Senior Policy Think Tank Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About CICONIX: CICONIX LLC is a Veteran Owned Small Business specializing in business advisory and technical assistance for military health programs. We value exceptional people, unwavering integrity, inclusive collaboration, and enduring impact.

Location(s): Hyattsville, MD (on-site)

Position Details:

• Full-time position
• No calls, nights, weekends, or holidays!
• Full benefit program, including: health, PTO, & 401k + contribution

Requirements:

• Master’s Degree
• 5+ years of experience conducting policy analysis or research for federal agencies, think tanks, academic institutions, or policy organizations
• Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, disability, aging, or health-system policy (Medicare, Medicaid, delivery-system reform, payment models)

Summary:

The Senior Policy Analyst provides advanced analytical, research, and policy-development support for projects conducted under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), specifically within the Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) and Health System Policy (HSP) offices. This role supports federal decision-makers by conducting complex policy analyses, synthesizing evidence, and developing actionable recommendations across behavioral health, disability, aging, health-system financing, delivery-system reform, and cross-cutting human services issues.

The Senior Policy Analyst collaborates closely with Project Directors, federal partners, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure all work products meet ASPE’s standards for rigor, clarity, and policy relevance. This position requires deep subject‑matter expertise, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to translate research findings into clear, practical policy insights for senior leadership.

• Conduct in-depth analyses, literature reviews, environmental scans, and evidence syntheses across BHDAP and HSP priority areas, including behavioral health, disability, LTSS, Medicare/Medicaid policy, health‑system transformation, and payment reform.
• Evaluate federal and state policies, regulations, and program data to identify trends, gaps, and implications for ASPE priorities.
• Develop policy options, recommendations, and decision‑support materials for senior federal leadership.
• Interpret complex research findings, administrative datasets, and program evaluations to inform policy development.

• Support ASPE/BHDAP and ASPE/HSP in designing and implementing research studies, pilot programs, and policy initiatives.
• Provide subject‑matter expertise to federal partners, grantees, and stakeholders on behavioral health, disability, aging, and health‑system policy issues.
• Assist in developing analytic frameworks, logic models, and evaluation plans for federal projects.

• Participate in meetings, listening sessions, and working groups with federal agencies, states, researchers, providers, and community organizations.
• Summarize stakeholder perspectives and integrate them into policy analyses and recommendations.
• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and presentations for ASPE leadership.

• Draft high‑quality policy briefs, technical reports, memos, issue summaries, and other deliverables for federal audiences.
• Ensure all written products meet ASPE’s standards for clarity, accuracy, and policy relevance.
• Support development of monthly progress reports and project documentation.

• Ensure all analyses and deliverables adhere to federal confidentiality requirements, including the Privacy Act, CIPSEA, HIPAA‑aligned safeguards, and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) rules.
• Maintain accurate documentation of sources, methods, and analytic decisions.
• Support internal quality‑assurance processes and respond to federal feedback.

• Education:
  • Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Health Services Research, Social Sciences, Behavioral Health, Disability Studies, or related field.
• Experience:
  • 5+ years of experience conducting policy analysis or research for federal agencies, think tanks, academic institutions, or policy organizations.
  • Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, disability, aging, or health‑system policy (Medicare, Medicaid, delivery‑system reform, payment models).
  • Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret research findings and translate them into policy insights.
  • Exceptional writing skills with experience producing federal‑quality policy briefs and reports.
  • Experience working with federal confidentiality rules and secure data‑handling requirements.
• Security & Background Check:
  • U.S. Citizenship and a successful background investigation are required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Willingness to comply with the government vaccination requirements.
  • Strong policy‑synthesis and analytical reasoning.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
  • High attention to detail and methodological rigor.
  • Strong collaboration and stakeholder‑engagement skills.
  • Commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and federal compliance.

• Experience supporting ASPE/BHDAP, ASPE/HSP, or related HHS agencies.
• Familiarity with federal research processes, evaluation methods, and evidence‑based policy frameworks.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Knowledge of federal data systems, administrative datasets, and program evaluation tools.

Compensation: TBD

*This position is contingent and will begin upon contract award.

CICONIX LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets. We E‑Verify all employees.