Policy Research Specialist
Mercor
Job Overview
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Job Description
About Mercor
Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.
This is a contract position for a Policy Research Specialist, requiring a commitment of 10+ hours per week, with compensation ranging from $30–$80/hour.
Role Responsibilities
- Develop realistic public policy tasks covering domestic and international policy, regulatory frameworks, and economic or social impact analysis.
- Review AI-generated responses for clarity, accuracy, and alignment with real-world policy reasoning.
- Draft reference examples reflecting credible policy communication, from memos to stakeholder summaries.
- Flag model limitations in logic, feasibility, or ethical considerations and document areas for improvement.
- Collaborate asynchronously with other experts and researchers using structured, written feedback.
Qualifications
Must-Have
- Advanced degree in public policy, law, economics, political science, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in policy research, government, think tanks, or consulting.
- Familiarity with legislative processes, regulatory impact analysis, and public sector decision-making.
- Excellent writing, synthesis, and analytical reasoning skills.
- Ability to assess policy arguments across a range of domains and geopolitical contexts.
Application Process
The application process takes approximately 20–30 minutes to complete:
- Submit a brief resume or LinkedIn profile highlighting relevant policy expertise.
- Complete a short skills questionnaire; a paid trial task may be used to assess fit.
- Mercor will follow up with next steps and additional project details.
Resources & Support
For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome/welcome
For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com
PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.
Key skills/competency
- Public Policy
- Regulatory Frameworks
- Economic Impact Analysis
- AI Governance
- Legislative Processes
- Policy Research
- Analytical Reasoning
- Ethical AI
- Technical Writing
- Stakeholder Communication
How to Get Hired at Mercor
- Research Mercor's mission: Study their focus on connecting elite talent with leading AI research labs and their investor backing.
- Prepare for specific policy questions: Showcase deep expertise in public policy, law, economics, or political science, emphasizing AI implications.
- Customize your resume: Highlight policy research, government, think tank, or consulting experience relevant to AI governance.
- Ace the trial task: Demonstrate superior analytical, writing, and synthesis skills in a policy context to prove fit.
- Showcase asynchronous collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you effectively provide structured, written feedback remotely.
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