Research and Policy Analyst Jobs
Research and policy analyst jobs are open across government agencies, nonprofits, think tanks, universities, and consulting firms, from entry-level research associate to senior analyst and policy director, with specializations in quantitative analysis, legislative research, and program evaluation. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is hiring an AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher to help the U.S. national security community understand and manage the risks of advanced AI systems. In the next few years, U.S. policymakers will need bold, actionable ideas to protect national security as rapidly advancing AI models introduce new risks and disrupt existing paradigms for security and governance.
You’ll work closely with a Senior Fellow to develop these ideas by digging into the technical details at the nexus of advanced AI systems and domains such as cybersecurity, biosecurity, AI agents and loss of control, near-frontier open-weight models, and China’s AI ecosystem. The role also includes opportunities for your own research and writing on these themes.
You could be a good fit if you pore over the latest system cards, have thoughtful takes on the utility of benchmarks, and enjoy explaining the difference between a CTF score and real-world cyber capability. You’re someone who sees a misleading headline or claim about AI capabilities and can’t wait to respond with a detailed, well-sourced analysis to help policymakers better understand AI risks and trends.
This role is part of CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program, a small, impact-motivated team where you’ll have the opportunity to take on meaningful work early. This position is also part of the CNAS AI Policy Lab, a cross-cutting initiative that integrates AI policy work across technology, defense, regional, and economic issue areas.
The following is an overview of the primary responsibilities. Other tasks may be required, and responsibilities may vary to meet the program’s needs.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Policy Research & Analysis
- Conduct timely, technically rigorous research and analysis on risks from advanced AI systems, with a focus on decision-relevant questions for U.S. policymakers, in support of the Senior Fellow and broader team.
- Track the national security-relevant capabilities and risks of leading AI models, including open-weight releases and models developed in China. Follow relevant technical, commercial, policy, and legislative developments to inform the team's work.
- Translate technical research into tailored, actionable products for specific U.S. policy audiences, including briefings, policy memos, and in-depth research reports. Identify opportunities where research can inform decisions, shape policy debates, or build policymakers’ understanding of emerging technical issues.
- Identify emerging policy questions, gaps in the existing research landscape, and opportunities for high-impact research. Contribute to the development and scoping of new research ideas, particularly where changes in the national security landscape, AI capabilities, or the policy environment create new opportunities for analysis or engagement.
- Policy Outreach & Engagement
- Meet with and brief U.S. policy officials in the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill on risks from advanced AI systems and policy recommendations.
- Build and maintain relationships across the AI policy community, including the U.S. Government, U.S. Congress, industry, evaluation and research organizations, technical experts, media, and the diplomatic community.
- Leverage relationships to anticipate and address policymakers’ needs, communicate research findings, and ensure that feedback from the policy community informs our work.
- Administrative & Other Tasks
- Perform administrative tasks to support the Senior Fellow and broader team’s research agenda, such as organizing private workshops, briefings, and public events.
- Organize domestic and international field research, as needed, to support the Senior Fellow and Program Director.
- Contribute to strengthening the team’s internal processes and building the organization’s capacity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher.
- For the AI Policy Researcher level, at least 2-3 years of full-time, relevant work experience.
- Working familiarity with advanced AI capabilities and risks, such as model evaluations, developers’ safety frameworks, open-weight models, or AI applications in cybersecurity or the life sciences, or a track record of quickly mastering technical subject matter. A computer science degree is welcome but not required.
- Excellent writing skills, including diligent self-editing and fact checking.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with an ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Good judgment about the quality of data and competing information sources.
- Legal right to work in the United States.
Preferred:
- Education or work experience in a technical or quantitative field, such as computer science, machine learning, cybersecurity, biology or the life sciences, engineering, physics, or mathematics.
- In-depth knowledge of cybersecurity or biosecurity, including how AI models may shift the balance between offense and defense in these domains.
- Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Familiarity with China’s AI ecosystem, including its leading developers and model releases.
- Strong familiarity with frontier AI capabilities, risks, and technical trends, sufficient to form independent judgments about their policy implications.
- Published research or writing on AI policy, AI safety, or AI security.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- $70,000 – $165,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
- CNAS offers a complete and competitive benefits package for employees which includes medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement accounts, transportation subsidies, and an employee assistance program.
LOGISTICS
- This is a full-time, in-person role based in Washington, D.C.
- This role is with CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program and reports principally to the Senior Fellow. It is also part of the CNAS AI Policy Lab.
- This is a two-year, term-limited appointment.
- Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
- Candidates may start as soon as available.
About the Technology and National Security Program
The Technology and National Security Program focuses on high-impact technology areas with in-depth, evidence-based analysis to assess U.S. leadership vis-Ã -vis China, anticipate technology-related risks to national security and democratic values, and outline bold but actionable steps for the United States and its allies to lead in responsible technology development, adoption, and governance. A key focus of the program is convening the technology and policy communities to bridge gaps, exchange perspectives, and together develop solutions.
The program has a strong track record of research on frontier AI systems, with in-depth analysis exploring the national security risks of China’s advanced AI systems, alignment challenges, AI-enabled cyber uplift, and adversarial distillation. You’d build on this foundation to deliver technically rigorous policy analysis to inform U.S. policy.
About the CNAS AI Policy Lab
AI progress is fast outpacing policy. The opportunities and challenges of the AI age demand bold new ideas for U.S. national security that meet the moment. The CNAS AI Policy Lab fuses in-depth AI and national security expertise to produce cutting-edge, technically informed policy analysis. The United States and its allies must harness the benefits, manage the risks, and ensure democracies lead in this era-defining technology.
The AI Policy Lab integrates CNAS’s technology, defense, regional, and economic expertise to address how AI is reshaping every dimension of national power and geopolitical competition. The Lab will serve as a hub for curated workshops, discussions, partnerships, and other convenings to bring industry, researchers, and the national security community to develop policy solutions. By bridging the divide between innovators and national security policymakers, the Lab will ensure that policy can match the unprecedented pace of technological innovation, harnessing the transformative power of AI while managing risks.
The AI Policy Lab builds on a sustained track record of CNAS leadership in AI policymaking. CNAS experts and alumni have written the rules for how the Pentagon incorporates autonomous systems, developed policies intended to preserve the United States’s AI lead, and served in the highest levels of AI policymaking.
About CNAS
The Center for a New American Security develops bold, innovative, and bipartisan national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. Building on the deep expertise and broad experience of its staff and advisors, CNAS engages policymakers, experts, and the public with innovative fact-based research, ideas, and analysis to shape and elevate the national security debate. As an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization, CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow. CNAS is located in Washington, D.C.
CNAS is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
To Apply
CNAS accepts online applications only.
A complete application will include a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position, along with your resume or CV. Your cover letter should explain, in your voice, why this role fits your interests and experience. Candidates who advance in the process will be asked to share writing samples and references and will also be asked to complete a timed written exercise.
While we understand the value of AI tools for increasing productivity, please do not use any AI tools to generate, rewrite, or revise your application materials. Your application materials must authentically represent your own voice, skills, and communication style.
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is hiring an AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher to help the U.S. national security community understand and manage the risks of advanced AI systems. In the next few years, U.S. policymakers will need bold, actionable ideas to protect national security as rapidly advancing AI models introduce new risks and disrupt existing paradigms for security and governance.
You’ll work closely with a Senior Fellow to develop these ideas by digging into the technical details at the nexus of advanced AI systems and domains such as cybersecurity, biosecurity, AI agents and loss of control, near-frontier open-weight models, and China’s AI ecosystem. The role also includes opportunities for your own research and writing on these themes.
You could be a good fit if you pore over the latest system cards, have thoughtful takes on the utility of benchmarks, and enjoy explaining the difference between a CTF score and real-world cyber capability. You’re someone who sees a misleading headline or claim about AI capabilities and can’t wait to respond with a detailed, well-sourced analysis to help policymakers better understand AI risks and trends.
This role is part of CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program, a small, impact-motivated team where you’ll have the opportunity to take on meaningful work early. This position is also part of the CNAS AI Policy Lab, a cross-cutting initiative that integrates AI policy work across technology, defense, regional, and economic issue areas.
The following is an overview of the primary responsibilities. Other tasks may be required, and responsibilities may vary to meet the program’s needs.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Policy Research & Analysis
- Conduct timely, technically rigorous research and analysis on risks from advanced AI systems, with a focus on decision-relevant questions for U.S. policymakers, in support of the Senior Fellow and broader team.
- Track the national security-relevant capabilities and risks of leading AI models, including open-weight releases and models developed in China. Follow relevant technical, commercial, policy, and legislative developments to inform the team's work.
- Translate technical research into tailored, actionable products for specific U.S. policy audiences, including briefings, policy memos, and in-depth research reports. Identify opportunities where research can inform decisions, shape policy debates, or build policymakers’ understanding of emerging technical issues.
- Identify emerging policy questions, gaps in the existing research landscape, and opportunities for high-impact research. Contribute to the development and scoping of new research ideas, particularly where changes in the national security landscape, AI capabilities, or the policy environment create new opportunities for analysis or engagement.
- Policy Outreach & Engagement
- Meet with and brief U.S. policy officials in the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill on risks from advanced AI systems and policy recommendations.
- Build and maintain relationships across the AI policy community, including the U.S. Government, U.S. Congress, industry, evaluation and research organizations, technical experts, media, and the diplomatic community.
- Leverage relationships to anticipate and address policymakers’ needs, communicate research findings, and ensure that feedback from the policy community informs our work.
- Administrative & Other Tasks
- Perform administrative tasks to support the Senior Fellow and broader team’s research agenda, such as organizing private workshops, briefings, and public events.
- Organize domestic and international field research, as needed, to support the Senior Fellow and Program Director.
- Contribute to strengthening the team’s internal processes and building the organization’s capacity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher.
- For the AI Policy Researcher level, at least 2-3 years of full-time, relevant work experience.
- Working familiarity with advanced AI capabilities and risks, such as model evaluations, developers’ safety frameworks, open-weight models, or AI applications in cybersecurity or the life sciences, or a track record of quickly mastering technical subject matter. A computer science degree is welcome but not required.
- Excellent writing skills, including diligent self-editing and fact checking.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with an ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Good judgment about the quality of data and competing information sources.
- Legal right to work in the United States.
Preferred:
- Education or work experience in a technical or quantitative field, such as computer science, machine learning, cybersecurity, biology or the life sciences, engineering, physics, or mathematics.
- In-depth knowledge of cybersecurity or biosecurity, including how AI models may shift the balance between offense and defense in these domains.
- Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Familiarity with China’s AI ecosystem, including its leading developers and model releases.
- Strong familiarity with frontier AI capabilities, risks, and technical trends, sufficient to form independent judgments about their policy implications.
- Published research or writing on AI policy, AI safety, or AI security.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- $70,000 – $165,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
- CNAS offers a complete and competitive benefits package for employees which includes medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement accounts, transportation subsidies, and an employee assistance program.
LOGISTICS
- This is a full-time, in-person role based in Washington, D.C.
- This role is with CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program and reports principally to the Senior Fellow. It is also part of the CNAS AI Policy Lab.
- This is a two-year, term-limited appointment.
- Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
- Candidates may start as soon as available.
About the Technology and National Security Program
The Technology and National Security Program focuses on high-impact technology areas with in-depth, evidence-based analysis to assess U.S. leadership vis-Ã -vis China, anticipate technology-related risks to national security and democratic values, and outline bold but actionable steps for the United States and its allies to lead in responsible technology development, adoption, and governance. A key focus of the program is convening the technology and policy communities to bridge gaps, exchange perspectives, and together develop solutions.
The program has a strong track record of research on frontier AI systems, with in-depth analysis exploring the national security risks of China’s advanced AI systems, alignment challenges, AI-enabled cyber uplift, and adversarial distillation. You’d build on this foundation to deliver technically rigorous policy analysis to inform U.S. policy.
About the CNAS AI Policy Lab
AI progress is fast outpacing policy. The opportunities and challenges of the AI age demand bold new ideas for U.S. national security that meet the moment. The CNAS AI Policy Lab fuses in-depth AI and national security expertise to produce cutting-edge, technically informed policy analysis. The United States and its allies must harness the benefits, manage the risks, and ensure democracies lead in this era-defining technology.
The AI Policy Lab integrates CNAS’s technology, defense, regional, and economic expertise to address how AI is reshaping every dimension of national power and geopolitical competition. The Lab will serve as a hub for curated workshops, discussions, partnerships, and other convenings to bring industry, researchers, and the national security community to develop policy solutions. By bridging the divide between innovators and national security policymakers, the Lab will ensure that policy can match the unprecedented pace of technological innovation, harnessing the transformative power of AI while managing risks.
The AI Policy Lab builds on a sustained track record of CNAS leadership in AI policymaking. CNAS experts and alumni have written the rules for how the Pentagon incorporates autonomous systems, developed policies intended to preserve the United States’s AI lead, and served in the highest levels of AI policymaking.
About CNAS
The Center for a New American Security develops bold, innovative, and bipartisan national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. Building on the deep expertise and broad experience of its staff and advisors, CNAS engages policymakers, experts, and the public with innovative fact-based research, ideas, and analysis to shape and elevate the national security debate. As an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization, CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow. CNAS is located in Washington, D.C.
CNAS is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
To Apply
CNAS accepts online applications only.
A complete application will include a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position, along with your resume or CV. Your cover letter should explain, in your voice, why this role fits your interests and experience. Candidates who advance in the process will be asked to share writing samples and references and will also be asked to complete a timed written exercise.
While we understand the value of AI tools for increasing productivity, please do not use any AI tools to generate, rewrite, or revise your application materials. Your application materials must authentically represent your own voice, skills, and communication style.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
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What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research and policy analyst jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in public policy, political science, economics, or a related field
- Proficiency in quantitative analysis tools such as R, Stata, Python, or SPSS
- Experience designing and conducting primary or secondary research studies
- Strong written communication skills including policy briefs, reports, and memos
- Familiarity with legislative processes, regulatory frameworks, or government budgeting cycles
- Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Excel dashboards
Tips for Your Research and Policy Analyst Job Search
Tailor your resume to policy context
Hiring managers for research and policy analyst roles want to see the policy domain front and center, not just your methods. Label each project with its sector, such as housing policy, public health, or education reform, so reviewers immediately understand your substantive expertise.
Show your analytical toolkit clearly
Many job postings screen for specific tools before a human reads your resume. List your statistical software, qualitative coding platforms, and data visualization tools in a dedicated skills section so automated screening and hiring managers both catch your capabilities quickly.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research and policy analyst openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations by their research output
Read the recent reports and briefs published by any organization you apply to before writing your cover letter. Referencing a specific methodology gap or finding shows you understand their work at a substantive level, which separates you from candidates who send identical letters.
Prepare a policy memo as a writing sample
Most research and policy analyst interviews ask for a writing sample. A one-to-two-page policy memo on a current issue in your specialty area demonstrates both your analytical thinking and your ability to communicate findings to non-technical audiences, which is a core job expectation.
Negotiate using the full compensation picture
Government and nonprofit research roles often have fixed salary bands but flexible benefits, remote work arrangements, or professional development budgets. When negotiating, ask about those components directly if the base offer is non-negotiable, rather than pressing only on salary.
Research and Policy Analyst Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research and policy analysts?
The most active employers for research and policy analysts right now are STAND TOGETHER, Johns Hopkins University, and RAND Corporation, and the most openings are in California, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially strong at research universities, federal contractors, and health policy nonprofits.
How many research and policy analyst jobs are remote?
About 82% of research and policy analyst openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based, document-driven nature of most of the work. Roles focused on quantitative data analysis and report writing tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring legislative testimony or stakeholder meetings more often require in-person presence.
How do you become a research and policy analyst?
Most research and policy analyst positions start with a bachelor's degree in a policy-adjacent field, followed by research experience gained through internships, graduate research assistantships, or entry-level roles at government agencies or nonprofits. Building a portfolio of writing samples, developing proficiency in at least one statistical analysis tool, and gaining direct exposure to a specific policy domain such as health, housing, or education policy are the practical steps that move candidates into analyst roles.
Can I get a research and policy analyst job with little or no experience?
Entry-level research and policy analyst roles do exist, and they typically require a relevant degree plus demonstrated research exposure rather than years of professional experience. Thesis work, capstone projects, or volunteer research contributions to advocacy organizations can substitute for paid experience. Targeting positions with titles like research assistant, junior policy analyst, or program associate at think tanks and government agencies is the most direct path when you're starting out.
What does the research and policy analyst interview process look like?
Most research and policy analyst interviews include an initial screening call, a substantive interview with a panel of researchers or program staff, and a written exercise such as a short policy memo or data analysis task completed in advance or on the spot. Interviewers typically probe your ability to synthesize complex information, explain your methodological choices, and communicate findings clearly to non-specialist audiences. References and a writing sample review usually happen in the final stage.
Where can I find and apply to research and policy analyst jobs?
You can find and apply to research and policy analyst jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, policy domain, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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