Jobs & Internships
About ThinkTennessee
Based in Nashville, ThinkTennessee is a nonpartisan, results-oriented think tank that uses research and advocacy to help build a state where all Tennesseans are civically engaged and economically secure.
We believe our state does best when voters have a say in the decisions that impact their lives and workers earn enough to support their families. That’s why we focus our work on researching and advocating for policies that empower voters, support working families, and build a shared understanding of how our state stacks up nationally.
ThinkTennessee’s office is in downtown Nashville. We provide a flexible, hybrid work environment, with at least two days of in-person work per week.
Policy Manager – Energy and Environment
Position description:
The Policy Manager for Energy and Environment will support ThinkTennessee’s mission by leading our emerging Energy and Environment policy portfolio. This position will work to improve the lives of Tennesseans by supporting the state’s transition to clean energy production, accelerating electric vehicle manufacturing and adoption, and increasing access to reliable, clean, and affordable utilities for Tennessee families.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Maintain a deep knowledge of the state’s energy and environment policy landscape and identify opportunities to achieve the organization’s policy priorities.
- Work with the President and the Director of Policy and Research to conceptualize potential policy and research projects.
- Lead execution of policy and research projects within the energy and environment issue area.
- Conduct quantitative analysis and qualitative research, including analyses of statutory, regulatory, and other policy documents.
- Write and design policy briefs, reports, and other educational resources for a variety of audiences.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including elected officials, administrative staff, industry, and community partners.
- Present ThinkTennessee’s work through presentations and meetings with policymakers, coalitions, and other thought leaders.
- Support development of the organization’s annual policy priorities.
- Effectively coordinate support from policy associates, interns, and research assistants on projects.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree is required. An advanced degree is preferred.
- 4+ years relevant work experience, or equivalent is preferred.
Skills
- Ability to conceptualize and produce high-quality quantitative analysis and policy research.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex ideas and findings through oral and written communication.
- Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to initiate and execute creative approaches to advancing policy.
- Experience analyzing federal and state government data.
- Extremely strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
- Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution.
Characteristics
- Passion for and demonstrated commitment to ThinkTennessee’s mission.
- Strong commitment to racial equity and deep understanding of the role of racial equity analysis in public policy.
- Self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
- Ability to flourish in a start-up environment and adapt to changing priorities and duties within the organization’s overall mission.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team and across organizations.
- Demonstrated record of community, student, organizing, campaign management, or related work is preferred.
Compensation: Competitive salary ($70,000-$80,000) commensurate with experience. We offer comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, retirement, paid family leave, and paid time off.
Commitment to a diverse workplace: ThinkTennessee is an equal opportunity employer. As an organization focused on moving Tennessee forward, we understand that diverse teams are stronger, more innovative, and more productive. Interested candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing opportunities for professional growth.
How to apply:
Applicants should send a resume and a cover letter to info@thinktn.org by May 8, 2024.
Policy Associate
Position description:
The Policy Associate will help support ThinkTennessee’s mission by providing high-quality quantitative research and policy analysis for our growing organization. The position will support both our Economic Security for Working Families and Strengthening Democracy policy areas and will be integral to the development and deployment of our State of the State and County Dashboards.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Support both the Working Families and Civic Engagement teams through data and policy analysis.
- Develop datasets, including identifying potential data sources, evaluating source methodology and quality, scraping, cleaning, and merging datasets as needed.
- Use statistical software to produce original quantitative analyses to answer research questions.
- Conduct policy research, including analyses of statutory, regulatory, and other policy documents.
- Communicate research findings internally to support development of policy and advocacy strategies.
- Communicate research findings externally to partners, elected officials, and the general public.
- Develop high-quality data visualizations to communicate research findings in a clear, accessible way.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- 2+ years relevant work experience, or equivalent is preferred.
- Interest and experience in ThinkTennessee’s policy areas of focus is preferred.
Skills
- Quantitative analytical skills are required. The ability to use Stata, R, GIS, or similar programs to conduct high-quality data analysis is highly preferred.
- Ability to produce accessible data visualizations, including maps, charts, and graphs for analysis or communication of complex data.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex ideas and findings through oral, written, and visual communication.
- Ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to initiate and execute creative approaches to answering research questions.
- Experience analyzing federal and state government data.
- Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills preferred.
- Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution.
Characteristics
- Passion for and demonstrated commitment to ThinkTennessee’s mission.
- Strong commitment to racial equity and deep understanding of the role of racial equity analysis in public policy.
- Self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
- Ability to flourish in a start-up environment and adapt to changing priorities and duties within the organization’s overall mission.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team and across organizations.
Compensation: Competitive salary ($50,000-$60,000) commensurate with experience. We offer comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, retirement, paid family leave, and paid time off.
Commitment to a diverse workplace: ThinkTennessee is an equal opportunity employer. As an organization focused on moving Tennessee forward, we understand that diverse teams are stronger, more innovative, and more productive. Interested candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing opportunities for professional growth.
How to apply:
Applicants should send a resume and a cover letter to info@thinktn.org by May 8, 2024.
External Relations Associate
Position description:
The External Relations Associate will help broaden ThinkTennessee’s impact by providing communications, graphic design, development, and event-planning support to our dynamic team. The External Relations Associate will report to the External Relations Director to advance our communications efforts and grow our relationships with external stakeholders. As part of a small and growing team, this position will also support other organizational needs depending on workload and priority deliverables.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Digital Media and Marketing
- Follow the storytelling voice of ThinkTennessee for all assigned external messaging, primarily community education through social media and e-newsletters.
- Maintain website by posting news clips, press releases, and new research products.
- Assist in the graphic design of digital content for social media and research publication purposes.
- Maintain database for local, regional, and national outlets.
Events
- Develop and maintain internal and external calendar of events and a standard events process.
- Coordinate logistics for ThinkTennessee events, including board meetings, fundraisers, and community meetings.
- Act as event point-of-contact to ensure events run smoothly, including: confirming guest counts, delegating check-in, setting up and breaking down space, welcoming vendors, testing AV, supporting panelists and speakers, and more as needed.
- Draft invitations and track RSVPs.
Fundraising
- Support fundraising efforts through funder research, digital/mail campaigns, and management of database/CRM.
- Assist External Relations Director in drafting grant proposals, reports, and other fundraising communications.
Other Duties
- Manage and oversee ThinkTennessee’s internship program.
- Perform office administration tasks as needed, e.g., scheduling and/or other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- 2+ years relevant work experience preferred.
- Experience working with social media and scheduling platforms, e.g., Hootsuite, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, preferred.
- Proficiency in Canva or other graphic design software preferred.
Skills
- Extremely strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
- Ability to ideate and bring graphic design concepts to life.
- Ability to organize, maintain, and coordinate project files.
- Effective manager of long checklist to execute event coordination.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team.
Characteristics
- Passion for and demonstrated commitment to ThinkTennessee’s mission.
- Strong commitment to racial equity and a deep understanding of how to communicate effectively about race and equity issues.
- Self-motivated with a strong work ethic.
- Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution.
- Ability to manage work streams on various project teams and balance multiple priorities.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and duties within the organization’s overall mission.
Compensation: Competitive salary ($50,000-$60,000) commensurate with experience. We offer comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, retirement, paid family leave, and paid time off.
Commitment to a diverse workplace: ThinkTennessee is an equal opportunity employer. As an organization focused on moving Tennessee forward, we understand that diverse teams are stronger, more innovative, and more productive. Interested candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing opportunities for professional growth.
How to apply:
Applicants should send a resume and a cover letter to info@thinktn.org by May 8, 2024.
Internship Program
ThinkTennessee interns will have a unique opportunity to collaborate with our staff and board of directors, as well as other prominent thought leaders, to produce meaningful work.
Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in public policy, nonprofit management, communications and/or fundraising, and a willingness to work independently on a variety of tasks. Please note your primary area(s) of interest when applying.
Interns will receive a stipend for their work at a rate of $15 per hour. ThinkTennessee will also support interns’ efforts to obtain academic credit or outside funding.
Position open to: Undergraduate students
Length and location: Interns will work from ThinkTennessee’s main office in downtown Nashville (or remotely, as necessary). Summer interns typically work full-time; split summers are acceptable. During the school year, interns may choose either a part-time or a full-time schedule (a 15-hour minimum per week is required).
How to apply
Spring 2024: November 10, 2023
Summer 2024: February 16, 2024
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If your school requires you to submit your clerkship or assistantship information by a certain date for funding purposes, please specify this in your application.
To apply for this job email your cover letter and resume to info@thinktn.org
Research Assistant/Law Clerk Program
ThinkTennessee research assistants will have a unique opportunity to collaborate with our staff and board of directors, as well as other prominent thought leaders, to produce meaningful policy work.
Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in public policy and/or nonprofit management, and a willingness to work independently on a variety of tasks.
Research Assistants will receive a stipend for their work at a rate of $20 per hour. ThinkTennessee will also support research assistants’ efforts to obtain academic credit or outside funding.
Position open to: Law students and graduate students in public policy or political science
Length and location: Research assistants will work from ThinkTennessee’s main office in downtown Nashville (or remotely, as necessary). Summer research assistants typically work full-time; split summers are acceptable. During the school year, research assistants may choose either a part-time or a full-time schedule (a 15-hour minimum per week is required).
Application Deadline:
Spring 2024: November 10, 2023
Summer 2024: February 16, 2024
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If your school requires you to submit your assistantship information by a certain date for funding purposes, please specify this in your application.
To apply for this job email your cover letter and resume to info@thinktn.org
