Senior Economist

$40.28 - $64.45 Hourly

$83,790 - $134,063 Annually

This position is a Pay Band C11

Posting Details

Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.


This job posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies.


Our Vision

• Every New Mexican has access to affordable health care coverage through a coordinated and seamless health care system.

Our Mission

• We ensure that New Mexicans attain their highest level of health by providing whole-person, cost-effective, accessible, and high-quality health care and safety-net services.

Our Goals

• Leverage purchasing power and partnerships to create innovative policies and models of comprehensive health care coverage that improve the health and well-being of New Mexicans and the workforce.
• Achieve health equity by addressing poverty, discrimination, and lack of resources, building a New Mexico where everyone thrives.
• Implement innovative technology and data-driven decision-making to provide unparalleled, convenient access to services and information.
• Build the best team in state government by supporting employees continuous growth and wellness.

Why does the job exist?

The Senior Economist will:

• Evaluate and quantify the economic and societal outcomes of recently enacted legislation and appropriations that establish a new Behavioral Health model/practice. This role will focus on applying economic and statistical methods to assess policy impact, resource allocation, and cost-effectiveness of behavioral health initiatives.

How does it get done?

The Senior Economist is responsible for:

• Analyzing and forecasting the economic impact of new behavioral health legislation, funding models, and policy changes;
• Designing and implementing economic and statistical models to evaluate outcomes associated with behavioral health services and reform efforts;
• Quantifying the return on investment (ROI) and cost-effectiveness of new service delivery models within behavioral health;
• Conducting fiscal impact analyses and preparing detailed reports, including economic forecasts, expenditure trends, and revenue tracking;
• Analyzing population-level data to measure access, service utilization, equity, and effectiveness across behavioral health programs;
• Collaborating with program staff and external stakeholders to inform and refine behavioral health strategies;
• Contributing to the development of performance metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess ongoing program effectiveness.

Who are the customers?

• Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD) leadership, the state legislature, and the Governor's Office.

Ideal Candidate

The Ideal Candidate has:

• Strong analytical skills;
• A solid understanding of health economics or public finance;
• The ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for decision-makers.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Statistics, or Business Administration and three (3) years of experience in database manipulation, statistical analysis, or spreadsheet and/or statistical software usage. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling seven (7) years may substitute for the required education and experience.


Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.


Must obtain a Defensive driving certification.


Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer to include working with computers, faxes, copiers, printers and phone usage. Ability to lift up to 25lbs. Travel throughout the state and occasional out of state may be required.


Supplemental Information

Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here


Agency Contact Information: Jolene Jaffa, View phone number on click.appcast.io. Email


For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.