Policy Analyst

Policy Analyst

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Legislative Branch - Agency Wide

Summary

Created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent bipartisan U.S. legislative branch agency that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad, using international standards to do so, and makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. More information about USCIRF is available at https://www.uscirf.gov/.

Duties

USCIRF seeks a Policy Analyst to monitor religious freedom conditions on specific countries and/or cross-cutting issues as assigned and develop policy recommendations for the U.S. government to advance freedom of religion or belief abroad; evaluate and report on events or opportunities that could be effective inflection points for achieving implementation of USCIRF-recommended policy; draft research policy reports, annual report materials, briefing materials, testimony, and content for USCIRF's traditional and social media engagement; and build and maintain extensive contacts with relevant policy counterparts. Past experience on countries of the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and/or Europe is a plus, but not required. Specific to the regional or issue portfolio.

Reporting to a Supervisory Policy Analyst, the Policy Analyst's primary responsibilities involve the following:

1. Monitoring and Policy Recommendation Formulation - monitor religious freedom conditions in assigned countries and propose policy recommendations. This includes:

Collecting, analyzing and documenting information related to freedom of religion or belief and U.S. government foreign policy in the assigned countries/region;

Developing strategies and recommendations for U.S. government policy to encourage improvement in the protection of freedom of religion or belief in the assigned countries;

Briefing and Advising Commissioners, the Executive Director, and senior staff on country developments, related policy recommendations, and U.S. government efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief, as well as foreign government activities limiting this freedom;

Preparing and participating in policy-related trips, including Commissioners' delegations, to gather firsthand information from relevant stakeholders; and

Tracking implementation of USCIRF's policy recommendations in assigned countries.

2. Reporting - report on religious freedom conditions in assigned countries to advance USCIRF's mission and strategic objectives. This includes:

Drafting research publications, including Annual Report chapters for assigned countries, ensuring they communicate policy priorities and recommendations and religious freedom conditions effectively and persuasively;

Drafting, reviewing and editing press releases, op-eds, website posts, and social media posts relating to assigned countries to ensure credibility and accuracy; and

Drafting Congressional testimony, briefing memos, and talking points for Commissioners, the Executive Director, and senior staff on assigned countries.

3. Outreach - participate in research and policy related outreach initiatives and events to advance USCIRF's mission. This includes:

Preparing, organizing and participating in USCIRF's public events;

Preparing research-related materials for events, meetings, hearings, and travel in support of USCIRF's mandate, including for Commissioners, the Executive Director, and senior staff; and

Developing new and strengthening current relationships with relevant stakeholders inside and outside the U.S. government.

4. Other Duties as assigned.