Senior Policy Analyst, Energy and Agriculture

Council of State Governments • Decatur, GA

1d • $75,000 - $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is not simply a research role-it is a position that directly supports the policymakers shaping the future of the South. The Senior Policy Analyst advances CSG South's mission by delivering timely, credible, and nonpartisan policy research that informs state leaders and strengthens collaboration across our 15 Southern states. Working closely with the Director of Policy, Programs, and Strategic Partnerships and colleagues across the organization, the Senior Policy Analyst helps ensure policymakers have access to high-quality analysis, relevant data, and practical insights. If you are motivated by rigorous research, meaningful engagement with public officials, and contributing to solutions that strengthen state government, we invite you to join our team.
Policy Expertise Areas: Energy, Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Development
CSG South seeks a highly organized and collaborative Senior Policy Analyst to support the organization's policy research, analysis, and member engagement work. This position plays a key role in ensuring policy deliverables are well organized, completed on time, and aligned with CSG South's standards for quality, credibility, and nonpartisanship. The Senior Policy Analyst manages multiple research projects, publications, and program responsibilities simultaneously-maintaining clear timelines, coordinating internal efforts, and ensuring policy products and member services are delivered with consistency and excellence. The Senior Policy Analyst also builds and maintains strong relationships with state policymakers, legislative staff, and external partners, serving as a trusted resource for policy information while contributing to collaborative work across the organization. Through strong organization, thoughtful analysis, and disciplined execution, this role helps ensure CSG South consistently delivers meaningful policy insights and high-quality experiences for its member states.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in public policy, government programs, nonprofit administration, or a related mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, timelines, and deliverables in fast-paced settings.
• Strong editing, writing, and quality-control skills for policy and programmatic materials.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while exercising sound judgment in policy research, analysis, and member engagement.
• Familiarity with state government structures, legislative processes, and policy environments.
• Experience supporting conferences, convenings, or multi-state programs.
• Comfort using project management tools, shared workspaces, and tracking systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and policy research and project management tools (e.g., legislative databases, CRMs, Monday.com).
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to present complex policy issues in nonpartisan and actionable ways.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to advancing the organization's mission, values, and goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including self-awareness, sensitivity, and valuing others.
• Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds.
• Bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, political science, or a related field.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (up to 30%) for state visits, conferences, events, meetings, and policy or programmatic convenings as needed.

Responsibilities

• Leads two standing committee(s) – and task forces or interim committees, as needed.
• Committees: Energy and Environment; Agriculture and Rural Development
• Produce written policy deliverables, including issue briefs, research reports, and other analyses supporting committee work and organizational initiatives.
• Tracks and monitors relevant policy and state-level news for four states within the CSG South region, as assigned, and works with colleagues to track regional and national news and trends.
• Monitor regional and national policy developments in collaboration with colleagues across the policy team.
• Respond to policy and research inquiries from members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
• Prepare, interpret, and analyze surveys and other research instruments used to collect policy information.
• Maintain a consistent commitment to nonpartisan policy research and analysis in all deliverables and member engagement activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with state policymakers, legislative staff, and other key stakeholders.
• Travel to member state capitols with the CSG South team as assigned and participate fully in state visit planning and execution to strengthen relationships, support policy engagement, and promote CSG South programs and services.
• Maintain a network of government and external policy contacts to support research and member services.
• Present research findings and policy analysis to legislative committees, professional groups, or other external audiences at least once annually.
• Serve as an alternate presenter or representative when other policy staff may be unavailable.
• Maintain regular communication with legislative members and staff to support policy research, committee work, and member services.
• Support planning and execution of Policy Masterclasses (delegation workshops), and other policy-focused convenings for state officials.
• Identify opportunities for virtual or digital policy programming to expand engagement with members, specifically the policy webinar series.
• Coordinate policy sessions for the Southern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting, including identifying topics, recruiting speakers, and organizing program content.
• Prepare for policy committee meetings in-person and virtually, including written summaries of committee sessions, brief committee leadership on relevant issues and agenda, and roundtable facilitation.
• Assist with special conference components such as policy plenaries, policy tours, international relations forum, and committee programming as needed.
• Produce policy publications and online content in collaboration with the Director of Policy, Programs, and Strategic Partnerships and the Deputy Director of Policy and Programs - in support of assigned standing committees and related initiatives.
• Senior Policy Analysts are responsible for a minimum of seven (7) policy publications.
• Contribute to the organization's policy publication goals and meet individual deadlines and deliverables, including print and digital outputs.
• Collaborate with communications and design staff to ensure edits from the editing process are properly executed and translate policy insights into visual materials such as maps, infographics, and data visualizations.
• Monitor policy data and emerging trends that can inform new research products and member resources.
• Develop proficiency in policy research, data analysis, and visualization tools used to identify trends and translate policy data into accessible insights.
• Contribute to the organization's database management and operational tracking systems.
• Contribute to emerging policy initiatives, special projects, and new organizational programs.
• Maintain effective collaboration with colleagues across departments and external partners.

Benefits

• A hybrid work schedule: Based in Decatur, GA, with the option to regularly work from home on Tuesday and Thursday unless traveling, discontinued, or temporarily suspended for business reasons.
• Generous personal paid and sick leave policies plus 12 paid holidays.
• Office closure the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, a paid day off in the month of your birthday, and other periodic telework or paid days off. These benefits are at the discretion of the Regional Director.
• A recently renovated office with amenities such as beverages, an in-office business casual dress code, and a collaborative floor plan with options for various workstyles and sit-to-stand desks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level