Policy Analyst - Center for Evidence-based Policy

Department Overview

The Center for Evidence-based Policy’s mission is to address policy challenges with evidence and collaboration, and it excels in partnerships that develop policy solutions and improve health. The Center primarily works with state governments focused on health policy, decision-making, and program administration. The Center actively seeks partners who share its commitment to evidence, integrity, innovation, tangible results, and products that are independent, high-quality, and effective in meeting decision-makers needs. The Center is diverse in people and ideas and actively recruits and retains the highest quality personnel committed and passionate about achieving its mission. The Center promotes leadership that inspires innovation, motivates people to perform at their highest levels, and makes it a great workplace.

The Policy Analyst conducts expert-level policy research and analysis, including complex analyses of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies; comparison of private and public healthcare payer policies and clinical coverage criteria; assessment of published studies and grey literature; appraisal of case studies and program evaluations; development of interview guides and conduct of structured interviews with state officials and other subject matter experts. The Policy Analyst may also analyze Medicaid claims and utilization data. The Policy Analyst synthesizes the information into a wide array of written products, including reports, issue briefs, and technical assistance tools, and presents findings from research to state government staff through presentations at conferences, on webinars, and through conference calls.

The Policy Analyst also provides technical assistance to local, state, and national organizations, which may include planning and facilitating group processes (including strategic planning), coaching clients on implementing evidence-based policies and assisting with organizational and system change efforts, facilitating performance measurement and quality improvement, developing materials and tools, and delivering presentations. As with all Center staff, the Policy Analyst maintains excellent client relationships and participates in new business development.

The Policy Analyst has vital research and writing skills, presentation experience, and project management capabilities. This individual can contextualize policy research and analysis findings and help clients adapt and identify policy interventions. The Policy Analyst works well in a team-oriented environment that builds collaborative work products with other team members and is willing to revise and iterate work products to address the policy and pragmatic circumstances facing the Center’s clients. Experience working with or in government-administered health and or human service program administration, policy design or analysis, or research is required.

Function/Duties of Position

Conduct Policy Research and Analysis for Written Reports, Verbal Presentations, and State Technical Assistance:

Research

• Conduct extensive online research of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies including Medicaid state plan amendments, federal waiver terms and conditions, guidance from CMS, etc.
• Conduct online searches for peer-reviewed research using MEDLINE and other similar databases
• Conduct online searches for peer-reviewed research using MEDLINE and other similar databases
• Conduct online research for health and human service programs, and policies and handbooks for private and public health care payers.

Analysis and Writing

• Synthesize and analyze information and findings for clients relating to best evidence and best practices for policy implementation success beyond simply summarizing findings from research.
• Translate findings and analysis into an array of written products for state consideration and decision making purposes.
• Contextualize findings from policy research and analysis and identify potential policy considerations for public clients.
• Apply knowledge of Medicaid administration principles to understand program rules and identify and develop opportunities and pathways for program design that are in line with Medicaid authorities.
• Adhere to Center style guidelines, research methodologies; maintaining transparency and excellent record documentation.
• Preferred: Evaluate and synthesize complex data (quantitative and qualitative) and related health and human services policy issues, including health care claims analyzes.

Technical Assistance, Project Management and/or Program Support:

• Participate in team-based technical assistance projects and staff ongoing local, state, and national support programs, including developing and maintaining client relationships, work plans, timelines, deliverable products, budget and project reporting requirements.
• Build collaborative work products with other team members, and revise and iterate work products to address the policy and pragmatic circumstances facing clients.
• Work closely with colleagues to provide research and technical assistance to local, state and national policy makers and state agency leaders.
• Provide leadership in identifying and designing individual projects with appropriate goals and timelines, and in locating and evaluating the effectiveness and suitability of potential consultants, partners, organizations and personnel needed to execute project activities.
• Facilitate and lead group processes, including consensus building, focus groups, and strategic planning sessions.
• Provide technical assistance focused on the implementation of evidence-based policy, programs, and practices.
• Provide leadership and serve as a policy expert on multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Provide content area expertise in Director-assigned areas to assist state clients in the assessment and implementation of evidence-based policies.
• Perform executive level communication, by serving as the primary contact for project stakeholders and assisting in coordinating activities and communication with project participants and other stakeholders. 
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders including external project participants, non-profit and state and federal governmental organizations and community groups, for relevant Center projects. This may also include working with internal OHSU partners.

Group Facilitation and Speak Before Diverse Audiences:

• Prepare, draft, finalize and make oral presentations to new and existing clients. Explain and synthesize policy issues and potential impacts for internal and external audiences.
• Facilitate and lead group processes, including ongoing policy development feedback and drafting process in dynamic multi-state collaborative governance groups.
• Assist in coordinating activities and communications with the Center's national partners.
• Design and develop presentation panels, plan policy conferences and forums.
• Develop curricula as needed and deliver trainings and presentations regarding policies, research and practices to audiences that include practitioners, managers, executives and policy makers.
• Represent the Center at selected national and state-level conferences, meetings and other events, preparing materials for distribution and making presentations that effectively communicate the Center’s project goals and mission.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in public policy or other relevant field of study, or a combination of education and equivalent experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in health care or public program policy analysis.
• Two years’ experience managing complex or high profile programs or projects.
• Strong skills in research, analysis, writing and presentation.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Strong research skills, including: research and analysis of state and federal laws, policies, healthcare guidelines, medical and coverage decisions, peer-reviewed research, grey literature, and other evidence reports.
• Experience conducting peer-reviewed and grey literature reviews.
• Clear and effective writing and presentation style, including the ability to express ideas, thoughts and concepts clearly and concisely in a non-academic, public-sector setting.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into digestible and actionable written report products, oral presentations, and other instruments.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, adjust to changing circumstances, remain attentive to details and identify resources for projects.
• Approach research, written products, and presentations with a non-partisan perspective.
• Ability to exercise discretion when dealing with issues of a sensitive nature, and to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Ability to deliver presentations for large and diverse audiences, both in person and using webinar and conference call technologies.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated time and project-management skills, including an ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Excellent grammatical skills, including ability to write in defined styles and adhere to style guidelines. Excellent ability to respond constructively to written and other product review, edits, and comments. Proficiency in MS Office applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Experience working with a citation management software application (e.g., EndNote).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Relevant work experience in a Medicaid administration, state government, health policy, or other public sector setting strongly preferred

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Experience and understanding of Medicaid, managed care, service and delivery system innovations, federal and state health policy, and health reform efforts including the ACA.
• Experience conducting claims analysis, cost-benefit-analysist, program evaluation, or economic analyses.
• Experience managing programs including contracting, creating and managing budgets, customer relations and supervising staff.
• Experience designing, implementing, or evaluating alternative payment models in healthcare.
• High level quantitative data analysis skills and experience, including expertise in use of standard statistical packages (e.g., SAS, STATA).
• Expertise in conducting and evaluating economic modeling and analysis (e.g., cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness).
• Experience being highly accountable to external customers, public officials, and diverse stakeholders preferred.
• Experience working with a diverse array of clients, including policy makers, practitioners and agency leaders. Background in medical coding practices and national quality measures.
• Highly desirable candidates will be proficient in citation management software (e.g. EndNote). Experience in use of systematic review software (e.g., DistillerSR).

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.


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