Economic Fellow, Economic Program (2025-2026)

Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Since our founding in 2005, we have served as a critical bulwark against political extremism by advancing values-driven, reform-oriented solutions on the defining issues of our time. Our work is grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, freedom, security, and democratic capitalism, and we advocate for the vital center across seven major areas: climate and energy, economy, education, health care, national security, politics, and social policy.

Third Way’s Economic Program is seeking a fellow to join a dynamic team working to develop and advance a modern economic agenda to make the middle class more affordable and attainable. Over the last 30 years, the price of the central pillars of a middle-class life—child care, college, health care, housing, and retirement—have skyrocketed, decimating family budgets. The middle class has also become far less attainable for workers without a college degree. College graduates have double the yearly income, four times the retirement savings, and four times the net worth of working age, non-college Americans. Non-college workers are five times more likely to be in poverty and lack health insurance, and more likely to move because of economic trouble.

We are looking for public policy junkies to help us tackle these tough economic challenges. These issues, and numerous others, will be critical to explore as Third Way works to build a middle class that is more affordable and attainable.

The fellow will report to the Deputy Director of the Economic Program.

Fellowship Information

The Third Way Fellows Program is a full-time, 12-month program that comes with the chance to meet with top Washington policy players; to co-author papers and work with our policy teams to produce new ideas, research, and insights; to learn our methodology; and to leverage our wide-ranging D.C. network into future career opportunities.

During your time at Third Way, you will learn skills in workflow management, leveraging polarities, meeting facilitation and participation, parallel thinking, dynamic presentation and communication, creativity, design thinking, networking, and interview skills.

Upon completion, our fellows find fulfilling work at other think tanks, congressional committees, private-sector firms, advocacy organizations, and the federal government. They take full advantage of Third Way’s ever-growing network of public policy professionals. If you are a future-oriented thinker and a policy wonk willing to listen and learn, we’d like you to join us.

Skills

The ideal candidate has:

• An interest in center-left politics and commitment to Third Way’s mission;
• An advanced degree (master’s) in a related field;
• The ability to take initiative on individual projects, but willingness to work collaboratively on a team;
• Strong research and writing skills;
• Knowledge of the federal legislative/policymaking process and the ability to explain complicated concepts in a way that makes sense to the policymaking community;
• Intellectual curiosity with wide interests in economics and public policy;
• Diplomacy and discretion when dealing with external groups.

Duties

• Conducting research, analyzing data, and authoring high-impact memos, reports, and presentations in order to illuminate how the US economy works, what it means to be middle class, and what must be done to make the middle class more affordable and attainable;
• Developing original and compelling policy briefs that offer new and modern ideas to policymakers;
• Monitoring media, government reports, NGOs, and academia to stay informed on select economic issues;
• Developing and deepening expertise on a wide range of economic issues, which may include topics such as jobs and employment, wages and benefits, the federal budget, taxes, economic mobility, international trade, AI and automation, infrastructure, financial markets, and rural development;
• Supporting other members of the team with research and minor administrative tasks as needed.

Compensation

$60,000 annual stipend and two weeks paid vacation, plus healthcare and benefits.

Job requirements

A willingness to work collaboratively on a team while taking initiative on individual projects, an aptitude to multi-task on various assignments in distinct issue areas, intellectual curiosity, and a capacity to solve problems creatively and think outside the box is integral to a successful fellowship at Third Way.

The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in a related field. Strong research and writing skills are essential as well as an interest in U.S. politics and the political process.  Fellows need to be able to explain complicated concepts in a way that makes sense to the general public and engages and excites the audience. In addition, this role requires reading and distilling information from varied sources into straight forward summaries and analysis. The fellow should have experience working with and visualizing data in Microsoft Excel.

While this position would prefer a candidate with strong technical skills, Third Way’s success relies on our ability to build relationships and communicate our message via written materials and in conversations with external partners. This includes the ability to exercise diplomacy and discretion in dealing with those outside the organization. Finally, fellows must have a deep commitment to strengthening and expanding the middle class.

This fellowship term will begin on Tuesday, August 26th, 2025, and end on Thursday, August 13th, 2026.

In addition to competitive salaries, your health and wellness is our priority. We offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance; Health Reimbursement Account (HRA); and Flexible Spending Account (FSA, DCA, Parking, and Transit); Life Insurance; Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance; Retirement plan; Accrued Paid Sick and Vacation leave; Long-term Disability, Employee Assistant Program (EAP).

Third Way is committed to the health, safety, and wellness of all employees, candidates, stakeholders, and communities. To support that commitment, all current and newly hired employees must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Proof of full vaccination status will be required after an offer of employment is extended and accepted. Failure to provide proof of full vaccination before the start date will result in the offer of employment being rescinded.

Third Way offers a flexible, hybrid work environment to support our employees’ healthy work-life balance. This position is based in Washington, DC, and Third Way’s in-office days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Third Way is an equal-opportunity employer committed to non-discrimination. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable laws.