Policy Researcher, Solutions for Progress

Posted by Solutions for Progress on January 12, 2015

Solutions for Progress (SfP) is a mission-driven company committed to helping low- and moderate-income individuals and families move and remain out of poverty through the practical application of innovative technology and public policy. We’ve successfully launched The Benefit Bank (TBB) and MyBudgetCoach (MyBC), and have as partnered with other mission-driven organizations such as WhyHunger and the City of Philadelphia’s Benefit Access Centers. Founded in 1992, SfP is one of the first organizations to become a Pennsylvania-Registered Benefit Corporation and is also a B Lab-Certified B Corp. SfP’s staff and management represent an impressive blend of technical, public policy, research, government, and community organizing expertise.

Position Summary

We are looking for a policy researcher who is passionate about applying strong research, analytical, and communications skills to assisting the individuals and families we serve. We seek candidates who can create detailed research documents on public benefits, taxes, and other services for low-and moderate-income individuals and families. Candidates must also be able to provide information and ongoing technical support to other SfP teams and, as needed, to our national affiliates and the larger public, in order to create and maintain The Benefit Bank, My Budget Coach, and future SfP products and services.c

Responsibilities

• Conduct extensive legal research and draft detailed documents on public benefits and other services for lower-income people and other populations in need
• Conduct extensive tax research, including: reviewing tax code, understanding state-specific e-filing procedure, and supporting the creation of substitute tax forms for software programs
• As needed, conduct broader research on socioeconomic issues informing our work
• Draft content to help the people who use our services
• Evaluate public benefits applications and tax forms in order to make recommendations on which applications/forms The Benefit Bank should support
• Work with policy contacts within state and federal agencies and advocacy groups to ensure that The Benefit Bank is programmed accurately. Track ongoing, national and state changes in benefits and tax policies
• Act as a project manager, as needed
• Act as in-house expert for questions about benefits and taxes at every stage of software development
• Conduct preliminary research used in decision making on supporting specific benefits and/or expanding into new states
• Write program test scenarios for Quality Assurance testing
• Conduct training sessions for other teams, as needed
• Edit training manuals
• Support our help desk with information about benefit and taxes, as needed

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/m54BbxK7JFCp