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Mission and Impact
Founded in 2012, the R Street Institute is a leading think tank engaged in policy research in support of free markets and limited, effective government. We work to bolster American innovation, increase consumer choice and protect individual liberty and believe in smaller, smarter government.
We are a think tank for the modern age. We focus on deep scholarship and pragmatic policy solutions that many groups tend to neglect. Our goal is to publish timely, relevant research and analysis that advances a market-oriented society and limited, effective government. To that end, our motto is: “Free Markets. Real Solutions.”
Politically, we align with the center-right. Our work has real impact, even if it does not make headlines. We do this through building broad coalitions with Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals and everyone in between. This makes us uniquely capable of earning cross-partisan consensus and helping win victories at all levels of government.
We combine our deep expertise with a light-hearted approach. We tackle some of the most serious issues facing the country, but never forget to embrace the human side of work. The capacity to take a joke and poke fun at ourselves makes us more relatable, more approachable and more human. We don’t aim to simply debate ideas, but to work with real people to find solutions to difficult problems while keeping a sense of humor about our work.
Work at R Street
Review our current openings and apply to one today!
Our Culture
No two days are the same at RSI.
R Street’s team is composed of talented, unique and diverse individuals all with one goal in mind — achieving policy that promotes free markets through the use of pragmatic solutions to today’s issues. We believe that a diverse workforce, in all its forms, is key to achieving our mission.
We value individual freedom and independence while empowering our staff with a culture and environment that promotes these values. We strive to make a difference.
Employee Benefits
R Street strives to provide a compensation package superior to those at other think tanks and nonprofits. In addition to a competitive salary, we provide the following:
- Unlimited paid time off policy, including all Federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
- Alternating Fridays off
- A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
- Dental and Vision insurance
- 401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
- HSA employer contribution match
- Quarterly wellness reimbursement
- Mobile equipment reimbursement
- Internet subsidy
- Monthly mobile plan reimbursement
- Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
- An option among child care assistance, pet care assistance, or student loan repayment assistance reimbursement
Our Vision
The R Street Institute stands for free markets, limited, effective government and pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. We envision:
- A free society, where public policy begins with freedom as its initial premise and governments exist primarily as guardians of inherent, inalienable rights.
- An inclusive society that provides a place, a voice, and equal opportunity for all.
- A just society that holds everyone accountable to the same laws.
Our Values
The following values are the principles that guide how R Street fulfills its mission and operates. Our organization believes in these values and we live them:
Always be better
We want to achieve preeminence in every area where we work. We encourage a bias for action, innovation, creativity, and courage in everything that we do. We measure ourselves by the quality, credibility and impact we achieve as a result.
Different is good.
We believe that great minds think differently and building broad coalitions has made us who we are. Making progress on policy requires that we operate outside of the echo chamber and take non-traditional approaches to policy making. We apply this same principle to the way we operate and how we build our teams: with a focus on diversity and inclusion. We are all unique but belong to the same team.
Serious(ly)
We’re serious about our work, but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We believe in the intellectual rigor, free inquiry and honesty, that is required to achieve our mission, but having fun doing it is equally as important.
One Team
We all work together and work with humility. We strive to cultivate trust and transparency at all levels, between ourselves as individuals and as an organization, with our stakeholders, and in our work. We demonstrate respect and openness in our actions at all times. We are all unique but belong to the same team.
Current Openings
Any available openings will appear below and here.
Internships and Fellowships
While R Street Institute does not offer internships directly, we do accept interns through program partners and universities. If you have any questions, please email Patricia Simon at psimon@rstreet.org.
Our Equality and Opportunity Commitment
At the R Street Institute, we strive for excellence, innovation, and preeminence in every area where we engage. Our culture is built on a foundation of action, creativity, and courage, with a steadfast dedication to achieving the highest quality, credibility, and impact in our work. Leading with non-traditional but pragmatic approaches to public policy solutions is at the core of our success. We also recognize that progress demands a diversity of experience and expertise. These principles guide how we build our programs, appreciating that each team member is unique and that individuality strengthens the notion that we are one team.
We are serious about our mission and the intellectual rigor it demands. We believe in free inquiry and honesty to ensure our work is grounded in solid research and thoughtful analysis. At the same time, we value the joy of cooperative work, benefiting from the expertise each individual brings to their role all while finding the humor and the fun that comes from collaborating in such an environment. We prioritize bringing together competent people with varied backgrounds, knowing that diverse experience enriches our perspectives and the solutions we advance. Our collaborative spirit is central to how we work and fosters trust and transparency. Respect and openness guide our actions. We celebrate the unique contributions of our individual team members, while recognizing that we are stronger together.
Thus, the R Street Institute does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, era of military service, gender identity or expression, relationship structure, or anything else that’s illegal, immoral, or stupid to use as a basis for hiring.