proposals and grant reports. As requested, help educate donors on state budget, tax, and economic policies.

Competitive salary and benefits. Send cover letter, resume, and references to jvazquez@aradvocates.org or 1400 W. Markham St., Ste. 306, Little Rock, AR  72201.

AACF is an equal opportunity employer.