Jobs & Internships

About ThinkTennessee

ThinkTennessee is a nonpartisan, results-oriented think tank based in Nashville. We use research, engagement, and advocacy to help build a state where all Tennesseans are civically engaged and economically secure. At our core, we believe Tennessee thrives when voters have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives and when workers earn enough to support their families.

Our work focuses on advancing policies that empower voters and support working families, as well as providing relevant best practices and accessible research to help Tennessee leaders make informed decisions and drive positive changes in our state.

ThinkTennessee’s office is in downtown Nashville. We provide a flexible, hybrid work environment, with at least three days of in-person work per week.

Policy Director

ThinkTennessee seeks a Policy Director with experience in evidence-based public policy work and an understanding of key issues impacting household budgets, namely income, expenses, and debt. This senior role will lead the organization’s policy strategy, serve as the primary expert on key issue areas, and produce the high-quality policy work that drives ThinkTennessee’s impact.

ThinkTennessee follows a hybrid work schedule with three days (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) required in-person in our downtown Nashville office, and the remaining two days either in-person or remote.

Key Job Responsibilities

Serve as ThinkTennessee‘s primary policy expert and lead policy strategy across issue areas:

  • Monitor and analyze state and local policy developments, legislation, and regulatory changes relevant to ThinkTennessee‘s issue areas including housing, transportation, criminal justice, and energy, as well as other emerging and cross-functional priorities.
  • Provide policy support across all issue areas, conducting policy scans and landscape analyses of peer states to identify best practices, and serve as a thought partner and internal reviewer for policy-related work across the organization.
  • Lead the annual process to identify organizational policy priorities aligned with mission and political opportunity, and work proactively with leadership to develop organizational strategy for producing data-driven, evidence-based policy recommendations that are also politically feasibl
  • Map policy ecosystems, including key decision-makers, institutions, implementation considerations, and political constraints.
  • Develop and maintain templates, frameworks, and standards for policy scans, case studies, and roadmaps; develop comparative case studies that highlight successful policy models and implementation lessons.

Produce clear, concise, and compelling policy deliverables:

  • Author briefs, reports, memos, presentations, and other policy products for a variety of audiences at a publication-ready standard, in ThinkTennessee‘s voice with minimal editing required.
  • Translate research findings into clear, compelling policy products and tailor content for diverse audiences such as policymakers, partners, funders, and the general public.
  • Support communications staff by providing policy context, framing, and substantive review of external-facing materials, such as press releases, newsletters, and website copy.
  • Ensure consistency, clarity, and accuracy across policy-related outputs.

Grow and nurture ThinkTennessee’s relationships with organizational partners and stakeholders:

  • Support and strengthen relationships with national, state, and local partners by providing policy expertise and strategic insight.
  • Prepare policy briefings and background materials for meetings with policymakers and stakeholders.
  • Represent ThinkTennessee at conferences, coalitions, and committees as appropriate, as well as in working groups, peer network meetings, and media engagements.
  • Collaborate with issue experts and research staff to ensure policy work is aligned and mutually reinforcing, identifying cross-cutting themes and opportunities that connect multiple issue areas.
  • Ensure that ThinkTennessee’s work is useful to, and used by, policymakers and stakeholders at the state and local levels.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

  • An advanced degree in public policy, economics, law, or a related field is required.
  • 7+ years of work experience in a relevant field, e.g., public policy, advocacy, government, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated expertise in one of ThinkTennessee’s primary issue areas: housing, transportation, criminal justice, energy, or a related policy area.

Skills

  • Advanced qualitative research and policy analysis skills, with demonstrated experience conducting policy scans, landscape analyses, and comparative case studies.
  • Exceptional policy writing skills with a demonstrated ability to independently produce publication-ready briefs, memos, and reports, with minimal editing required.
  • Ability to synthesize complex research and data into clear, actionable guidance.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to translate findings for non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with external stakeholders and partners to advance shared policy goals.

Characteristics

  • Passion for and demonstrated commitment to ThinkTennessee’s mission and organizational values.
  • Strategic thinker who can navigate political and institutional complexity.
  • Familiar with Tennessee’s political and policymaking environment.
  • Collaborative leadership style with experience mentoring and supporting colleagues.
  • Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and exceptional attention to detail.
  • Ability to flourish in a small team environment and adapt to changing priorities and duties.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team and across organizations.

Compensation

Competitive salary ($100,000–$110,000) commensurate with experience. ThinkTennessee offers comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, retirement, paid family leave, and generous paid time off for sick leave, vacation days, and holidays.

Location

This position is based in Nashville, TN. Candidates are expected to either reside in Nashville or be willing to relocate after accepting the position.

Commitment to a Diverse Workplace

ThinkTennessee is an equal opportunity employer. As an organization focused on moving Tennessee forward, we understand that diverse teams are stronger, more innovative, and more productive. Interested candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing opportunities for professional growth.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample (policy brief, memo, or similar) via our online application form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until August 14.

Research Assistant Program

ThinkTennessee research assistants will have a unique opportunity to collaborate with our staff and board of directors, as well as other prominent thought leaders, to perform research and inform meaningful policy work.

In the Fall 2026 cycle, we are looking for candidates with strong policy analysis and writing experience. Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in public policy and/or nonprofit management, and a willingness to work independently on a variety of tasks.

Research Assistants will receive a stipend for their work at a rate of $20 per hour. ThinkTennessee will also support research assistants’ efforts to obtain academic credit or outside funding.

Position open to: Graduate students in public policy or political science

Length and location: Research assistants will work from ThinkTennessee’s main office in downtown Nashville on our hybrid in-office M/T/Th and remote W/F schedule (or fully remote, as necessary). In the Fall & Spring, research assistants can expect to work 15-20 hours per week for 10-12 weeks. Exact start and end dates of the assistantship are flexible.

Application Deadline

Fall 2026: August 7, 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If your school requires you to submit your assistantship information by a certain date for funding purposes, please specify this in your application.

To apply for the research assistant position, please use our online application form to submit your resume and cover letter by August 7.

Internship Program

ThinkTennessee interns will have a unique opportunity to collaborate with our staff and board of directors, as well as other prominent thought leaders, to produce meaningful work.

Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in public policy, nonprofit management, communications and/or fundraising, and a willingness to work independently on a variety of tasks. Please note your primary area(s) of interest when applying.

Interns will receive a stipend for their work at a rate of $15 per hour. Please let us know if you would prefer to conduct the internship for academic credit instead of pay. If you are interested in this role for class credit or as a part of a field placement program with additional requirements (e.g., minimum weekly hours), please indicate this in your application form.

Position open to: Undergraduate students

Length and location: Interns will work from ThinkTennessee’s main office in downtown Nashville (or remotely as necessary, though in-person interns are preferred). Interns should be able to commit to a minimum of 15 hours a week for 10-12 weeks. Exact start and end dates of the internship are flexible.

Application Deadline

We will not be hosting a fall program in 2026. We will hire our next positions for the Spring 2027 term, and we expect that application period to open in October. Check back later for those dates.

Spring 2027: TBD – check back later!

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If your school requires you to submit your internship information by a certain date for funding purposes, please specify this in your application.

The application form for the summer position has closed. Please check back at a later date for information about our spring program.

Law Clerk Program

ThinkTennessee law clerks will have a unique opportunity to collaborate with our staff and board of directors, as well as other prominent thought leaders, to perform research to inform meaningful policy work.

Applicants should have excellent research and writing skills, a demonstrated interest in public policy, and a willingness to work independently on a variety of legal research tasks. Clerks will be supervised by a licensed Tennessee attorney.

Law clerks will receive a stipend for their work at a rate of $20 per hour. ThinkTennessee will support law clerks’ efforts to obtain academic credit or outside funding. Please let us know when applying whether you would be interested in a field placement for academic credit.

Position open to: Current law students interested in public interest law and policy

Length and location: Law clerks will work from ThinkTennessee’s main office in downtown Nashville (or remotely, as necessary). In the summer, law clerks can expect to work up to 30 hours a week for 10-12 weeks. Exact start and end dates of the clerkship are flexible.

Application Deadline:

We will not be hosting a fall program in 2026. We will hire our next positions for the Spring 2027 term, and we expect that application period to open in October. Check back later for those dates.

Spring 2027: TBD – check back later!

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. If your school requires you to submit your clerkship or assistantship information by a certain date for funding purposes, please specify this in your application.

The application form for the summer position has closed. Please check back at a later date for information about our spring program.