Economic Research and Tax Policy Director

This opportunity involves researching, analyzing, evaluating, advising, and reporting of state and federal legislation, policies, programs, and forecasts to assist states with more effective and efficient management of department and state goals. This position communicates and coordinates extensively with executives within the country’s tax administrators, state economists, federal agency executives, media members, and other association officials. Duties are performed under the general direction of the FTA’s Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. The position also requires regular collaboration with other FTA team members.

The Economic Research and Tax Policy Program Director is a highly functioning member of the FTA team who effectively communicates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and has the following key responsibilities:

• Create, initiate, and execute goals for programs based on the organization’s strategic objectives.
• Manage a community of research, policy, and economic professionals by monitoring industry trends, moderating online discussions, and resolving member issues.
• Organize and lead a national conference where state economists and research analysts meet to discuss issues impacting tax administration.
• Create, curate, and facilitate effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with public, government, and expert stakeholder audiences.
• Lead and facilitate large virtual group discussions, and in-person meetings and conferences.
• Develop and manage a program budget in partnership with the leadership team.

Examples of Work

• Analyzes and evaluates proposed and implemented policies and programs.
• Leads research projects for national reports as requested.
• Designs models to evaluate tax policies, trends, and reform proposals in high-impact areas such personal income tax, corporate income tax, and sales and use tax.
• Manages complex data exercises by tax type and credit type.
• Collaborates with state officials and other agencies to establish and publish key tax rates, tax credits, and major tax reform programs.
• Makes written and oral presentations to FTA’s board of trustees, FTA conference attendees, various stakeholder groups, media outlets, and more.
• Assists with monitoring and preparing legislative reports.
• Researches federal and state tax policy questions.
• Provides data analysis and preparation of reports to inform FTA membership and the public on matters impacting state tax administration.
• May conceive, plan, organize, and direct comprehensive economic and tax impact studies and analyses.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for the FTA team and its members.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Applicants are required to have bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in economics, statistics, business management, political science, or related field. Qualified applicants must have at least five years work experience in the field of economics, revenue estimation, government finance, public administration, or public policy.

A master’s degree in public policy, public administration, business, or other advanced degree, certificate, or research fellowship is preferred and may substitute two years of the minimum experience requirement.

Applicant shall also have a proven track record of conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis and communicating the analysis professionally to public audiences. Familiarity with the Microsoft suite of applications, especially Microsoft Excel, as well as other data analysis and query programs and tools.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Resumes and letters of interest may be directed to FTA’s Executive Director Sharonne R. Bonardi at: careers@taxadmin.org. Include the position title in the subject line. Please submit resumes no later than September 15, 2023. See you on the Hill!