Director of Research
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 seeks a Research Director who is passionate about rigorous, evidence-based research that helps Tennessee families achieve economic security and strengthens civic engagement across the state. This role leads the organization's research portfolio — from defining research questions and methodology through original data analysis to publication-ready outputs — in support of ThinkTennessee's Working Families and Civic Engagement priorities, and serves as one of the organization's issue-area experts, contributing to policy writing and representing ThinkTennessee in the media, at events, and on coalitions.
The Research Director will work alongside ThinkTennessee's president, policy staff, and board to design and execute original research that grounds the organization's policy agendas in rigorous data and analysis.
ThinkTennessee follows a hybrid work schedule, with core working hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are required in-person in our downtown Nashville office; Wednesday and Friday may be worked either in-person or remotely. More information about ThinkTennessee is available at www.thinktennessee.org.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead ThinkTennessee’s Research Portfolio:
Support both the Working Families and Civic Engagement teams through research and data analysis.
Work with the president and policy staff to define research projects, including identifying research questions, establishing methodology, and finding high-quality data sources.
Direct and execute original quantitative and qualitative research with the highest standards of rigor, accuracy, and quality within project timelines.
Develop datasets, including identifying potential data sources, evaluating source methodology and quality, and scraping, cleaning, and merging data as needed.
Use statistical software (R, Stata, SAS, or similar) to produce original quantitative analyses that answer research questions.
Produce high-quality data visualizations (graphics, maps, tables, and charts) to communicate research findings in a clear, accessible way.
Oversee the State of Our State and State of Our Counties dashboards.
Distill research into key findings that are easily understood by general audiences.
Contribute research and data analysis to support the production of policy briefs, reports, and other resources for a variety of audiences.
Manage and develop research team staff, including associates, research assistants, and interns.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Serve as ThinkTennessee’s Research and Issue-Area Expert:
Maintain subject-matter expertise in relevant Working Families and Civic Engagement issue areas, and use that expertise to author policy briefs, reports, and other publication-ready products alongside policy staff.
Serve as one of the organization's research and issue-area experts in the media and at public events, including delivering presentations to policymakers, funders, and civic audiences (e.g., presenting the State of Our State dashboard at civic leader luncheons and similar convenings).
Represent ThinkTennessee on coalitions, working groups, and at conferences as appropriate.
Communicate research findings internally to support the development of policy products and advocacy strategies.
Maintain awareness of the state's data landscape and proactively identify new research opportunities relevant to Working Families and Civic Engagement priorities.
Collaborate with policy and communications staff to ensure research is accurately and clearly reflected in external-facing materials.
Qualifications:
Required
At least 5 years of work experience in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, advocacy, or government) with demonstrated increasing responsibility.
Exceptional research and analytical skills, including the ability to conduct high-quality data analysis in R, Stata, SAS, or similar programs.
Strong data visualization, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to distill conclusions and use text and graphics to communicate them.
Demonstrated managerial skills to lead associates, research assistants, and interns in producing their best work; ability to troubleshoot and oversee analysis in statistical software.
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple short- and long-term projects effectively.
Comfortable and effective representing the organization publicly, including public speaking, media engagement, and presenting research to non-technical audiences.
Preferred
An advanced degree in public policy, economics, political science, or a related field.
Managerial experience.
Academic or professional experience in public policy and/or relevant issue expertise (working families and/or civic engagement).
Characteristics
Passion for and demonstrated commitment to ThinkTennessee’s mission and organizational values.
A growth mindset: approaches challenges with curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning, and is motivated to build institutional knowledge and grow with the organization for the long term.
Gives and receives feedback directly and graciously, treating it as core to producing strong, publication-ready work.
Anticipates issues and problems in advance and proposes possible solutions, rather than escalating problems without options.
Flexible thinker able to adapt to, and thrive in, a changing policy environment.
Familiarity with Tennessee's political and policymaking environment is preferred.
Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and an exceptional level of attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team and across organizations.
Compensation: Competitive salary ($130,000–$140,000) commensurate with experience. We offer comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, retirement, paid family leave, and generous paid time off, including sick leave, vacation days, and holiday schedules.
Location: This position is based in Nashville, TN, and follows a hybrid schedule: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in-person in the downtown Nashville office (9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), with Wednesday and Friday worked either in-person or remotely. Candidates are expected to either reside in Nashville or be willing to relocate after accepting the position.
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.
TO APPLY
Nonprofit Leadership LLC is facilitating this executive search on behalf of ThinkTennessee. Interested candidates should send a resume and a cover letter addressing their proudest research project and its impact to elle@nonprofit-leadership.com by October 9,2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, with early applications appreciated. ThinkTennessee is an equal opportunity employer.
