Senior Policy Analyst / Task Lead 2026P-0186
Ascension is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst / Task Lead to lead high-impact policy analysis and research initiatives in support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).
This role is critical to delivering timely, high-quality policy insights, data-driven analysis, and strategic recommendations that inform federal decision-making across behavioral health, disability, aging, and human services policy domains.
The ideal candidate is a subject matter expert (SME) who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and can independently lead analytical efforts, synthesize complex data, and communicate findings to senior government stakeholders.
Position Summary
The Senior Policy Analyst / Task Lead will serve as a technical lead and primary contributor across multiple analytic and technical assistance tasks, including policy analysis, secondary data analysis, literature reviews, and expert convenings.
This role supports ASPE’s mission to provide rapid-turnaround and long-range policy insights, producing deliverables such as technical memoranda, research briefs, reports, and executive briefings.
The ideal candidate is:
- A strategic thinker with strong analytical and policy evaluation skills
- A self-starter capable of managing multiple concurrent priorities
- A clear communicator who can translate complex findings into actionable insights
- Comfortable working under tight deadlines with high visibility deliverables
Day-to-Day Activities
- Lead policy analysis efforts across behavioral health, disability, aging, and human services topics
- Develop policy memos, issue briefs, technical reports, and executive summaries
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis using survey, administrative, and linked datasets
- Perform literature reviews and environmental scans to inform policy decisions
- Guide analytical approach, research design, and methodological rigor across tasks
- Provide subject matter expertise and strategic recommendations to federal stakeholders
- Draft and review high-level reports and deliverables for internal and public dissemination
- Support expert panel convenings, including planning, facilitation, and summary reporting
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including data analysts, researchers, and program staff
- Ensure all deliverables meet quality standards and Section 508 compliance requirements
- Manage task timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications
How to Apply
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| Job Category | Data Analysis and Analytics |
| Minimum Requirements | Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Economics, Social Sciences, or related field |
| Required Skills | 8–12 years of relevant experience in policy analysis, research, or program evaluation | Strong written and verbal communication skills | Ability to manage multiple fast-paced, short-turnaround tasks |
| Technical Skills | Demonstrated experience supporting federal policy or research initiatives | Strong experience with: Policy analysis and evaluation, Quantitative and qualitative research methods, Data analysis (e.g., Stata, SAS, R, Python, or similar) | Experience analyzing: Survey data and administrative datasets | Health, behavioral health, or human services programs | Proven ability to produce: Technical reports, Policy briefs, Executive-level presentations |
| Desired Skills | PhD or advanced specialization in relevant domain Experience supporting HHS, ASPE, CMS, or similar federal agencies Knowledge of: Medicare/Medicaid data and policy, Long-term services and supports (LTSS), Behavioral health and human services systems Experience with: Data linkage (survey + administrative data), Multivariate statistical modeling | Familiarity with: Section 508 compliance, OMB/PRA processes | Experience facilitating expert panels or stakeholder engagements |
| Sustainability Requirements | Ability to obtain and maintain HHS Public Trust (Medium Risk) | Must be a U.S. Citizen or authorized to work on federal contracts |