Healthcare Policy Research Specialist

Join AIR as a Healthcare Policy Research Specialist focused on Medicaid policy and programs with our Healthcare Innovations team. Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to tackle complex challenges related to Medicaid coverage, care delivery, cost containment, and health equity. We support federal and state partners in enhancing outcomes for low-income and medically vulnerable populations. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute directly to impactful studies that inform Medicaid policy design, program evaluation, and system transformation. This position allows for remote work within the United States, or from one of AIR's U.S. office locations, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. About AIR: Founded in 1946, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to conducting behavioral and social science research. We deliver technical assistance to address urgent challenges both in the U.S. and globally. Our mission is to generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that create opportunities and improve lives for everyone. Responsibilities: Lead or contribute to the design and execution of Medicaid-focused research and evaluation projects, including policy analyses and program evaluations. Apply advanced quantitative methods to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret Medicaid administrative data, such as claims, encounters, enrollment, eligibility, and provider data. Examine Medicaid utilization, access, quality, cost, and equity outcomes across diverse populations and delivery systems. Translate complex analytic findings into clear, actionable insights for Medicaid stakeholders through reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Support the development of proposals for Medicaid-related work by writing technical sections and contributing to analytic approaches. Manage small to midsized project tasks or analytic components effectively, ensuring timely completion and coordination with internal teams and external clients. Collaborate closely with data scientists, policy staff, and project leadership to ensure analytic rigor aligns with policy objectives. Mentor junior staff by providing feedback, training, and demonstrating best practices in quantitative and Medicaid policy research. Engage with Medicaid stakeholders through meetings, briefings, and dissemination activities. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment. Qualifications: Education, Knowledge, and Experience: PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Economics, Public Policy, Health Services Research) or a Master's degree with at least four years of quantitative research experience. Demonstrated experience in applied quantitative research related to Medicaid, public insurance, or safety-net health programs. Experience with large-scale administrative health data, particularly Medicaid claims and provider files. Ability to interpret analytic results and contribute to informative reports and presentations. Background in research, evaluation, or technical assistance projects for Medicaid agencies, CMS, or public/nonprofit entities. Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including data analysts and policy experts. Familiarity with CMS data sources and Medicaid programs preferred but not mandatory. Skills: Strong quantitative and data analysis skills, with proficiency in statistical and data tools such as SAS, SQL, Stata, R, or Python. Ability to document analytic methods, ensure data quality, and support reproducible research practices. Solid understanding of Medicaid data structures and program rules, or a demonstrated ability to learn quickly. Excellent communication skills for conveying complex Medicaid-related findings to both technical and non-technical audiences. Capacity to manage multiple tasks and deadlines independently while contributing effectively in a collaborative environment. Proven ability to mentor junior staff and encourage inclusive team dynamics. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy in data analysis and reporting. Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements depending on project work. AIR is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment. ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need accommodation due to a disability during any part of the employment process, please contact us for assistance. WARNING ABOUT JOB SCAMS: AIR has received reports of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Please only apply through the official AIR website and be cautious of emails that come from non-official AIR domains. Annual Salary Range: $96,100-$128,100 USD

Created: 2026-03-17