Research and Policy Intern

WHO WE ARE

Trellis Company is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation focused on helping people leverage the power of post-secondary education and learning to improve their quality of life and the communities where they live. 

 For more than 40 years Trellis has served as a student loan guarantor, helping to provide trusted guidance and services that help student borrowers successfully repay their federal loans. In addition to pioneering several technologies and services along the way, we have invested in improving student success programs through numerous grants to colleges, universities, and research groups.

Today we have expanded our services beyond higher education to include working with employers and community organizations who are focused on aligning the dreams, goals, and skills needs of employees and employers. Connecting these resources and learning pathways together with our expertise in improving student outcomes helps us all to create better and more predictable futures for those we serve.

Our stability and vision create a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!

As we move into the future, we’re drawing on our history, branching into new sectors beyond student loans, and delivering the same level of exceptional care and service that our customers have come to depend on. We remain invested in the success of students and higher education institutions. This combination of stability and vision creates a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!

LOCATION: 

This is a fully remote role offering up to 40 hours per week. Open to candidates located in AZ, FL, IL, MN, NC, NY, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WY.

JOB SUMMARY

The Research and Policy Intern will assist staff in the development of public facing materials related to college access, success, and workforce outcomes.  Support the development of public facing briefs, support the development of social media campaigns, design communication to relevant constituencies, or explore specific research questions is also required on an as needed basis.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The position incumbent is expected to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities of the position with reasonable accommodation. 

• Apply strategic, analytical, and creative thinking to help promote policy issues on higher education.
• Engage in communications strategies to advance higher education, including writing blogs and social media posts.
• Research topics, draft communication, participate in team meetings and strategy discussions, collaborate in communications tactics, and engage in a support role for policy related issues.
• Identify and analyze opportunities to creatively promote higher education policy issues utilizing Trellis Strategies data.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with flexibility to work independently.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to all corporate policies and procedures and perform all work functions in a safe and efficient manner.
• Contribute to team meetings using productivity tools like O365, Teams etc.
• All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

COMPETENCIES 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to conduct research, assessments, and translate findings into professional reports.
• Demonstrated experience in developing communication tools related to social media.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Required:

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program, preferably in Education, Higher Education, Public Affairs / Policy, or Sociology.

Experience

Required:

• Knowledge of higher education, enrollment, costs, and matriculation.
• Experience conducting research and analyzing policy issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft policy briefs and social media content.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools and productivity software such as O365 and Teams.
• Experience working in a team as well as independently.
• Flexibility to engage in a variety of tasks and adapt to a dynamic work environment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

• Occasionally must move about when working inside the office.
• Repetitive motion. Regularly operates a computer, phone, and general office equipment.
• Regularly required to handle, feel, grasp objects, and reach across a work area.
• Regularly communicates with other employees and clients on the phone, virtually, or in person. Regularly converses with internal and external contacts. 
• Visual acuity. Regularly must have close visual acuity to view and enter information into computer and software systems, analyze data, develop presentations and reports, and other materials. 
• Mental focus. Requires worker to maintain focus and exchange detailed and accurate information through oral and written communication.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work may be conducted remotely or in an office with a surrounding small cubicle environment.
• Office work environment is climate controlled with no substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
• Participates in rotating on-call support for web and mobile business applications.