SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

Wits Solutions Inc. (WITS) is a SBA certified Small Disadvantaged Business with headquarters in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area. WITS has been providing best-in-class solutions in professional IT and administrative consulting to various Federal, State, Local and commercial customers. At WITS, we believe in working not for our clients but with them. This is why right from the beginning; our analysts and solution-builders work closely with our clients to ensure that the project outcomes continue to deliver value long into the future.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS MANDATORY

Master's degree or higher in public policy, public health, health policy, health services research, health economics, social work, sociology, psychology or gerontology.

WORK EXPERIENCE MANDATORY

• At least 5 years doing policy analysis.
• At least 5 years working with linked data sets.
• At least 3 years doing program assessments and evaluations.
• At least 3 years building data models.
• At least 2 years of work like this, with examples from the last 5 years.
• Deep knowledge of at least one of these subject areas:
• serious mental illness and suicide prevention;
• substance use disorders, including opioids and alcohol;
• intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• Alzheimer's disease and related dementias;
• disability measurement and trends;
• long term services and supports, and long term care financing;
• home and community based services;
• child welfare, early childhood, youth development, child support, fatherhood, economic mobility or homelessness.
• Proven ability to write short, clear memos for busy readers on a 1 to 2 month turnaround.
• Experience running or advising expert panels.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS NICE TO HAVE

PhD, DrPH or ScD. Clinical license such as LCSW, LPC, RN or PsyD. Training in systematic review methods. CITI human subjects research certificate.

WORK EXPERIENCE NICE TO HAVE

Past work with ASPE, ACL, SAMHSA, CMS, ACF, AHRQ, CDC or NIA.

Published papers, testimony or service on federal advisory panels.

An existing network of experts who can join a panel at short notice.

Experience including people with lived experience in research.

REFERENCES/CERTIFICATES/DIPLOMAS REQUIRED

Resume. Copy of the highest degree or transcript. Two work references. Signed letter of commitment from the candidate."

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead policy analysis projects from question to finished product.

Write and review technical memos, research briefs, issue briefs and short reports.

Plan and run literature reviews and environmental scans. Set the search plan, judge the evidence and write the findings.

Plan and run expert panels. Pick the experts, set the agenda, run the meeting and write the summary.

Turn findings into plain language a policy reader can act on.

Advise the Project Director on how many hours and which staff each project needs.

Review the work of junior analysts and give them feedback.

Present findings to government staff and senior leaders.

Answer quick turnaround questions, often in days rather than weeks.