Description
The AAUP is a union and membership association of faculty and other academic professionals. Headquartered in Washington, DC, we have members and chapters based at colleges and universities across the country.
The mission of the AAUP is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain educational quality
and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO, is hiring a full-time Senior State Policy Analyst. Based in Washington, D.C., on a hybrid schedule, this strategist will monitor multi-state legislative trends and public sentiment to defend academic freedom, tenure, and public higher education funding.
Overview
Salary: $125,000.00 – $165,000.00 yearly.
Job Type: Full-time, Indefinite duration.
Location: Washington, D.C. (Hybrid).
Requirements: Master’s degree (preferred) and 7–10 years of experience.
Key Responsibilities
Flagship Publications: Author the Annual State Policy Trends Report tracking legislative shifts across all 50 states, and regular public opinion reports synthesizing trust metrics and voter sentiment.
State Policy & Sentiment Tracking: Monitor state higher education legislation, gubernatorial budgets, and board policies while providing rapid-response briefs on emerging threats.
Advocacy & Toolkit Development: Translate complex legislative text and polling data into action-oriented advocacy toolkits, messaging guides, and model state policies for local chapters.
Strategic Coalition Alignment: Collaborate with AAUP campus chapters, AFT state federations, and labor partners (AFL-CIO) to build aligned, cross-functional legislative campaigns.
Requirements & Qualifications
Experience: 7–10+ years in state higher education policy analysis, legislative research, or state government relations. Strong familiarity with the labor movement (AFT, AFL-CIO) is highly preferred.
Technical Skills: Advanced data and survey literacy, with a proven track record of writing major policy or public opinion publications.
Interpersonal & Communication Capabilities: High emotional intelligence to counsel local leaders, manage sensitive organizational dynamics, and translate statutory terms into accessible narratives.
Education: Master’s degree, J.D., or Ph.D. in Public Policy, Education Policy, Political Science, or a related field is strongly preferred.