Position Overview: ARPC Policy Fellow / Senior Policy Fellow
The Agricultural Risk Policy Center (ARPC) at North Dakota State University invites applications for a full-time professional staff position. ARPC is a nonpartisan research center that provides objective, evidence-based economic analysis to policymakers. Depending on experience, the appointment may be made at the Policy Fellow or Senior Policy Fellow level. The Policy Fellow/Senior Policy Fellow will strengthen ARPC's direct engagement with Congress and federal agricultural policy institutions and connect emerging policy questions with the Center's economists and applied research. The successful candidate will bring substantive congressional agriculture policy experience and an ability to move comfortably between policy discussions and applied economic research. ARPC seeks someone who may work effectively and present the Center's research in a strictly nonpartisan manner.
The Policy Fellow/Senior Policy Fellow will work closely with ARPC Leadership and the Center's economist team to maintain active working relationships with House and Senate staff, particularly the agriculture committees and personal offices of members with significant agricultural portfolios, as well as USDA and other relevant federal partners. The role involves understanding the questions offices are trying to resolve, assessing incoming requests, handling routine ones directly (such as sharing published ARPC work), and bringing others to ARPC leadership with a recommended response, so the Center's work stays responsive to timely agricultural policy needs.
A central part of this position is translating completed ARPC analysis into concise and useful material for policy audiences. The Policy Fellow/Senior Policy Fellow will brief congressional and agency staff, prepare one-pagers and short briefing notes, and prepare ARPC leadership and economists for meetings where their technical expertise is needed. The successful candidate will monitor hearings, markups, bill text, USDA actions, and other federal policy developments related to ARPC's work and communicate emerging questions and opportunities to the team.
The successful candidate will represent ARPC at hearings, markups, stakeholder meetings, and agricultural policy events in Washington, DC, while maintaining the Center's nonpartisan and evidence-based approach. The Policy Fellow/Senior Policy Fellow will also maintain continuity in contacts with congressional and agency staff, track requests and follow-up, support collaboration between policymakers and ARPC economists, and participate periodically in in-person planning and collaboration with Center leadership and the research team.
Key Responsibilities: - Build and sustain working relationships with House and Senate staff, beginning with the agriculture committees and the personal offices of members with significant agricultural portfolios, as well as relevant USDA and federal agency staff.
- Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for congressional and agency staff, brief them on ARPC research, and ensure timely follow-up on questions and requests.
- Identify emerging agricultural policy questions and help ARPC leadership and economists gauge the relevance and urgency of requests from policymakers and stakeholders and the appropriate response.
- Translate completed economic analysis into concise one-pagers, briefing notes, summaries of key findings, and other materials that congressional and agency staff can use quickly, and prepare ARPC leadership and economists for policy meetings.
- Monitor congressional hearings, markups, bill text, USDA actions, and other federal policy developments related to ARPC's research areas and keep the team informed about upcoming issues and opportunities.
- Represent ARPC at hearings, markups, stakeholder meetings, agricultural policy events, and other engagements in Washington, DC; share relevant takeaways with the economist team; and support external partnerships that strengthen the reach and relevance of the Center's work.
- Maintain a practical record of contacts, requests, and follow-ups; work closely with the economist team each week; and participate in periodic in-person planning, coordination, and research translation with the ARPC team.
Minimum Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree and at least two years of professional experience as congressional staff working on agricultural policy, or at least two years of equivalent experience in federal agricultural policy (for example, USDA congressional affairs or a related policy role). Experience may include service on a congressional committee or responsibility for a substantive agricultural policy portfolio in a personal office.
- Working knowledge of the farm bill, crop insurance, commodity programs, agricultural trade, USDA programs, and the congressional process for developing and moving agricultural legislation.
- Demonstrated ability to build trusted working relationships with congressional staff of both parties and other policy stakeholders, exercise sound judgment, and decide when to handle a request directly or elevate it to ARPC leadership or an economist.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain economic or policy analysis accurately and concisely to staff with limited time and to prepare clear briefing materials for nontechnical audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a nonpartisan, policy-oriented environment, manage multiple requests and priorities, and maintain the regular in-person engagement with congressional offices, federal agencies, and other policy stakeholders required by the position.
Preferred Qualifications: - Master's degree in public policy, agricultural economics, economics, agricultural business, political science, or a closely related field.
- Professional experience with the House or Senate Agriculture Committee, an Agriculture-FDA appropriations subcommittee, or another congressional office with a substantial agriculture portfolio.
- Comfort reading empirical economic research and clearly explaining what a result does and does not show to policymakers and other nontechnical audiences.
- Background working on agricultural policy, USDA programs, crop insurance, commodity policy, agricultural trade, or other farm-state issues.
- Established working relationships with congressional offices and committee staff of both parties.
Compensation and Work Arrangement: The position hiring range is $90,000 - $120,000 per year and offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. The role provides stable, nonpartisan work not tied to the election cycle, close collaboration with ARPC economists to bring research-based analysis to policy audiences, and NDSU benefits, including TIAA retirement. The Fellow is credited on the ARPC policy products they help prepare and receives support for professional development, including conference travel, field visits in farm country, and other networking opportunities. This is a full-time, 12-month professional staff position. Regular in-person contact with congressional and agency staff, and attendance at Washington policy events, are essential parts of the position.
Salary Range: Appointment level and salary depend on experience and qualifications.
Starting Date: Early 2027, or as negotiated; the start date is flexible.
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Shawn Arita at shawn.arita@ndsu.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. Applications will be handled confidentially. Employment is contingent upon completing a pre-employment criminal background check.
