Senior Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

$74,476 - $100,000/Yr

University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

Philadelphia, PA

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 and analysis to policymakers on various economic and budgetary issues. This role involves developing and maintaining models related to household taxes and government transfers, as well as interpreting model outputs and communicating results effectively. The position requires advanced statistical programming skills and a strong background in public policy or economics.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a public policy topic-area expert.
• Provide research expertise for addressing policymaker requests, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
• Analyze PWBM model output in collaboration with staff analysts and economists.
• Prepare written summaries of results for public briefs and reports and communicate results to stakeholders.
• Assist with development and maintenance of PWBM's policy models.
• Regularly incorporate data, staying abreast of relevant data releases and legislative proposals and changes.
• Contribute to data processing, statistical modeling, policy analysis, and projections by utilizing programming skills.
• Support Director of Business Tax and Economic Policy and Faculty Director in Capitol Hill outreach, communications, and education efforts.
• Apply communication skills and policy expertise to assist with business development efforts and social media outreach.
• Serve as a liaison between policymakers and PWBM staff for requested analyses.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required (preferably in Economics or a related discipline).
• A master's degree, for example 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 (for example 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, including a keen orientation to detail and deadlines, as well as the ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, are required.
• Ability to effectively work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice-to-haves

• Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following subject areas: health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous retirement plans including Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans.
• 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 a wide range of University resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts and special services for faculty and staff.
• Flexible work options for work-life balance.
• Forgivable loan for eligible employees for home buying or improvements.
• Adoption assistance for qualified expenses related to legal adoption.