Behavioral Health Policy Analyst

Job Description and Duties

The Policy Analyst, under the supervision of the Supervisor I in the Behavioral Health and State Workforce Policy Unit, performs analytical, technical, and coordination duties in the development and implementation of broad behavioral health and healthcare policy for the Office of Health Workforce Development (OHWD). The Policy Analyst acts as a subject matter expert on special project teams to support ongoing quality improvement and implementation of OHWD’s portfolio of behavioral health and health workforce initiatives. The Policy Analyst works collaboratively with OHWD management to analyze legislation and to make recommendations on revising and/or developing new policies. These tasks may require working with other governmental agencies, the public, and educational institutions throughout California.

Effective July 1, 2025, specific Bargaining Units and associated Excluded State employees are subject to a salary reduction between 2% - 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) hours each month. For more details about  PLP 2025 , visit the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website.

Take a 2-minute survey to tell us why you applied for HCAI! - 

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

HCAI is committed to fostering a flexible, inclusive, and high-performing work environment that supports both operational excellence and employee well-being.

HCAI is housed in a state-of-the-art building outside of downtown off Interstate-5. Enjoy a great work environment with many amenities, including FREE PARKING and fully equipped electric vehicle charging stations. HCAI is close to many dining and shopping choices in the Natomas area.

HCAI supports a hybrid telework schedule for many positions, consistent with operational requirements. Telework schedules are only available for CA residents. The telework policy is subject to change, and additional in-office days may be required and/or minimal notification may be given to report to the worksite if an urgent need arises.

Visa Sponsorship: HCAI is not an E-Verify employer and does not provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of appointment.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience evaluating and analyzing situations followed by recommending, adopting, and/or implementing an effective course of action.
• Experience that demonstrates the ability to efficiently process or oversee contracts and/or grants while effectively tracking and monitoring outcomes.
• Experience that demonstrates the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities in a cooperative manner.
• Experience collaborating and interacting with the public and varying levels of departmental personnel.
• Experience collaborating on or leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience with learning and implementing new technology platforms and effectively managing changes.

Benefits

In addition to competitive public employee wages and a comprehensive benefits package, our employees enjoy meaningful and interesting work that supports access to healthcare.

To learn more about benefits for State employees, visit the Salary and Benefits page on the  CalHR website .

University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) employees may qualify to transfer their current and previous employment credit to State of California employment through CalPERS. Human Resources can help with this process upon employment or you can reach out to CalPERS for inquiries at Show phone number.

Additional Application Requirements

To be considered for this vacancy, please complete all applicable fields on the application form, including a list or description of previous/current work experience in the duties performed section. The application should also clearly demonstrate the candidate’s ability to meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification.

Any documents you submit for a job vacancy such as your state application, resume, cover letter, educational transcripts, etc. SHOULD NOT include ANY confidential information e.g. Social Security Number (SSN).

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your high school or college/university transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts may be accepted during the application process; however, submission of official transcripts may be required prior to appointment.

Foreign Degrees or Transcripts – Applicants with foreign degrees or transcripts who wish to apply that coursework toward meeting the minimum qualifications of the classification must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which his/her foreign coursework is equivalent. HCAI accepts foreign transcript evaluations that are completed by one of the agencies approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted to apply to this position. The SOQ must be in 12-point Arial font, single-spaced, and no more than 2 page(s) in length. The SOQ must include responses to the following questions in numerical order; do not consolidate responses.

  1. Explain a time when you were responsible for gathering, analyzing, and presenting data. What tools or methods did you use, and what was the outcome of your analysis?

  2. Describe your experience coordinating with internal and or external stakeholders.  How did you ensure effective communication and collaboration?

  3. Tell us about a time you managed multiple priorities or deadlines.  How did you stay organized and ensure quality results?

  To support fair hiring, applicants should prepare their application materials using their own knowledge, experience, and skills. Your responses should show your own qualifications and work history. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools should only be used responsibly.