About Texas 2036 

Texas 2036 is a nonprofit public policy organization building long-term, data-driven strategies to improve the lives and opportunities of all Texans. We are a dynamic, rapidly growing organization seeking energetic individuals passionate about identifying and developing data-driven, pragmatic solutions to address the critical issues that matter most to all Texans. 

About the Role

Texas 2036 seeks to identify and implement the data-driven state policies that will improve the lives of and increase the opportunities for all Texans. The organization is a non-profit, and is also non-partisan and non-ideological. The Vice President, Data and Research contributes to the success of Texas 2036 by ensuring the robust, transparent, and effective use of data to identify the most significant challenges facing Texas, support the development of responsible, viable policy solutions, inform and empower decisionmakers to advance these solutions, and monitor the state’s progress in addressing these challenges over time. The data team also informs the people, leaders and media of Texas on data relevant to its future. 

The Vice President is responsible for the creation and implementation of a strategic vision for the use of data in guiding state policy and action, both internal and external to Texas 2036, including the strategy, governance, technical infrastructure, and human capital necessary to accomplish that vision. The Vice President cultivates strategic, data-oriented partnerships across the non-profit, for-profit, and governmental sectors that lead to novel, robust, and actionable uses of data focused on the most challenging issues facing Texas over the next two decades. The Vice President leads the Data and Research team and oversees the development, maintenance, and evolution of Texas 2036 data tools, products, and analyses developed by both staff and vendors. The Vice President also ensures close coordination with other internal teams to conduct data analyses and ensure alignment between data, policy, communications, and development efforts. The Vice President represents Texas 2036 in a variety of external engagements, including serving as a subject matter expert on data-related issues and as an official spokesperson of Texas 2036. 

Responsibilities 

• Craft and execute a vision and strategy for the robust use of data in informing and driving state policy development 
• Provide strategy and leadership for the design, development, and evolution of data analyses and tools that make Texas data more accessible by a variety of stakeholders
• Work collaboratively with state policy experts, consultants and data team members to curate best-in-class data sources and datasets for key policy areas; and develop and executive effective means of communicating those insights 
• Guide the development, implementation, and management of a data governance framework and associated policies and practices for Texas 2036 
• Build strategic data-oriented partnerships across the philanthropic, non-profit, business, and governmental sectors through coalitions, collaboratives, and contractual relationships 
• Support the coordination of strategic partnership opportunities, particularly around collaborative research efforts, with universities, think tanks, and other organizations
• Oversee the maintenance and evolution of all existing Texas 2036 data assets, tools, and products while leading the adoption and implementation of emerging technologies and approaches, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models, that enhance the efficiency and efficacy of Texas 2036’s research, analysis, and visualization/data communication activities
• Collaborate with communications and development team members to produce content and to integrate data tools and resources into broader Texas 2036 communications and fundraising efforts including print, presentations, social, and web 
• Represent Texas 2036 at meetings and events, such as national and state conferences, statewide data collaboratives, philanthropic meetings, conferences, and meetings with consultants and partners 
• Serve as a technical resource and subject matter expert on data-related issues both internally and externally with policymakers and partners 
• Ensure a high-quality user experience of all data tools and resources by guiding the development of support resources such as training sessions, FAQs, quick reference cards, indexes, data dictionaries, etc. 
• Manage Texas 2036’s data staff, budgets, vendors, contracts, grants, and workstreams to ensure high-quality performance and compliance 
• In collaboration with the development and other teams in the organization, help identify, cultivate, and steward donors with affinity for data to support the mission and work of Texas 2036 
• Perform all other duties as assigned as part of the Texas 2036 leadership team

Qualifications 

• Alignment with Texas 2036’s mission and approach 
• Experience in managing teams and fostering a culture of innovation and results
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, collaborative environment while managing and prioritizing many simultaneous projects 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to summarize technically complex information for a non-technical and/or policy-oriented audience
• Highly effective at building relationships and partnerships across sector, discipline, technical skill level, and demography to accomplish shared goals 
• Ability to respectfully engage, support, and collaborate in an intellectually diverse and creative work environment with colleagues and stakeholders of diverse personal and ideological backgrounds. This includes a commitment to constructive dialogue on controversial topics impacting our state. 
• Established track record of developing and managing large, complex research projects, particularly through collaboration and partnership with other organizations, that produce results that are actionable and uphold the highest levels of research methodology 
• Demonstrated success in creating compelling, engaging, and accurate data analyses, tools, materials and products for a variety of audiences in both digital and print format
• Demonstrated experience developing data models involving regression, machine learning, feature selection, dimension reduction, and/or validation 
• Extensive experience in data management and cleaning, syntax development, data

Location 

This is a hybrid role based in Austin and the Vice President, Data and Research will be expected to be in the Austin office a minimum of two days per week, with additional office days as needed. Applications from candidates not currently residing in the Austin area (i.e. within commuting distance of Texas 2036’s downtown Austin office) will be considered provided they are open to relocating. The VP must be willing to travel regularly (up to 30% of the time) to cities across Texas for meetings with various stakeholders, including board members, advisors, stakeholders, partners, prospective and current donors, and Texas 2036 colleagues.

To Apply 

If you are interested in applying for the Vice President of Data and Research position, please send via email to jobs@texas2036.org your resume and a cover letter addressing your interest in the position and how your experience aligns with the position’s responsibilities and qualifications.