Public Policy Analyst

POSITION DESCRIPTION – PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST
 
The Benton Foundation works to ensure that media and telecommunications serve the public interest and enhance our democracy..

The Benton Foundation, located in the Washington, DC area, is a recognized leader in the development and promotion of communications policies in the public interest, and in supporting innovative uses of media  and communications technology, especially in serving communities in greatest need. .  The foundation is a hybrid institution, both an endowed foundation and a grantseeker with a modest portfolio of operating programs initiated by the Board and staff, with an annual budget of $1-$2 million from the endowment and foundations.
 
Basic Functions and Key Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Public Policy Analyst will assist in the management and direction  the foundation’s media and telecommunications  policy objectives in collaboration with the Senior Policy Analyst. The Public Policy Analyst is responsible for helping to carry out a comprehensive policy strategy and help design and administer programs that advance our policy goals. The programmatic and administrative responsibilities of the Public Policy Analyst shall include:
 

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive policy framework to describe clearly our core objectives and areas of focus in the policy arena in line with our mission to “accelerate digital opportunity for all people;”

• Building relationships with leaders in the field by promoting and shaping partnerships and collaborations with media reform, public interest organizations, government agencies, and corporations;

• Staffing Benton’s participation on the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC);

• Researching and drafting Comments and Reply Comments in collaboration with the Senior Policy Analyst on selected topics of interest;

• Writing briefings on telecommunications regulations, policies and policymakers for use by nonprofit organizations, foundations, and public interest advocates;
  
  

• A demonstrated expertise in the area of telecommunications and media policy, (an undergraduate degree plus at least 5  to 7 years experience ) with a sensitivity toward serving the public interest and enhancing our democracy. Given the foundation’s focus on underserved communities, the Public Policy Analyst should demonstrate a commitment to understanding the needs and advancing the interests of populations most at-risk of being left behind during and after the transition to digital;

• The capacity to cultivate and manage relationships with a broad and diverse range of organizations, agencies and individuals as well as to develop new ideas and proposals at the highest level of quality and fit to mission.

• The skill to interact appropriately with foundation board members and key constituents; ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; demonstrated experience in negotiating mutually-beneficial partnership arrangements; and ability to handle complexity and ambiguity;

• Respect for the foundation’s history and mission and a commitment to the philosophy and values of the institution;

• The highest integrity, with the ability to impart trust, sincerity, and credibility;

• A dynamic and innovative approach to program and policy strategies and their implementation.