Policy and Program Analyst - Management Analyst 4

Working Title: Policy and Program Analyst

Job Class: Management Analyst 4

Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

• Job ID : 94408

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes, may be eligible for some telework

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 06/02/2026

• Date Posted : 05/27/2026

• Closing Date : 06/15/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Department of Employment and Economic Development / MAPE

• Division/Unit : Paid Family and Medical Leave

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift, 8:00AM to 4:30PM

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : No

• Salary Range: $33.48 - $49.66 / hourly; $69,906 - $103,690 / annually

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees / MAPE

• FLSA Status : Nonexempt

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities ( : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

About the Paid Leave Division:

Paid Leave is a new program that officially launched in Minnesota on January 1, 2026. The program provides partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We have built a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We have engaged the people who depend on us-workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers-to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We use modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

Position Purpose:

The Policy and Program Analyst plays a critical role on the Paid Leave team, at the intersection of policy development and business analysis. The Policy and Program Analyst advised program staff on policy interpretations, conducts research to develop and inform policy positions, and proposed regulatory and legislative policy changes. This position will work across the Product and Strategy teams to ensure the Paid Leave program has a system that is easy to use and accessible for all Minnesotans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop policy positions on issues related to program implementation and administration

• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise on the statute, regulations, and policy surrounding Paid Leave

• Research and develop primary and secondary evidence to advance and support policy positions

• Coordinate with teams across public engagement, external communications, data, user experience, and others to produce evidence-based insights

• Act as a resource to all Paid Leave staff and partners to assist in resolving difficult or complex cases for users of the Paid Leave program

• Clearly document regulatory and legislative decisions while also anticipating and articulating potential impacts to program implementation and product development

• Leverage a diverse range of analytical techniques to identify and implement opportunities that enhance access, alignment, and utilization of the Paid Leave program

This position is telework ( eligible. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

Minimum Qualifications

Please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

Three (3) years* of experience conducting policy and program analysis

*Master's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Business Analytics, Data Analytics, or other closely related field as determined by the agency may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

• Experience developing, interpreting, and implementing policies

• Experience developing policy documents, briefs, or presentations

• Experience organizing projects with others, establishing goals and timetables, clarifying mutual expectations, and evaluating results

• Ability to communicate effectively with customers/stakeholders to respond openly to request and concerns

• Skill in analytical problem-solving

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge and/or experience with a variety of data analyses and research techniques including interviews, focus groups, and user research

• Experience with State policy development, legislative processes, and rulemaking

• Ability to deal with ambiguity, start-up environment, little or no procedural precedent

• Ability to effectively work in a team environment by incorporation of internal and external stakeholders into decisions and actions

• Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures

Additional Requirements

A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Criminal Background Check

• Employment Record Review (current and former state employees only)

• Employment Reference Check

• Conflict of Interview Review

• Driver's Record Check

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at View phone number on jobs.institutedata.com or email View email address on jobs.institutedata.com . Please indicate what assistance is needed.