The Manhattan Institute (MI) is a community of scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders who are united by a shared commitment to advancing economic opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its great cities. MI is independent, creative, and bold, and we are hiring a like-minded, mid-career Policy Fellow capable of conducting public policy research, analysis, and communication on New York City’s fiscal issues as well as larger economic and labor market topics.

In addition to publishing research and commentary, the Policy Fellow will be an active contributor in MI’s media, outreach, and events programming. The Policy Fellow will work closely and collaboratively with their colleagues, including the relevant Policy Analyst(s) and center director. MI is looking for self-starters who are committed to developing actionable policy ideas that align with and amplify our institutional priorities, particularly for New York City. The Policy Fellow will be expected to regularly comment on state and local issues around public finance, taxes and the economy, and the labor market in New York City.

The Policy Fellow will also have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • Fiscal policy, including public spending, pension reform, and budgets, among other topics.
  • Tax policy, including analysis of newly proposed taxes, the state of current taxes, property tax reform, and other related issues.
  • Economic development, including the state of the economy, strategies to grow New York City’s economy, and analysis of corporate incentives.
  • Labor policy, such as labor market trends, regulations, and other policies impacting the city’s jobs recovery.
  • Urban infrastructure, including such topics as construction costs, congestion pricing, rent regulation, and more.
  • Public sector governance, including cost efficiency measures and procurement reform.

Required qualifications

  • Advanced degree in relevant field;
  • A particular interest and background in fiscal policy and New York City policymaking;
  • Excellent written communication skills and experience publishing policy commentary in reputable media outlets;
  • Ability to work with and analyze data;
  • Ability to clearly communicate research findings to experts and non-experts alike;
  • Ability to persuasively communicate policy ideas to audiences across the political spectrum
  • Familiarity with MI policy priorities and the work of other MI fellows; a keen interest in supporting and extending this work;
  • Strong organizational skills and an ability to adjust to a constantly shifting policy landscape.

Preferred qualifications

  • Familiarity with a programming language, such as R, for statistical computing

Benefits

This fellowship will be based in New York City, NY. We anticipate that the role will be hybrid, with at least two or three days every week in our midtown Manhattan office.

MI offers generous benefits, including four weeks paid vacation, a Summer Fridays program, paid paternity/maternity leave, medical and dental coverage, medical and dependent care FSA, mental health benefits, remote medicine, paid company cell phone, life insurance, and a 401(k) with a company-funded match. MI staff also benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and socialize with other prominent scholars in our policy space.

To apply, please fill out the form below or email careers@manhattan-institute.org. Be sure to include:

  • Resume;
  • Cover letter explaining your interest in MI and the role;
  • Writing sample: please include an op-ed length policy commentary, report/brief, or links to previously published commentary public policy. You can either include a link to the writing sample or append it to your cover letter.
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