Senior Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

$74,476 - $110,000/Yr

University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

Philadelphia, PA

501-1,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Senior Policy Analyst at the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) is a public policy expert responsible for providing research support in various policy areas, including health policy, retirement policy, and tax policy. This role involves analyzing model outputs, developing and maintaining policy models, and communicating findings to stakeholders. The Analyst will work closely with a team of economists and analysts to assess the effects of policy on budgetary outcomes and economic variables, contributing to influential policy discussions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a public policy topic-area expert, providing research expertise for policymaker requests.
• Analyze PWBM model output in collaboration with staff analysts and economists, preparing written summaries for public briefs and reports.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of PWBM's policy models, incorporating relevant data and legislative changes.
• Contribute to data processing, statistical modeling, policy analysis, and projections using programming skills.
• Support outreach, communications, and education efforts with the Director of Business Tax and Economic Policy and Faculty Director.
• Apply communication skills and policy expertise to assist with business development efforts, including grant proposal writing and social media outreach.
• Act as a liaison between policymakers and PWBM staff for requested analyses, communicating capabilities and results.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in Economics or a related discipline.
• A master's degree in Public Policy or Applied Economics is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience conducting policy analysis and/or economic research is required.
• Demonstrated professional and personal interest in public policy and economics is required.
• Advanced statistical programming skills in Python or R, and proficiency with data analysis tools, including Microsoft Excel, is required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills are required.
• Excellent organizational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, are required.

Nice-to-haves

• Subject matter expertise in health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy is preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous retirement plans with various investment options.
• Substantial time away from work for personal needs.
• Long-term care insurance for faculty and staff and eligible family members.
• Wellness and work-life resources to support health and balance.
• Professional and personal development resources.
• Access to university resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts on goods and services for faculty and staff.
• Flexible work hours and options for work-life balance.
• Forgivable loan for home buying or improvements in West Philadelphia.
• Adoption assistance for qualified expenses related to legal adoption.