Policy Fellow Children and Technology

Policy Fellow: Children and Technology

R Street Institute

Washington, D.C.

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices across the country—seeks to hire a fellow for a new position conducting policy research on children and technology. If you care about children, believe in free markets and  want to make a real difference in public policy, this may be the opportunity for you.

Specifically, the Technology and Innovation Policy department at R Street is looking to develop a program that investigates the role of technology as it affects children. Issues and areas of focus will largely be up to the discretion of the selected fellow, but may include the following:

• Privacy laws and regulations, particularly pertaining to children
• Children’s use of social media and other online technologies
• Educational use of technology
• Free expression interests particularly as they relate to children
• Reviewing scientific literature on children and technology

Your typical day at R Street may include revising a research paper on a proposed change to privacy law, briefing an FTC staffer on R Street’s newest research and providing a reporter with insight about the impacts of social media on child development. The position will report to the Director of Technology and Innovation Policy.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest and experience in issues such as privacy, education, children’s welfare and human development.
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for relevant technology policy areas, including privacy, free speech and online advertising.
• Familiarity with at least some of the key legal regimes such as COPPA, FTC authority, CDA Section 230 and advertising regulations.
• Passion for free markets and limited, effective government.
• At least five years of experience pertinent to this position. While full-time experience in the paid workforce is certainly valuable, other types of experience such as caring for children who are members of one’s own family or volunteering for a non-profit may also be germane. If this type of non-workforce experience does not appear on your resume, please outline it in your cover letter.   
• An educational background that will support your work in this position. An advanced degree pertinent to the work such as a J.D., a Master’s Degree in Public Policy/Government, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master’s Degree in Child Development is highly desirable. Significant relevant experience and proven accomplishments related to this position can, however, take the place of these or any other specific educational credentials.
• A sense of humor and a desire to grow with a dynamic organization.

This is a full-time job based in Washington, D.C. R Street is growing rapidly but remains a close-knit team.

R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. In addition to a highly competitive salary, we provide a health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families), wellness benefits, an employer-subsidized mobile phone benefit, 401(k) contributions with up to a four percent match and an exceptionally generous vacation policy.

R Street does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity, relationship structure or anything else that's illegal, immoral or stupid to use as a basis for hiring.

We currently plan to accept applications for this job until it is filled. We will contact ideal individuals for telephone interviews and conduct them on a rolling basis. We will hold in-person interviews in our D.C. office.