Careers

Our growing team is composed of professionals passionate about making government work for all of us, regardless of zip code. We’re dedicated to supporting current and future leaders with research, technical assistance, education, and training in order to reach their good-governance goals. 

We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are actively working toward our goal of recruiting and retaining staff and board members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement.

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act/Protected Veterans Status/E-Verify Employer.

For more information about our open positions, email info@islg.cuny.edu.

Current Job Openings:

Policy Associate—Operations

Who we are looking for

The CUNY ISLG Operations team is hiring a Policy Associate to provide research on fiscal practices, efficiency and effectiveness measures for governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The Operations team partners with governments, public institutions, and nonprofits to apply analytical analysis and strategic insights to financial and operational challenges affecting complex organizations and programs. Through financial planning, policy analysis, process redesign, and strategic implementation support, the team helps organizations operate more efficiently and equitably to advance impactful and long-term solutions. 

The primary focus of the position will be to provide expertise in municipal, state, and not-for-profit budgets and policy, develop strong understanding of the interplay and sources of funds between multiple levels of government, and analyze data and support senior staff on recommendations to jurisdictions on policy and funding priorities.

The Policy Associate will report to a Senior Policy Associate on a range of tasks, which may include but are not limited to:

  • Conducting research on federal, state, municipal and not-for-profit budget policies.

  • Collecting and analyze data.

  • Working with our team to develop comparative analyses of budget and other policy matters and provide recommendations on best practices for our clients.

  • Conducting independent research.

  • Developing reports and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.

  • Collaborating with clients to help them understand the implications of different budget policy matters, and to develop strategies for implementing them effectively.

  • Other duties as assigned

This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial- and civic-minded professional interested in working in a public policy setting, and for a range of audiences that include government and university officials, funders, researchers, and the general public. This is also an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of government policy-making in New York and nationally.

Our office is located in New York City, and the position will be hybrid.


We would love to hear from you if

  • You have an MA or PhD.

  • You have a MA with 4+ years experience working full-time in a government, private and/or nonprofit organization, managing large projects with multiple stakeholders, or a PhD with 1+ year of full time work experience.

  • You have demonstrated subject matter expertise in public finance and/or public policy research.

  • You have exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate closely with staff and create and maintain excellent working relationships with government and other partners.

  • You are able to adapt to changing demands and requirements as projects develop, and to participate in collaborative project development with a diverse internal team and external stakeholders.

  • You have excellent time management skills and experience working in deadline-driven environments.

  • You can prioritize and work on a number of tasks simultaneously.

  • You have an exceptional commitment to accuracy and attention to detail.

  • You have excellent writing skills.

  • You are flexible.

How to Apply

To apply please submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and interests and attach your curriculum vitae. Questions about the position can be addressed to info@islg.cuny.edu. Application review will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Pay Range:

This is a full-time position in New York City with a salary range of $65,000-$85,000, depending on experience, and excellent benefits, including:  

  • Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance.

  • Paid vacation and personal days.

  • Paid sick leave.

  • CUNY tuition reimbursement program.

  • Pre-tax benefits for transit and healthcare costs.

  • Family/parental leave.

  • Life insurance.

  • A retirement plan with employer contribution.

Our staff also benefit from:

  • A positive work/life balance.

  • Opportunities for advancement within the organization.

  • Engagement with the broader CUNY network.

  • Working with organizational leadership who have years of significant public sector and policy-making expertise.

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

About CUNY ISLG

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance has a mission to improve the financing, delivery, and measurement of critical public services through research, technical assistance, and education. We lead projects aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, measuring urban inequality, expanding the reach of social service providers, and more. Each project has a dedicated team of research and policy experts who collaborate closely with internal and external organizations.  For more information about ISLG, please visit www.islg.cuny.edu.

Our Goals for Diversity and Inclusion 

We strive to foster an office environment and an approach to work that welcomes and respects different perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences. We are working towards our goal of recruiting and retaining staff, interns and advisory group members who are diverse in terms of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic status, disability, and justice system involvement. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.