Associate Economist Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Founded in 2007, the Bipartisan Policy Center and its advocacy affiliate, BPC Action, are unique in their approach to solving the nation’s most pressing issues. As the only organization working across the full political spectrum on domestic issues, BPC brings together diverse perspectives to craft solutions that lower the everyday cost of living for families, expand opportunities, and strengthen the American economy. BPC Action works directly with legislators and other policymakers to turn those solutions into impactful results. 

What sets us apart is our ability to operate at the intersection of policy development and political advocacy, building consensus across the aisle to advance reforms in Congress. For more than 20 years, BPC and BPC Action have consistently achieved results on complex issues, demonstrating that working together with both parties is not only possible but essential to achieve results. 

We are trusted leaders in cutting through the division and creating common ground to solve the problems Americans care about most. We are an indispensable force to produce results in Washington and beyond.  

Ideas 
BPC recruits respected policy experts, former Hill and Administration staff, and private sector leaders to drive our core programs. We engage current and former policymakers, CEOs and business leaders, and leading policy experts to work together with our nation’s leaders to generate solutions to America’s challenges. 

Action 
Policy development is only the beginning of BPC’s work. Our advocacy affiliate, BPC Action, advances legislation by providing political and technical assistance, identifying and supporting legislative champions, and leveraging key relationships to support members of Congress working together to enact solutions and produce results for Americans. 

Results 
In 2025, BPC and BPC Action mobilized to introduce over 120 bills in the House and Senate and helped advance over 40 bills beyond committee. We met with over half of all congressional offices, expanding our reach to both parties.

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is seeking an Associate Director to lead its cross-organizational work on government operations and program integrity. This is a unique opportunity to shape BPC’s growing portfolio on one of the most consequential—and often overlooked—challenges in federal policymaking: ensuring that government programs are well-designed, efficiently administered, and accountable to taxpayers. This position will be reporting to the Economic Policy Program’s  Director of Fiscal Policy.

The Associate Director will lead research and policy development on how the federal government can reduce improper payments, modernize data and technology infrastructure, and improve coordination across federal and state-administered programs. The role requires synthesizing complex policy questions into accessible recommendations for congressional and public audiences, evaluating legislative and administrative proposals against BPC’s program integrity principles, and working across BPC’s program teams to connect government operations to broader fiscal and economic policy goals. 

The Associate Director will also lead external engagement—building BPC’s convening authority through relationships with federal agency officials, congressional staff, inspectors general, and policy experts—and will help secure and steward grant funding to sustain and expand the portfolio. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, strong communicator, and experienced project leader who can effectively navigate complex policy environments while building consensus across diverse perspectives. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead research and analysis on government operations, program integrity, and federal management topics and synthesize findings into briefs, explainers, and recommendations for policymakers and the public
• Evaluate legislative and administrative proposals against BPC’s program integrity principles and advance bipartisan legislative and administrative recommendations to strengthen program integrity, improve intergovernmental coordination, and modernize federal data and technology infrastructure
• Coordinate with BPC’s program teams to develop cross-cutting research and policy proposals that connect government operations to broader program and fiscal policy goals
• Lead substantive engagement with external stakeholders, including federal agency officials, congressional staff, inspectors general, policy experts, advocacy organizations, and funders to build BPC’s convening authority and influence on government operations issues. (This may include occasional travel) 
• In partnership with the team’s leadership and BPC’s Development team, help steward grant funding to sustain and expand the government operations portfolio
• Collaborate with BPC’s communications, development, and operations teams to promote research externally, including through media engagement, Hill briefings, and public events, in ways that build BPC’s public profile on these issues
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter resource to program leadership, project participants, and external partners
• Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, political, and policy developments relevant to government operations and identify strategic opportunities for engagement
• Mentor and provide guidance to analysts, managers, and other staff members while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, government, economics, public administration, law, communications, or a related field
• 7+ years of relevant professional experience in public policy, government, advocacy, nonprofit organizations, consulting, think tanks, public affairs, legislative affairs, or a related field
• Significant experience working on government operations, program integrity, or federal management issues, ideally in or with federal agencies such as GAO, OMB, Treasury, agency Offices of Inspector General, or agency CFO offices
• Familiarity with GAO’s improper payments framework and federal accountability mechanisms with knowledge of major benefits programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, UI, and refundable tax credits
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, with the ability to produce clear, accessible materials for congressional and public audiences, including policy briefs, explainers, and media-facing content
• Exceptional verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for senior policymakers and executive audiences
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while managing day-to-day execution
• Strong commitment to objective, evidence-informed analysis and bipartisan policymaking
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing priorities effectively

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in public policy, public administration, economics, law, political science, or a related field
• Experience working on Capitol Hill, within a federal agency, governor’s office, state legislature, think tank, trade association, advocacy organization, or similar institution
• Understanding of the interface between federal programs and state-administered programs, including the program integrity, efficiency, procurement, and compliance challenges that arise in intergovernmental contexts
• Knowledge of how government administrative and statistical data are used to inform program design, administration, and evaluation
• Demonstrated ability to build an organization’s reputation with Hill staff, executive branch officials, and national media as a credible, nonpartisan voice on government operations issues
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or managing professional staff
• Experience facilitating consensus-building efforts among stakeholders with differing viewpoints
• Experience supporting fundraising, donor engagement, grant development, or external partnerships
• Experience representing an organization publicly through speaking engagements, media interactions, or testimony
• Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex policy and stakeholder environments
• Familiarity with the Economic Policy Program’s overall policy portfolio including fiscal, tax, and retirement security

Application Process:

Please submit a writing sample along with your resume and cover letter.

BPC offers a highly competitive salary and provides generous benefits.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. BPC does not sponsor employment visas.

BPC is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.

Work Schedule

The work/life balance of employees is a priority for the Bipartisan Policy Center. As a result, BPC is currently operating on a hybrid schedule. Employees at BPC are currently coming into the office three times a week. Exact time and schedules will be determined between an employee and their manager. 

BPC offers comprehensive health insurance benefits with a choice of open access HMO, POS, or PPO plan. HMO and POS individual plans have a monthly premium cost share of 10%. Dependent and Family HMO and POS plans are offered with a monthly cost share equal to 20% of the difference between the plan premium and the individual HMO monthly premium. PPO plans are offered with a 20% premium cost-share for all plans.

Additional benefits include 403(b) matching contributions of up to 7% of salary in addition to a non-elective contribution of 2% of salary (both after 90 days of employment); 15 vacation days, 2 personal days, 15 sick days, and 12 holidays per year; education benefits up to $5,250 per year after one year of employment; $2,000 for professional development expenses after six months of employment; Metro benefits of up to $130 per month; Company provided life insurance; and dental and vision insurance coverage with a Flexible Spending Plan.

We reasonably believe that the base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $130,000. At BPC, a wide range of factors are considered when making compensation decisions including and not limited to skill set, experience, training, education, knowledge, and other business and organizational needs.