Associate Director, Washington State Institute for Public Policy

This is a full-time overtime-exempt, “at-will” appointment, exempt from Washington State Civil Service rules and the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime requirements.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy Profile
The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) is a nonpartisan public research group located in Olympia, the hub of Washington State government. WSIPP is a team of multidisciplinary researchers who conduct applied policy research for the state legislature in a creative and collaborative environment.

WSIPP is strongly committed to the core values of nonpartisanship, quality, and impartiality. Created in 1983, WSIPP has become nationally and internationally recognized for the design, depth, and quality of its research reports and benefit-cost analyses.

The Associate Director works in an office environment with occasional meetings in a group setting. Flex scheduling is allowed, and a limited telecommuting schedule may be approved by the Director.

The Associate Director supervises and oversees WSIPP’s research portfolio, ensuring the successful, timely, and high-quality completion of legislative and Board-directed assignments. The Associate Director works closely with the Director and Operations Manager to manage the WSIPP budget, allocate resources and staff workloads appropriately, and hire new staff when needed.

The Associate Director also works with the Research Manager to support the smooth conducting of the internal technical review process and the ongoing development and utility of technical workgroups.

The Associate Director develops relationships with external parties, such as the WSIPP Board of Directors, state legislative members and staff, state agency leadership, and other outside parties wishing to draw on WSIPP expertise. The position involves close consultation with state legislative members and staff. The Associate Director must be able to step in for the Director in the Director’s absence, and to represent WSIPP in all required contexts.

The Associate Director supervises Senior Research Associates (and Research Associates IIs) who conduct quantitative research on public policy topics. Supervisory responsibilities include training and development, evaluating performance, planning and assigning work, resolving grievances, and taking corrective action.

The Associate Director spends roughly 20% of their time supervising at least six full time researchers, 40% leading and overseeing internal WSIPP functions such as workload planning, policy development, developing internal and external relationships, and 40% coordinating and overseeing the development, conduction, and completion of high-quality quantitative research.

• Complete other projects upon request. The work portfolio may vary depending on new legislative assignments.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders.

• Works diplomatically, professionally, and in a nonpartisan manner on controversial issues.
• Ability to represent WSIPP in all necessary settings, in state, national, and international forums.
• Oversees and coordinates multiple research plans.
• Coordinates and plans multi-faceted, long-term projects.
• Possesses strong presentation, public speaking, and written skills for both technical and lay audiences. Presents and expresses ideas and information effectively and concisely in both oral and written formats.
• With all audiences, listens to and comprehends what others are saying; shares information with others to facilitate the open exchange of ideas and information; is open, honest, and straightforward with others; provides a complete and timely explanation of issues and decisions in a manner appropriate for the audience.
• Ability to work across multiple disciplines and with a variety of state agency partners.
• Displays knowledge of the roles, responsibilities, and duties of supervisors, project leads, and researchers; accurately assesses how own work and performance of duties affects others; and supports and promotes organizational decisions and policies.
• Is aware of, responds to, and considers the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others; deals effectively with others in favorable and unfavorable situations regardless of their status or position; accepts interpersonal and cultural differences; manages conflict/ confrontations/disagreements in a positive manner that minimizes personal impact, to include controlling one’s own feelings and reactions; and provides appropriate support to others.
• Develops and evaluates alternative courses of action; makes decisions based on correct assumptions concerning resources and guidelines; supports decisions or recommendations with data or reasoning; defines and implements solutions to problems; and recognizes when no action is required.
• Makes decisions, renders judgments, and takes action on difficult or unpleasant tasks in a timely fashion, to include the appropriate communication of both negative and positive information and decisions.
• Establishes work standards and expectations for self and others. Appropriately assigns/delegates work and authority to others in the accomplishment of goals. Keeps goals and objectives in sight at all times, monitors progress toward goals, and works to overcome barriers and obstacles.
• Provides coaching, advice, and assistance as required; e.g., helps staff overcome obstacles and deal with problems. Assesses contributions and performance of employees; provides appropriate recognition, and deals with problems as they arise. Instill a sense of pride in others in the job at hand.

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in relevant discipline—economics, public policy, education, political science, psychology, sociology, or closely related field.
• Five years of experience communicating with audiences of policymakers.
• Two years of experience supervising at least five staff.
• Two years of experience managing multiple, complex projects and their budgets.

• Five years of experience conducting applied public policy research in a non-partisan setting.
• Work experience in Washington State Government.
• Experience working with the Washington State legislature.
• Experience managing organizational budgets.
• Experience with project-based budgeting.

Must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three days of beginning work.

A full state benefits package which includes: paid sick and vacation leave; paid campus holidays; a generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For more information about Evergreen’s excellent employee benefits, please view http://www.evergreen.edu/payroll/benefits.htm