The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is seeking a talented individual to serve as Deputy Director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN). The Deputy Director will work with the EARN Director to craft the vision, strategies, and plans that help EARN’s network of research, policy, and advocacy groups achieve state and local policy reforms that build power for working people, improve their economic conditions, and advance racial and gender equity. The Deputy Director will manage EARN’s project staff, design and oversee capacity-building initiatives for the network, and help grow EARN’s reach and impact.

The ideal candidate will be a veteran of federal, state, or local policy advocacy campaigns, with a strong racial and gender justice lens. They will know what it takes to build and support coalitions, to educate and motivate policymakers and the public about a policy issue, and to deploy research and communications materials to help win a campaign. Strong candidates will have staff management experience and experience working closely with policy research organizations, labor unions, or other base-building community organizations in coalition or directly to run issue campaigns.

About EPI and EARN

EPI is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that researches the impact of economic trends and policies, centering the economic interests of workers in the United States. EPI is a key institution in the movement for racial, gender, and economic justice in the United States and is widely recognized as a source of authoritative analysis on economic trends, with a particular focus on inequality and the forces that diminish the power of people of color and women.

The Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) is a nationwide network of 56 state-based research, policy, and advocacy organizations advancing an inclusive, worker-centered economy through state and local policy change. EARN groups conduct research on the economy, analyze public policies, and collaborate with advocates and community groups to develop and advocate for policies that prioritize racial and gender equity and confront the fundamental power imbalances in the workplace to create an economy that works for everyone. EARN is coordinated by staff at the Economic Policy Institute.

What You Will Do

Lead programs and initiatives to strengthen EARN members’ engagement on pro-worker, anti-racist, equity-enhancing, state and local policy campaigns:

• Help develop programs and initiatives that build EARN groups’ fluency on key worker, racial, and gender justice policy issues; strengthen their ability to lead and support coalitions on these issues; and collaborate both within and across states with other EARN groups and allies to generate broad momentum on pro-worker policies.
• Track the key campaigns, priorities, opportunities, and policy threats at play in the states, identifying ways for EARN groups to engage, and thinking creatively about how EARN groups, their coalition partners, and the team at EPI can leverage the network to win bold reforms.
• Help to strategically deploy EARN and EPI resources (research, communications support, funding) to aid ongoing and anticipated policy campaigns.

Guide the EARN team’s programmatic staff – providing mentorship, establishing goals and priorities, and guiding engagement with network members and allies:

• Manage EARN’s five project staff, who coordinate our regional projects, issue-based projects, and learning community activities (webinars and annual conference.)
• Help ensure that the team works cohesively and effectively to advance EARN’s mission, meet our institutional goals, and fulfill our grant requirements.

Help to expand EARN’s reach, coordinate work with partners, and elevate the network’s presence in policy circles:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with EARN groups, allied national and regional think tanks, advocacy groups, issue coalitions, labor unions, funders, grassroots networks, and other stakeholders throughout the economic policy landscape.
• Help to organize EARN member groups, grassroots partners, and other allies around cross-state issue campaigns, working groups, and projects.
• Represent EARN/EPI in outreach activities to new prospective EARN members, policymakers, funders, national advocacy organizations, grassroots networks, and labor unions.
• Provide input on funding proposals, grant reports, and donor engagement – helping the EARN Director and EPI’s development staff to expand resources for the network.

Who You Are

Ideally, you have at least a bachelor’s degree and nine (9) years of relevant experience, with at least four (4) years of management experience. We do not expect that every candidate will have this full range of qualifications, but the following qualities and experience are highly desirable:

A commitment to EPI/EARN’s issues

• Experience with and demonstrated commitment to economic justice, building power with workers and collective bargaining, and advancing racial and gender equity.
• Familiarity with a diverse set of economic, gender, and racial justice policy issues and the political debates in which they are embedded.
• Experience working in a state or local policy research organization, a labor union, or an advocacy organization focused on economic justice, workers’ rights, or gender and racial justice.

Organizing and policy campaign experience

• A campaigner’s or organizer’s mindset and experience building and/or supporting coalitions.
• Experience leading or supporting policy campaigns – especially at the state or local level. Knowledge of how legislative and/or administrative action on economic issues is initiated, supported, and advanced in the state or local context.
• Networking skills; experience building and stewarding relationships with a diversity of partners.

Effective and inclusive leadership skills

• Experience managing staff; leading with inclusive practices to develop, support, and leverage talent in an effective team.
• Strong project management skills, the ability to manage several complex projects at once, and the flexibility to adapt to a changing landscape.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, but also able to collaborate and work as part of a team with diverse partners.

Ability to get things done

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to frame a discussion and craft arguments within a political/policy context and effectively communicate complex issues to lay audiences.
• Ability to effectively represent the organization in meetings and events.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion
• Willingness and ability to handle occasional long hours and travel.

Salary and Benefits

• The salary for the Deputy Director position ranges from $105,000 to $120,000, dependent on experience, plus benefits.
• EPI offers an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off, a 9.25% employer-provided 401k retirement contribution, fully employer-funded medical, vision, dental, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance.
• EPI is a unionized workplace with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) and staff reporting to the Deputy Director will be members of the NPEU bargaining unit. This position is not in the bargaining unit. The Deputy Director will report to the Director of EARN.

Location

This position is based at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC. Candidates wishing to work remotely will be considered, with the understanding that periodic travel to EPI’s offices will be required. As a condition of employment, EPI requires all staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

To Apply

Candidates should send a cover letter highlighting their relevant experience and explaining their interest in working at the Economic Policy Institute, resume, and writing sample to earn-jobs@epi.org with “Deputy Director of EARN” in the subject line.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications without all three requested materials will not be considered.

EPI believes that having a diverse and inclusive workplace not only strengthens the institute’s work but is also essential for understanding and creating economic policies that support all working people. EPI is an equal opportunity, fair chance, affirmative action employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior history of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, caregiver status, or other categories protected by law.

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