About the role

We are seeking an experienced public opinion researcher to build and expand Anthropic's in-house polling and research function. This role will be fundamental to understanding how key audiences — from policymakers and third-party groups to the general public — perceive and respond to Anthropic's policy positions, messages, and campaigns. This is a foundational role: you'll establish the research function from the ground up, with high autonomy and limited precedent.

The Central Policy team sits at the operational heart of Anthropic's policy function — distinct from government relations and communications, but essential to enabling both. You'll work cross-functionally to ensure our policy and communications strategy is grounded in a rigorous understanding of stakeholder sentiment. The polling insights you generate will directly feed into high-visibility campaigns and will be a key asset in our policy efforts in Washington and beyond.

Anthropic is equal parts research lab, policy think-tank, and technology startup. We care deeply about the safe development of AI systems and build partnerships with governments through proactive, opinionated, substantive policy conversations. This role offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of AI policy, bringing rigorous research discipline to policy strategy.

Success in this role means establishing trusted relationships with leading polling firms around the world, delivering high-quality research on a regular cadence, and becoming the internal expert on how key audiences perceive AI, Anthropic, and Anthropic's positions and messages. You'll translate polling insights into strategic recommendations that measurably improve campaign effectiveness, and build scalable processes that allow the function to grow efficiently as demand increases.

Key responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive strategy for our in-house political research function that aligns with Anthropic's policy goals

• Identify, evaluate, and establish relationships with leading research and polling firms, ensuring coverage across demographics, geographies, and political perspectives

• Conduct detailed, proactive research to test core messages, policy proposals, and campaign themes, and to evaluate Anthropic's brand perception and performance

• Execute rapid-response polling to quickly assess Anthropic's messaging strategy in response to external events, policymaker actions, competitive developments, or emerging opportunities

• Work with external affairs colleagues (federal, state, and international) and policy communications to identify research priorities, interpret findings, and translate insights into actionable strategic recommendations

• Develop and maintain a knowledge management system for polling data, insights, and recommendations that ensures findings are accessible and actionable

• Manage polling vendors at scale, including vendor performance management

• Participate in strategy sessions and provide thought partnership on the design of messages, policy proposals, and campaigns ahead of polling and testing

• Create clear, compelling deliverables that distill polling findings into insights and recommendations

• Identify opportunities to build and scale the polling function over time, including staffing needs, process improvements, and capability expansion

• Track and report on the impact and utility of research, measuring how insights translate into more effective campaigns and strategic decisions

Minimum qualifications

• Experience designing and executing public opinion research, including survey and questionnaire design, sampling approaches, and message testing

• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative polling data and translate findings into clear, decision-ready written recommendations

• Experience selecting, briefing, and managing external polling or research vendors

• Strong writing and presentation skills, including distilling complex research for senior, non-technical audiences

Preferred qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in political or public opinion research, ideally spanning multiple campaign cycles and policy environments

• Corporate public affairs experience, ideally in a highly scrutinized or regulated industry

• Strategic thinking that spots emergent issues, identifies and tests the right messages, and translates those insights into tactical recommendations

• A track record of building relationships with vendors, external experts, and complex stakeholder ecosystems

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintain clear priorities, and deliver on tight timelines

• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments, taking ownership of problems, and proactively driving initiatives with limited precedent

• A resourceful, collaborative working style and genuine commitment to being a strong teammate

• Passion for AI policy and alignment with Anthropic's safety mission and commitment to responsible AI development