Comment Analysis Lead / Senior Analyst

Role summary
Leads the substantive analytical work, from building the coding structure to producing the narrative summary and final report content. This person gives FNA confidence that 150,000+ comments will be accurately categorized and summarized in a form usable for the Federal Register comment response.

Primary responsibilities

• Review the Proposed Rule and draft the hierarchical coding structure of key issues. Code a representative sample of unique comments to test it, then finalize it jointly with FNA (Task 2.2; BPA PWS 3.0 b.i).
• Develop coding protocols, including rules for background/introductory text, redundant content, and parsing submissions into individual codeable excerpts (BPA PWS 3.0 b.ii, b.iv).
• Establish and oversee classification of every submission as unique, form letter, form master, form-plus, duplicate, or not germane (Task 2.3).
• Supervise and train the coding team, and run inter-coder reliability checks and second-level QC reviews.
• Identify emerging trends, key stakeholder positions, and letters requiring early attention for the weekly EARs/Trend Reports, including support/oppose/mixed tables by provision (Task 2.4).
• Author the Narrative Summary, with representative quotes and quantitative counts by coding category, due 30 days after the comment period closes (Task 2.5).
• Lead drafting of the Final Report and appendices, including stakeholder tables, suggested alternatives, and responses to the Questions for Public Comment. Maintain a neutral voice suitable for the Federal Register (Task 2.6).
• Prepare internal and sanitized public versions of reports.

Minimum qualifications

• Master's degree in public policy, nutrition, public health, social science, or a related field. Alternatively, a bachelor's degree plus additional qualifying experience per the GSA labor category.
• At least 6 years of experience in qualitative research, content analysis, or policy analysis.
• At least 3 years leading public comment coding and analysis for federal rulemakings.

Preferred qualifications

• Subject matter knowledge of child nutrition programs, school meal standards, or the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential or nutrition policy background.
• Experience with qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA) or comment analysis platforms.
• Strong technical writing samples in a regulatory or Federal Register style.