Technical Assistance and Policy Research Analyst

For 20 years, Westat Insight has provided high-quality, nationally recognized research, policy support, and technical assistance services to government, philanthropic, and nonprofit clients. Our mission is to improve peoples’ lives through better policy, improved programs, and meaningful research. Key practice areas include food and nutrition, education, health, family support, and workforce development.

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, we offer full-time telework, outstanding potential for growth, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits in a collegial, family-friendly environment. For further information about our projects and information about our work and corporate culture, please visit our website at www.insightpolicyresearch.com. 

This position involves working with a diverse team of research, education, and policy experts on research, policy, and technical assistance.  Our current projects include work with Federal and State agencies who administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Responsibilities

• Work with experts to analyze the policy and operations of safety net programs, and make recommendations to federal, state, and local administrators.
• Develop project schedules and manage all aspects of project collaboration, both internal and client-facing. Schedule client meetings and take detailed meeting notes.
• Collect, consolidate, and analyze programmatic data. Research statutes, regulations, and policy guidance to examine emerging policy issues.
• Draft reports, presentations, policy briefs, and toolkits to help agencies improve policy implementation. Work with a team to ensure written deliverables are high quality.
• Facilitate workgroups that bring together diverse, interested groups to collaborate on policy and implementation. Support virtual and in-person policy trainings, technical assistance, and data collection. (This may involve occasional travel.)
• Work independently and with teams to manage multiple overlapping deadlines. Work with a team to ensure project activities are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Primarily support projects related to poverty reduction and nutrition assistance programs; potentially support other initiatives across practice areas.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in public policy, law, sociology, social work, education, or a related field (and professional experience preferred); or bachelor’s degree and 2–5 years’ work experience in public policy, social policy research, or social safety net program delivery for a government agency, nonprofit, or consulting firm.
• Working knowledge and understanding of public assistance programs to help low-income populations.
• Background and interest in public policy and improving the way social safety net programs are operationalized.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and meet competing deadlines.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a highly-collaborative team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience using Microsoft office programs; ability to quickly learn new programs like project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Planner) and data collection and analytical tools (e.g., Qualtrics, NVivo).
• Additional qualifications that would be advantageous:  experience developing materials that explain complex policy to a wide audience; experience presenting in front of an audience and/or facilitating in-person or virtual meetings; experience in policy research; familiarity with human-centered design or other people-first approaches to problem solving; experience working to advance equity in government policy.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Insight, we value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, and veterans to apply. Insight is a committed equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race; color; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; religion; national origin; marital status; pregnancy or parental status; military or veteran status; medical condition; disability; or any federal, state, or local protected class. We do not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics.

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