Evidence-Building Legislative Fellow

Job Description

AV believes deeply in the importance of rigorous evidence to help guide policy decisions, program investments, and public spending in the United States. The Criminal Justice (CJ) and Evidence and Evaluation (E&E) teams play a critical role in achieving that goal. The CJ team aims to make communities safer and make the criminal justice system fairer and more effective, based on high-quality research evidence. The CJ team works with experts from inside and outside government and across disciplines to reform the U.S. criminal justice system through research, evidence, testing innovative pilot programs, and policy change. The E&E team focuses on a few core strategies: (i) funding rigorous evaluations – mainly randomized controlled trials (RCTs) – to build the body of social programs with evidence of meaningful effects; (ii) exploring opportunities to accelerate local, state, and federal investments in scaling effective programs as well as supporting research and evidence-based reforms more broadly; and (iii) supporting the research and evaluation efforts of other teams at AV.

Rigorous research is central to evidence-based policymaking, providing the reliable, real-world insights needed to discern whether well-intentioned policies are effective. AV believes that there is a significant opportunity to better incorporate such research practices into policymaking. The CJ and E&E teams seek a Fellow who can drive innovation and action towards a more systematic and intentional approach to policy-relevant research at the local, state, and federal level. The Fellow will lead work to draft model legislative language that supports data collection, create opportunities to embed experimental and quasi-experimental research in new programs and policy, and provide technical assistance to key partners engaged in the legislative process.

The Evidence-Building Legislative Fellow can be based in any of Arnold Ventures’ three offices: Houston, New York City, or Washington D.C., and reports to the Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice.

• Drive evidence-building legislative strategy development, evolution and execution, in partnership with the Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice, the Executive Vice President of Evidence and Evaluation, and Arnold Ventures’ Board of Directors
• Work closely with the AV Criminal Justice and Evidence and Evaluation teams to identify opportunities for legislative drafting that embeds evidence generation though data collection, data access, and rigorous research (including RCTs and quasi-experiments)
• Support policymakers with legislative drafting to embed data collection, rigorous research, and best practices for implementation in order to generate evidence and measure policy impact
• Develop model language and tools to support evidence generation through legislation for Arnold Ventures teams and grantees
• Conduct research and analysis necessary to inform strategy and project development and analyze and synthesize research and policy developments in the field and their impact on portfolio priorities
• Develop and manage relationships with new and existing grantees, key stakeholders, consultants, and experts; deepen the grantee pipeline; build networks to inform strategy
• Travel to conferences to represent the importance of this work and Arnold Ventures commitment to it, network with experts, create and maintain partnerships, and learn about new research and policy in priority areas
• Other duties to support the team’s work, as needed

The Evidence-Building Legislative Fellow will be in a regular, full-time position and eligible to participate in Arnold Ventures’ benefits plan. We anticipate that the Evidence Building Legislative Fellow will be appointed for a two-year fixed term.

Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, political science, or another relevant field; advanced degree preferred

• 7 years of work experience related to evidence-generation, evidence-based policy, or a similar role.
• Experience with the legislative process at the state and/​or federal level.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, drive progress, and deliver outcomes through creative, solution-driven problem solving
• Thrives in uncertain environments, quickly adapts, and confidently handles ambiguity
• Clear alignment to the mission and goals of Arnold Ventures with a relentless drive to contribute toward their success and make a meaningful impact through this body of work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to craft concrete solutions and communicate those solutions both to content experts and to diverse, nontechnical audiences.

The salary range for this position will be $145,000-$200,000.

Applications will be received until this position is filled.