Ascension LLC is seeking highly experienced Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with deep domain expertise in behavioral health, disability policy, aging, long-term care, and human services programs to support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).

These SMEs play a critical advisory and analytical role in supporting policy analysis, research validation, expert panel participation, and specialized technical input across a wide range of high-visibility federal initiatives. This is an on-demand, non-full-time role designed for seasoned professionals who bring recognized expertise and thought leadership in their respective disciplines.

This position is ideal for professionals who want to influence national policy, contribute to high-impact research, and support evidence-based decision-making while working in a flexible, project-based capacity.

Position Summary

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) provides specialized expertise, advisory support, and technical validation across analytic and research activities supporting ASPE’s Behavioral Health, Disability, Aging Policy (BHDAP) and Human Services Policy (HSP) offices.

SMEs will contribute to rapid-turnaround policy analyses, literature reviews, data interpretation, and expert convenings, ensuring that deliverables reflect current research, policy relevance, and methodological rigor.

The ideal candidate is:

• A recognized expert in their domain (academic, policy, or applied research)
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Able to translate complex research into actionable policy insights
• Experienced in federal policy landscapes, Medicaid/Medicare, or human services systems

SMEs will support short-term, high-impact engagements, including:

• Technical memoranda
• Research briefs
• Policy papers
• Expert panel participation
• Validation of analytic findings

Day-to-Day / On-Demand Activities

• Provide subject matter expertise in assigned domain areas (behavioral health, disability, aging, LTSS, human services)
• Review and validate policy analyses, research findings, and technical deliverables
• Participate in expert panels, roundtables, and technical convenings
• Advise project teams on methodologies, data interpretation, and policy implications
• Contribute to literature reviews and environmental scans
• Support development of research briefs, white papers, and reports
• Provide written and verbal input for policy recommendations
• Collaborate with analysts and project teams to refine research approaches
• Evaluate emerging policy issues and trends
• Ensure deliverables align with federal standards, evidence-based practices, and current research