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Political Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Central Intelligence Agency

Political Analyst

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$63.94K - $158.32K/yr

Research experience in international affairs * Ability to work in a team environment * Interest in ... Political Science * At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale Additional information Candidates should ...

Tavern Research

Director of Survey Research

Chicago, IL · On-site

$185K - $219K/yr

Director of Survey Research Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC Reports to: CEO Salary : $185 ... About You You've spent a career doing serious political polling at the highest levels, the kind ...

Rutgers University

$2.78K/wk

Position Information Recruitment/Posting Title Lecturers, Political Science Department Political ... Recently, Rutgers-Camden earned Carnegie classification as an R2 research university due to a high ...

Tavern Research

Senior Researcher

Chicago, IL · On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

Director of Survey Researcher or Principal About Tavern Research Tavern Research is a political tech startup building tools and insights to help our customers win elections and make better, evidence ...

Hit Strategies

2026 Research Pipeline

Washington, DC · Remote

About HIT Strategies HIT Strategies is an insights firm that decodes the political and consumer landscape where traditional firms fail. Our diverse team of researchers specialize in reaching the ...

HIT Strategies

2026 Research Pipeline

Washington, DC · On-site

About HIT Strategies HIT Strategies is an insights firm that decodes the political and consumer landscape where traditional firms fail. Our diverse team of researchers specialize in reaching the ...

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do political researcher jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for political researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Political Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Political Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, a background in political science or a related field, and experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS or Stata), public databases, and citation management tools is typically required. Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and critical thinking are vital soft skills for interpreting information and presenting findings. These abilities enable Political Researchers to produce accurate, insightful analysis that supports policy decisions, campaigns, and scholarly work.

What are some common challenges Political Researchers face when gathering and analyzing data?

Political Researchers often encounter challenges such as accessing reliable and up-to-date information, especially from restricted or rapidly changing sources. Balancing objectivity and accuracy when interpreting data is essential, as is managing tight deadlines for delivering research to stakeholders. Additionally, researchers frequently collaborate with analysts, policy experts, and communication teams, requiring strong communication skills to ensure findings are clearly presented and actionable.

What does a political researcher do?

A political researcher gathers, analyzes, and interprets data related to political systems, public policies, elections, and government activities. They often work for think tanks, political parties, advocacy groups, or academic institutions, supporting decision-making by providing insights and recommendations. Their work may include conducting surveys, reviewing legislation, monitoring media, and preparing reports on political trends or issues. Political researchers play a vital role in informing political strategies and public understanding of political processes.
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Political Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Political Researcher job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 64% Full Time, 34% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.
Postdoctoral Researcher - Political Science and Systems Engineering

Postdoctoral Researcher - Political Science and Systems Engineering

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT • On-site

$65K - $68K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Montana State University rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 30 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

344th of 530 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number
STAFF - VA - 26364
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Dr. Xin Han
Assistant Professor
xin.han1@montana.edu
Classification Title
Postdoctoral Researcher
Working Title
Postdoctoral Researcher - Political Science and Systems Engineering
Brief Position Overview
Join an interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellowship at Montana State University, in collaboration with engineering and political science faculty, to implement an existing research program defined in the DigiCARES strategic plan that advances justice-enhanced resilience in next-generation energy system digital twins. The position offers hands-on research using real-world utility data and community partners to support an equitable, data-driven energy transformation.
Position Number
4C0585
Department
Political Science
Division
College of Letters & Science
Appointment Type
Research Professional
Contract Term
Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA
Exempt
Union Affiliation
FTE
1.0
Benefits Eligible
Eligible
Salary
$65,000 - $68,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type
LOA
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type
Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Postdoctoral Research Associate position is an interdisciplinary fellowship at Montana State University, supported by the NSF-funded DigiCARES project, which advances AI-driven digital twins for climate-aware and community-centered energy resilience. The fellow will implement a research program established in the NSF DigiCARES project strategic plan, contributing to defined milestones and deliverables while working at the intersection of engineering, data science, and social science to develop innovative approaches for next-generation energy infrastructure that integrate technical performance with community governance and equity-focused perspectives.
The appointment is jointly supported by engineering and political science faculty, creating a collaborative research environment that connects technological innovation with policy and public engagement. The fellow will conduct applied research using real-world utility data and community partnerships, gaining hands-on experience in cyber-physical energy systems, resilience analytics, and interdisciplinary solutions to complex societal challenges.
NSF award number 2418359
Duties and Responsibilities
Research & Analysis
  • Conduct interdisciplinary research on energy justice, governance, and community resilience in cyber-physical energy systems.
  • Design and implement social science measures (procedural, recognition, and distributive justice) for digital twin applications.
  • Conduct quantitative and mixed methods research with rural cooperatives and community stakeholders to assess energy equity impacts.
  • Analyze socio-technical datasets and policy indicators to evaluate equity outcomes in energy planning and operations.
  • Execute defined research tasks and deliverables specified in the DigiCARES strategic plan, including milestones related to data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Community Engagement & Translation
  • Develop and execute community engagement strategies, integrating local knowledge into energy system decision-making and model validation.
  • Facilitate participatory workshops and present research findings to community energy committees and partner organizations.
  • Translate complex technical energy analytics into accessible insights for policymakers, utilities, and community stakeholders.

Publication & Mentorship
  • Prepare and publish peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and policy briefs focused on justice-enhanced energy systems.
  • Mentor master's and doctoral students, offering training, seminars, collaborative research opportunities, and methodological guidance in interdisciplinary energy resilience research.
  • Present research findings at academic conferences and project meetings, and assist with proposal and grant-related activities.

Project Support
  • Support project coordination, grant reporting, and dissemination activities as part of the NSF DigiCARES research initiative, including implementing strategic-plan research tasks and associated reporting deliverables.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
  1. Ph.D. in political science, public policy, economics, engineering, or a closely related field with a preferred research focus on energy systems, resilience, or socio-technical infrastructure.
  2. Strong research skills and demonstrated interest in topics such as:
    • Artificial intelligence & technology governance
    • Rural co-op governance and community resilience
    • Energy policy, energy justice, energy poverty, and energy security
  3. Prior experience in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research.
  4. Technical competence in data analytics, programming, or modeling using tools such as Python, R, GIS, or similar computational platforms.
  5. Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and translate technical and social science insights into scholarly publications and policy-relevant outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
  1. Experience conducting field-based research with utilities, rural cooperatives, community organizations, or government agencies on energy or infrastructure issues.
  2. Background in digital twin platforms, cyber-physical systems, or energy system modeling and optimization.
  3. Familiarity with large-scale energy or socio-technical datasets, including AMI, SCADA, outage records, or public equity indicators.
  4. Prior success in interdisciplinary research teams and in developing externally funded research proposals.

The Successful Candidate Will
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across engineering and social science disciplines.
  • Strong organizational and project management abilities, including managing multiple tasks and research timelines.
  • Capacity to engage respectfully and productively with community stakeholders and partners from all backgrounds.
  • Clear written and oral communication skills for translating complex research findings to academic, policy, and public audiences.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This position is contingent upon continued grant funding.
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
Required Application Documents:
  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Cover Letter (max 3 pages)
  3. Research Statement (max 3 pages)
  4. Sample Publication

Applicants will be required to list three references during the application process.
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties?
No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies
1
Desired Start Date
Upon completion of a successful search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Review of applications will be on a continual basis and will continue until the position is filled.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

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