Senior Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

$74,476 - $110,000/Yr

Hospital Of The University Of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

Philadelphia, PA

Hospitals

About the position

The Senior Policy Analyst position at the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) is a critical role that involves providing in-depth analysis and research support to policymakers on various public policy issues. The PWBM is a non-partisan initiative that focuses on assessing the effects of policy decisions on budgetary outcomes and economic variables. The work produced by PWBM is widely recognized and has played a significant role in shaping discussions around key policy areas such as tax reform, infrastructure, budget reconciliation, pre-K education, paid family leave, universal income, debt, Social Security, and health care. The team comprises approximately 30 professionals, including Ph.D. economists, policy analysts, research analysts, and software engineers, all dedicated to delivering high-quality research and analysis. As a Senior Policy Analyst, you will specialize in one or more areas of public policy, including health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy. Your role will involve both qualitative and quantitative research to support requests from policymakers and to contribute to flagship analyses. You will be responsible for interpreting model outputs and summarizing results for various stakeholders, ensuring that complex data is communicated effectively in both written and oral formats. Additionally, you will play a key role in developing and maintaining PWBM's models related to household taxes and government transfers, requiring advanced statistical programming skills in languages such as Python or R. This position is a two-year appointment, subject to renewal based on the discretion of the faculty director and the availability of funds. It is contingent upon continued funding, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to changing research needs and funding landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a public policy topic-area expert, providing research expertise for addressing policymaker requests.
• Analyze PWBM model output in collaboration with staff analysts and economists, preparing written summaries of results for public briefs and reports.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of PWBM's policy models, regularly incorporating data and staying abreast of relevant data releases and legislative changes.
• Contribute to data processing, statistical modeling, policy analysis, and projections utilizing programming skills.
• Support the Director of Business Tax and Economic Policy and Faculty Director in Capitol Hill outreach, communications, and education efforts.
• Assist with business development efforts, including grant proposal writing and social media outreach.
• Serve as a liaison between policymakers and PWBM staff for requested analyses, communicating PWBM 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 at a think tank, government agency, financial institution, or similar is required.
• Demonstrated professional and personal interest in public policy and economics is required.
• Advanced statistical programming skills (e.g., Python or R) and proficiency with data analysis tools, including Microsoft Excel, are required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills are required.
• Excellent organizational skills, including attention to detail and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, are required.
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred: health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in grant proposal writing and business development efforts.
• Familiarity with social media outreach strategies.
• Knowledge of current legislative proposals and changes in relevant policy areas.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Tuition assistance for employees, their spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous retirement plans including Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement options.
• Substantial time away from work for personal needs, vacations, and recovery from illness.
• Long-term care insurance options for faculty and staff and their eligible family members.
• Wellness and work-life resources to support health and balance.
• Professional and personal development resources.
• Access to a wide range of University resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts on goods and services for faculty and staff.
• Flexible work hours and options for non-traditional work arrangements.
• Forgivable loans for home purchases in West Philadelphia for eligible employees.
• Adoption assistance for qualified expenses related to the legal adoption of a child.