Senior Associate, Health Policy

UMass Med School; Westborough (MA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Med School in Massachusetts is seeking a Senior Associate, Health Policy to lead policy and program development projects that improve access to and quality of health care. You will provide expert consultation, analysis, writing, and complex project leadership for client initiatives.

You will supervise Policy Associates, Project Managers, and Policy Analysts, participate in strategic development, and help advance best practices within ForHealth Consulting.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in public policy, public health, health economics, or related field.
• Eight years of health policy/health economics experience.
• Deep knowledge of the health care delivery system, health care payment methods, public payers.
• Knowledge of the ACA and Medicaid.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytic skills.
• Ability to present data and findings clearly.
• Experience using governmental research tools to find policy and regulations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and teams.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, word processing, and presentation software.
• Ability to maintain harmonious working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provide consulting services on health care system improvement to public agencies and non-profit organizations.
• Develop health policy, legal/financial frameworks, and new payment systems.
• Lead multiple, complex projects and supervise project teams.
• Maintain strong client relationships and deliver high-quality work.
• Produce major written deliverables for clients (policy briefs, reports).
• Develop proposals, workplans, analytic plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Conduct policy analyses using financial, economic, statistical, and clinical data.
• Present data and policy recommendations in various settings.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Team supervision

Education

Master's degree in relevant discipline

Eight years of professional experience

Tools

SAS

Spreadsheets & databases

Job description

Senior Associate, Health Policy

Minimum Salary

US-MA-Westborough

Job Details

• Requisition Number: 2026-51979
• # of Openings: 1
• Posted Date: Day
• Shift: Exempt
• Union Code: Non Union Position - Non Unit Professional (W60)
• Position Type: Full-Time
• Min: USD $125,000.00/Yr.
• Max: USD $140,000.00/Yr.

Overview

Under the general direction of the Executive Director or Senior Consultant, the Senior Associate will lead policy and program development projects that aim to improve access to and quality of health care. The Senior Associate will provide expert consultation, analysis, writing, and complex project leadership for programmatic and policy initiatives requested by clients. The Senior Associate will also supervise Policy Associates, Project Managers, and Policy Analysts and participate in the strategic development of the unit.

Responsibilities

• Provide consulting services on health care system improvement to public agencies and non-profit organizations.
• Provide clients with expertise in areas such as: developing health policy, structuring new legal and financial frameworks, identifying opportunities and requirements under federal health reform, developing new payment systems, and implementing new programs.
• Lead multiple, complex projects and supervise project teams including Associates and Policy or Research Analysts, subject matter experts from other ForHealth Consulting solutions sets, consultants, and client staff.
• Build and sustain strong client satisfaction, monitor client relationships and lead any necessary resolution of identified client issues. Communicate frequently with clients to ensure work products meet clients' needs.
• Develop major written deliverables for clients, relating to client policy initiatives. Draft presentations, policy recommendations, issue briefs and reports.
• Develop project proposals, workplans, analytic plans, timelines, and budgets to meet clients' needs.
• Conduct complex policy analyses using financial, economic, statistical, demographic and clinical data.
• Present data, analysis and policy recommendations, orally and in writing, in both formal and informal settings, including in large public meetings.
• Review and analyze potential policy, revenue or research projects and business opportunities in areas of subject matter expertise.
• Review team members' work products to ensure that they are thorough, accurate and timely.
• Monitor changing federal, national, and state industry indicators. Perform state policy and client agency trend analysis to inform and support ForHealth Consulting executive planning and strategy.
• Provide subject matter advice, expertise, and analysis in support of top priority projects in other solution sets within ForHealth Consulting, as assigned.
• Contribute to the development of best practices within the unit.
• Provide relevant training and support the professional development of Associates, Staff Assistants and Policy or Research Analysts.
• Represent business unit and ForHealth Consulting at internal and external meetings, forums, contract negotiations and conferences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • May advise business unit or other ForHealth Consulting business units regarding Medicaid and other public benefit programs related to health coverage and the import of related state and federal reforms and initiatives

Qualifications

• Master's degree in relevant discipline (e.g. public policy, public health, health economics or financing, public or business administration with a concentration.
• Eight (8) years of related professional experience in health policy, health economics, or related field.
• Deep knowledge of the health care delivery system, health care payment methods, public payers, and current health care policy issues.
• Knowledge of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid .
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytic skills.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex data, analyses and information in easily understood formats.
• Demonstrated ability to use governmental website research tools to find relevant policy and state and federal regulations and explain findings to clients.
• Demonstrated ability to manage numerous projects and project teams simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in computer-based tools, including spreadsheets, database management, word processing, and presentation software.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with others at all levels of responsibility.

Additional Information

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the Massachusetts acute care system, including MassHealth and other coverage programs, and major private insurers and health care providers.
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts long-term care system and/or behavioral health policy challenges, including payment methods, interactions between Medicare and Medicaid for dual eligible individuals, the services continuum, emerging reform and policy developments, and major providers.
• Strong working relationships with major stakeholder groups in Massachusetts, including organizations representing consumers, business, health care providers, and third party payers.
• Experience as lead respondent to RFP or leading procurements for a state agency or foundation.
• Experience using statistical software, such as SAS.
• Experience analyzing publicly available administrative claims, eligibility, and cost report datasets.
• Experience chairing or facilitating large public meetings.
• Excellence in work performance, as evidenced by letters of reference, performance awards, or similar indicators.