Research Assistant (Part-time)

OVERVIEW

Civic Nation seeks a Research Assistant who will support Civic Nation’s democracy initiatives. The Research Assistant, reporting to the Director of Digital Strategy, will play a critical role in providing accurate election information to voters, fact-checking, and more. This position will also provide media and social monitoring of news development and research support. This is a part-time temporary role for 20 hours per week, concluding December 15, 2026.

ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

The Communications Team is focused on telling the story of Civic Nation’s work. Through creative messaging, digital activations, media relations, and more, the Communications Team amplifies the work of all Civic Nation initiatives and campaigns.

ABOUT CIVIC NATION

Civic Nation is an impact hub for the ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen civic culture, civic power, and civic participation. We shift culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Five initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote.

YOUR IMPACT

Update the 50-state election deadline and law tracker daily, and monitor and record state and local election dates and law updates. Develop issue one-pagers, memos, reports, explainers, and other documents detailing critical issues for Civic Nation’s democracy initiatives. Monitor news and social media posts to aid the Communications team in responding to actionable items within relevant newscycles. Track legislative, legal, and administrative developments regarding Civic Nation’s democracy initiatives. Fact-check documents and other materials for accuracy in collaboration with the Research Contractor. Maintain organized documentation and research files. Other reasonable and relevant duties as assigned.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

1+ years of research experience, including academic experience and internships. 1+ years of experience in nonprofit and/or political environments, including internships. Proficiency in Google Suite, including Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and Google Docs, and Asana. Academic research experience, preferred.

YOUR COMPETENCIES

A strong commitment to democratic engagement and involvement with civic engagement activities. Demonstrated experience balancing multiple projects on tight deadlines. Demonstrated experience translating large amounts of information into accessible explainers and memos. Meticulous attention to detail. A self-starter, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and driven to take the initiative and complete tasks on deadline. Ability to manage large amounts of information and spreadsheets. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong teamwork, critical thinking, multitasking, and problem-solving skills. Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality. A strong ability to listen, understand, connect, earn the trust of, and collaborate with employees at all levels of the organization. Comfort in a rapidly changing environment and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities at any given time. Personal and professional commitment to promoting and investing in cross-cultural skills and awareness related to individuals from broad backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

SALARY

The Washington, DC-based salary range for this position is $18.40/hour. This role will work 20 hours per week and conclude on December 15, 2026.

PROCESS TIMELINE

Candidates can expect the following hiring process and timeline (please note that this timeline may be subject to change): August 25-August 27: First-Round Interviews August 31: Writing Assignment September 2-September 4: Final Interviews September 9: Hiring Decision announced All candidates will be notified via email of the status of their application on or before the completion of the search.

TO APPLY

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume below. The cover letter, addressed to Valeria Villarroel, should be concise, compelling, and include why you would like to work for Civic Nation. Applications will be accepted until August 16, 2026. Driven by our values, Civic Nation aims to recruit candidates representative of the communities and populations we serve. Towards that goal, we know that a diverse workforce allows us to see issues facing our democracy in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to fulfill our mission and reach our goals. Civic Nation is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.