Policy Advocacy - Political Research

San Francisco · USD 230,000-265,000 / year · 10+ years experience · Hybrid · Posted Sep 29, 2026

At a glance

Anthropic’s mission is to create reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. We want AI to be safe and beneficial for our users and for society as a whole. Our team is a quickly growing group of committed researchers, engineers, policy experts, and business leaders working together to build beneficial AI systems.

Anthropic is seeking an experienced public opinion researcher to establish and lead an in-house polling and research function from the ground up.
This role will provide critical insights into how policymakers, third-party groups, and the general public perceive Anthropic's policy positions and messaging.
The researcher will work cross-functionally to translate polling data into strategic recommendations that inform high-visibility campaigns and policy efforts.

Develop a comprehensive strategy for the in-house political research function.
Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with leading research and polling firms.
Conduct proactive research to test core messages, policy proposals, and campaign themes.
Execute rapid-response polling to assess messaging strategy in response to external events.
Collaborate with external affairs and policy communications to translate insights into strategic recommendations.
Maintain a knowledge management system for polling data and research findings.
Manage polling vendors at scale, including performance management.
Participate in strategy sessions to provide thought partnership on message and campaign design.
Create clear, compelling deliverables that distill polling findings for senior audiences.
Track and report on the impact and utility of research on strategic decisions.

Experience designing and executing public opinion research, including survey design, sampling, and message testing.
Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative polling data and translate findings into written recommendations.
Experience selecting, briefing, and managing external polling or research vendors.
Strong writing and presentation skills for senior, non-technical audiences.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in a relevant field.

10+ years of professional experience in political or public opinion research.
Experience spanning multiple campaign cycles and policy environments.
Corporate public affairs experience in a highly scrutinized or regulated industry.
Strategic thinking to spot emergent issues and identify the right messages.
Track record of building relationships with vendors and complex stakeholder ecosystems.
Strong organizational skills for managing multiple projects and tight timelines.
Comfort operating in ambiguous environments with limited precedent.
Passion for AI policy and alignment with Anthropic's safety mission.

Location-based hybrid policy requires staff to be in the office at least 25% of the time.
Some roles may require more time in the office than the 25% minimum.