Senior Public Policy Analyst

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut School of Social Work seeks qualified applicants to be hired as a Senior Public Policy Analyst (Research Associate I) to be part of the Innovations Institute at the University of Connecticut ’s School of Social Work.

The position will be part of the School of Social Work’s growing portfolio of public policy, technical assistance, financing, and evaluation activities in partnership with local, state, and federal government agencies and organizations on behalf of children, youth, and families. Positions with Innovations Institute are fully remote with expected travel to UConn’s Hartford Campus twice annually. Innovations Institute will be hiring up to two (2) candidates.

The selected candidate(s) will apply knowledge, concepts, principles, and skills to multiple projects across the Innovations Institute. These projects will include working with federal, state, and/or local governments to support sustainable financing and integrated and customized policy approaches in public child- and family-serving systems.

The senior public policy analyst(s) will engage in document and literature reviews; participate in and, depending on expertise, facilitate meetings, stakeholder interviews, and/or focus groups; prepare briefs, white papers, technical reports, presentations, and overview documents and analyses; and apply expert knowledge and skills related to public policy, financing, and implementation, particularly related to Medicaid financing and children’s behavioral health services.

The position is open for up to two senior public policy analysts who will work under the direction of Deborah Harburger, Assistant Extension Professor and Director of Policy and Financing at Innovations Institute. The selected candidate(s) may mentor or supervise other policy or program staff depending on qualifications.

The selected candidate(s) is expected to collaborate across the Innovations Institute and the School of Social Work, as well as with consultants and organizations partnering with the Innovations Institute.

Minimum duties include

Review, analyze, and summarize relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature and datasets to support the provision of technical assistance and the development of literature reviews, briefs, papers, and presentations.

Apply senior, in-depth knowledge, concepts, principles, and skills related to public policy, financing, and implementation, including related to Medicaid State Plans, amendments, and waivers and federal policy document development.

Participate in and lead substantial portions of meetings, including with state and local leadership.

Draft and review meeting notes. Be responsible for key action steps and assist the team with implementing action steps.

Conduct or review cost-benefit analysis of proposed recommendations.

Monitor key changes in children’s behavioral health, Medicaid, child welfare, and juvenile justice policy at the local, state, and national levels.

Review literature and research on current behavioral health topics. Summarize key policy topics for consumption by peers, senior leadership, or external entities.

Prepare and review proposals and contracts for actions.

Draft and maintain work plans and progress reports.

Assist in the preparation of written products for multiple audiences, including academic manuscripts, public-facing one-pagers, and technical reports for decision-makers. Write reports, white papers, position papers, briefs, presentations, strategies, toolkits, testimonies, legislation, regulations, policy directives, implementation guidance, and impact statements for internal and external audiences.

Provide presentations and technical assistance to internal or external entities on specific areas of expertise.

Maintain high standards in the work being performed and maintain awareness of trends and influences.

Assume responsibility for outcomes, make effective and timely decisions, and effectively use technology.

Use skill in relevant PC applications and programs such as Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel) to perform responsibilities.

Maintain productivity and use knowledge strategies to increase knowledge base.

Work independently under minimal supervision.

Prioritize ongoing and new projects necessary to implement a specific organizational program.

Write and present information in a clear and concise way. Interpret and understand written information and listen attentively to verbal and non-verbal cues that lead to a deeper understanding.

Work cooperatively with others and demonstrate professional, ethical, respectful, and courteous behavior when interacting with others. Comfortable with developing consensus across stakeholders.

Experience developing and maintaining effective working relationships with partners, including funders, internal colleagues, and other stakeholders. Experience partnering with diverse stakeholders to develop research agendas related to outcomes, feedback, and evaluations.

Opportunities may include

Influence strategy, program, policy development, and best practices.

Engage in and facilitate strategic planning, internally and with external stakeholders, to achieve short- and long-range planning goals.

Serve as an expert resource to others internally and externally.

Work on ambiguous matters generally without precedent or structure and independently develop standardization and protocol.

Edit reports, white papers, position papers, briefs, presentations, strategies, toolkits, testimonies, legislation, regulations, policy directives, implementation guidance, and impact statements for internal and external audiences.

Serve as a subject matter expert related to financing strategies and policy options.

Use substantial latitude in decision-making.

Set and monitor goals and objectives to align with the defined strategy.

Depart from traditional approaches to develop and present novel solutions.

Supervise other policy or program staff.

Present work to a variety of audiences, including work at meetings and academic conferences.

Co-author academic manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

Contribute to the development and writing of federal, state, and private grant proposals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Demonstrated experience working in and with federal, state, and local public child- and family-serving agencies.

Demonstrated record of scholarship, including authoring or co-authoring high-quality reports, toolkits, and briefs related to public child- and family-serving systems.

Demonstrated experience working with multiple states on children’s public behavioral health system design, implementation, or initiatives.

Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of public child- and family-serving system design, service array (including mobile response and stabilization, intensive in-home services, peer support, and intensive care coordination), and financing, including senior expertise in Medicaid authorities and requirements.

Demonstrated experience authoring white papers or briefs and conducting high-level policy analysis.

Ph.D. with up to one year of post-degree experience or Master’s degree and eight to ten years of post-degree experience.