Senior Public Policy Analyst

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut School of Social Work seeks qualified applicants to be hired as a Senior Public Policy Analyst (Research Associate I) to be part of the Innovations Institute at the University of Connecticut's School of Social Work.

The position will be part of the School of Social Work's growing portfolio of public policy, technical assistance, financing, and evaluation activities in partnership with local, state, and federal government agencies and organizations on behalf of children, youth, and families. Positions with Innovations Institute are fully remote with expected travel to UConn's Hartford Campus twice annually. Innovations Institute will be hiring up to two (2) candidates.

The selected candidate(s) will apply knowledge, concepts, principles, and skills to multiple projects across the Innovations Institute. These projects will include working with federal, state, and/or local governments to support sustainable financing and integrated and customized policy approaches in public child- and family-serving systems. The senior public policy analyst(s) will engage in document and literature reviews; participate in and, depending on expertise, facilitate meetings, stakeholder interviews, and/or focus groups; prepare briefs, white papers, technical reports, presentations, and overview documents and analyses; and apply expert knowledge and skills related to public policy, financing, and implementation, particularly related to Medicaid financing and children's behavioral health services.

The position is open for up to two senior public policy analysts who will work under the direction of Deborah Harburger, Assistant Extension Professor and Director of Policy and Financing at Innovations Institute. The selected candidate(s) may mentor or supervise other policy or program staff depending on qualifications. The selected candidate(s) is expected to collaborate across the Innovations Institute and the School of Social Work, as well as with consultants and organizations partnering with the Innovations Institute.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Minimum duties include:

• Review, analyze, and summarize relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature and datasets to support the provision of technical assistance and the development of literature reviews, briefs, papers, and presentations.
• Apply senior, in-depth knowledge, concepts, principles, and skills related to public policy, financing, and implementation, including related to Medicaid State Plans, amendments, and waivers and federal policy document development.
• Participate in and lead substantial portions of meetings, including with state and local leadership.
• Draft and review meeting notes. Be responsible for key action steps and assist the team with implementing action steps.
• Conduct or review cost-benefit analysis of proposed recommendations.
• Monitor key changes in children's behavioral health, Medicaid, child welfare, and juvenile justice policy at the local, state, and national levels.
• Review literature and research on current behavioral health topics. Summarize key policy topics for consumption by peers, senior leadership, or external entities.
• Prepare and review proposals and contracts for actions.
• Draft and maintain work plans and progress reports.
• Assist in the preparation of written products for multiple audiences, including academic manuscripts, public-facing one-pagers, and technical reports for decision-makers. Write reports, white papers, position papers, briefs, presentations, strategies, toolkits, testimonies, legislation, regulations, policy directives, implementation guidance, and impact statements for internal and external audiences.
• Provide presentations and technical assistance to internal or external entities on specific areas of expertise.
• Maintain high standards in the work being performed and maintain awareness of trends and influences.
• Assume responsibility for outcomes, make effective and timely decisions, and effectively use technology.
• Use skill in relevant PC applications and programs such as Microsoft Office (particularly Word and Excel) to perform responsibilities.
• Maintain productivity and use knowledge strategies to increase knowledge base.
• Work independently under minimal supervision.
• Prioritize ongoing and new projects necessary to implement a specific organizational program.
• Write and present information in a clear and concise way. Interpret and understand written information and listen attentively to verbal and non-verbal cues that lead to a deeper understanding.
• Work cooperatively with others and demonstrate professional, ethical, respectful, and courteous behavior when interacting with others. Comfortable with developing consensus across stakeholders.
• Experience developing and maintaining effective working relationships with partners, including funders, internal colleagues, and other stakeholders. Experience partnering with diverse stakeholders to develop research agendas related to outcomes, feedback, and evaluations.

Opportunities may include:

• Influence strategy, program, policy development, and best practices.
• Engage in and facilitate strategic planning, internally and with external stakeholders, to achieve short- and long-range planning goals.
• Serve as an expert resource to others internally and externally.
• Work on ambiguous matters generally without precedent or structure and independently develop standardization and protocol.
• Edit reports, white papers, position papers, briefs, presentations, strategies, toolkits, testimonies, legislation, regulations, policy directives, implementation guidance, and impact statements for internal and external audiences.
• Serve as a subject matter expert related to financing strategies and policy options.
• Use substantial latitude in decision-making.
• Set and monitor goals and objectives to align with the defined strategy.
• Depart from traditional approaches to develop and present novel solutions.
• Supervise other policy or program staff.
• Present work to a variety of audiences, including work at meetings and academic conferences.
• Co-author academic manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the development and writing of federal, state, and private grant proposals.
• Perform other duties as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience working in and with federal, state, and local public child- and family-serving agencies.
• Demonstrated record of scholarship, including authoring or co-authoring high-quality reports, toolkits, and briefs related to public child- and family-serving systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with multiple states on children's public behavioral health system design, implementation, or initiatives.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of public child- and family-serving system design, service array (including mobile response and stabilization, intensive in-home services, peer support, and intensive care coordination), and financing, including senior expertise in Medicaid authorities and requirements.
• Demonstrated experience authoring white papers or briefs and conducting high-level policy analysis.
• Ph.D. with up to one year of post-degree experience or Master's degree and eight to ten years of post-degree experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree or PhD in social work, psychology, public administration, public management, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience providing consultation or technical assistance to multiple states, tribes, or territories on public children's behavioral health systems and services.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively attend to various duties and projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, expertise in, and commitment to systems of care and implementation science.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

These are full-time, end-date positions subject to renewal based upon funding and satisfactory performance. Positions with Innovations Institute are fully remote with expected travel to UConn's Hartford Campus twice annually. Compensation will be based on experience and will range from $130,000 to $145,000 annually (full-time equivalent). For additional information regarding benefits, please visit UConn Health Benefits and explore the sections under the Benefits & Leaves and Engagement & Learning headers. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the American Association of University Professors UConn Chapter (AAUP).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at Faculty and Staff Positions, Search #499803. Upload a cover letter and resume that demonstrate how the candidate meets the minimum qualifications and, as applicable, the preferred qualifications. Upload the names of three professional references. Upload a writing sample that meets the following requirements:

• Write a sample Policy Corner that could be used in a future edition of the TA Telegram, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter distributed to the Innovations Institute listserv, which includes policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and others across the country. (Examples of past Policy Corners: 1/12/26, 3/23/26, 4/20/26, 6/1/26, and 7/13/26).
• The Policy Corner should be a brief spotlight on an issue from a public child- and family-serving system policy lens.
• The Policy Corner should
  • Include a short and attention-grabbing title that is 4-8 words
  • Be approximately 5-8 sentences (300-500 words)
  • Include a very brief introduction to the topic, resource, or problem
  • Describe policy options, solutions, recommendations, and/or implications
  • Use embedded hyperlinks for resources cited
• Include a bulleted list of an additional 3-5 publicly available resources for readers to learn more (not included in word count)

This job posting will remain open until filled.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee's unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disabilities, veteran's status, status as a victim of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and/or trafficking in persons as defined by Connecticut law, prior conviction of a crime, workplace hazards to the reproductive systems, or gender identity or expression.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer including for Disability and Veteran status.

Advertised: 2026-09-01 Eastern Daylight Time