Director of Economic Policy (New York, New York or Washington, D.C.)

New York, New York or Washington, D.C. | Hybrid (Minimum 2 days a week in office)
Minimum Salary: $160,000, Maximum Salary: $190,000

The Century Foundation is seeking a dynamic, motivated, and experienced director of economic policy to lead TCF’s economic policy team and conduct research and develop proposals that restore power to workers, families, and consumers and tangibly improve Americans’ daily lives. The director will work across a range of issues such as labor market dynamics, macroeconomic conditions, wealth inequality, artificial intelligence, financial markets, and consumer protection, and have a sharp lens on how power dynamics shape our economy. The director will bring their own unique expertise and interest areas to the team, set the direction for TCF’s economic policy work going forward, devise policy strategies to influence policymakers, and produce their own original research and writing to shape and inform new and ongoing policy debates. The director will also work closely alongside other TCF policy teams to develop analyses that advance our work on a range of domestic and international policy issues.

The right candidate will bring extensive policy, research, and quantitative analytical skills; a network of relevant contacts in public policy, press, and philanthropy; and demonstrated interest in analyzing persistent gaps in wages, wealth, and power based on race, gender, immigration, and disability status. 

About TCF’s Values

One in three Americans are skipping meals and medication to save money. Half are draining their savings to cover everyday expenses. Meanwhile, the richest 1 percent now hold nearly as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent. Powerful corporations jack up prices with impunity while billionaires write the tax code to their own benefit. When families can’t afford the basics and believe government only works for the wealthy, democracy itself becomes fragile. History shows where this leads: strongman politics, widening inequality, and the erosion of basic rights and norms. TCF is addressing the crisis facing working families and our democracy by fighting for policies that restore power to workers, families, and consumers and tangibly improve Americans’ daily lives. We’re using every tool at our disposal—from research and data analysis to policy development, polling, and messaging research to strong partnerships with movement and advocacy groups—to reshape markets and build an economy that actually works for working people. 

Responsibilities include:

• Direct TCF’s economic policy team, including setting the vision for research and policy development designed to influence public policy and drive progressive change. 
• Author reports and commentary on economic policy issues, and oversee policy research projects by internal and external contributors on issues in economic policy and TCF policy areas. 
• Devise strategies and tactics to advance new ideas and influence key policy debates in the short and long term. 
• Establish and maintain strong networks among economic policy experts, advocates, policymakers, and colleagues at other think thanks to share information and collaborate. 
• Lift TCF’s profile and influence as a leader on economic policy, including engaging with the media and on social media, speaking at and hosting conferences and convenings, briefing policymakers on TCF’s policy agenda, and more. 
• With support from TCF’s development team, help lead the economic policy team’s fundraising and development strategy, cultivating new funding sources. 
• Collaborate with other TCF policy teams on projects that overlap with worker rights and power.
• May be required to manage a team of direct reports.

Highly desired skills and qualifications include:

• At least ten years of experience working in economic policy, and a proven track record of developing policies, strategies, and analysis that advance a progressive economic agenda. 
• A commitment to bold, progressive policy change that advances racial and economic justice for working people across our economy.
• Experience driving analysis aimed at understanding and shifting power dynamics to combat outsized corporate influence. 
• Strong quantitative skills, including experience working with R, Stata, Microsoft Excel, and some expertise on data visualization.
• An eagerness to think creatively to develop and execute strategies to help policy change take hold, including through legislation, executive orders, guidance, regulation, enforcement, and more.  
• Existing working relationships with peer organizations, advocates, and policymakers.
• Political acuity and the ability to craft research and policy recommendations to advance or capitalize on new or ongoing policy debates.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, including for expert and popular audiences alike.
• A willingness to build and maintain relationships with funding partners to achieve even greater policy impact.

Compensation and benefits

TCF offers a competitive compensation package, with a salary range determined by years of experience, skills, and abilities. Each candidate’s placement within the range will be based on these factors while ensuring alignment with our commitment to equitable internal pay practices. TCF is a unionized workplace and is represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA1180). This position is not in the bargaining unit.

This is a hybrid work position to be based in either Washington, D.C. or New York City.

TCF’s  benefits include health, dental. vision, and life insurance, and an employer-funded health reimbursement account (HRA). This benefit package is in addition to generous vacation, sick and personal days, an employer matching 403(b) plan, and up to fourteen weeks parental leave.

The salary range for this position is $160,000–190,000. 

Please apply with a resume, cover letter, and two writing examples (three to five pages maximum) via BambooHR. No inquiries by third-party vendors and no phone calls please.  If you have any issues accessing the hiring portal, please reach out with questions to hr@tcf.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The deadline for submission of application materials is May 22, 2026.

The Century Foundation is committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. Everyone is encouraged to apply, including women, LGBTQIA people, people of color, and people with disabilities. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

About TCF 

The Century Foundation is a progressive, independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions, and drives policy change to make people’s lives better. We pursue economic, racial, gender, and disability equity in education, health care, and work, and promote U.S. foreign policy that fosters international cooperation, peace, and security. TCF has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. You can learn more at tcf.org.