Senior Quantitative Researcher - CMMI Evaluations

American Institutes for Research; Chapel Hill (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Institutes for Research is seeking a Senior Quantitative Researcher for the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) Evaluations within the Healthcare Innovations team. The role blends leadership in evaluation design with business development, advising on quasi-experimental studies, claims analyses, EHR data, and sub-group analyses.

Remote work within the United States is possible, with potential offices nationwide.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Economics, Health Services Research, Quantitative Psychology, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 2 years experience managing task or workstreams within a larger project.
• Demonstrated success leading or contributing to winning proposals for CMS, AHRQ, or other HHS agencies.

Responsibilities

• Supports business development activities for CMS and CMMI, including capture planning, client engagement, opportunity shaping, proposal development, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Leads complex evaluations of Medicare payment and service delivery models, ensuring task execution, quality of deliverables, staffing, and client relationships.
• Provides technical leadership for evaluations, including quasi-experimental designs, mixed-methods research, and Medicare/Medicaid data analyses.
• Coaches and manages staff, sets development goals and measurements.
• Fosters an environment that values diverse perspectives and strengths.

Skills

Federal client relationships

Leadership

Communication

Project leadership

Data-driven

Education

Ph.D. or Masters in a relevant field

3+ years (Ph.D.) or 7+ years (Master) experience

Job description

Join AIR as aSenior Quantitative Researcher - CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) Evaluationswith our Healthcare Innovations team. Our team works collaboratively to unravel the intertwined challenges of health care quality, costs, and access. Our team of experts - nurses, physicians, psychologists, economists, sociologists, data scientists, and public health experts - advance evidence and save lives by leading rigorous research and evaluation; results-driven technical assistance and training; and leading-edge data science and technology tools.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.

About AIR

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not‑for‑profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data‑driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Responsibilities

• Supports business development activities for CMS and CMMI, including capture planning, client engagement, opportunity shaping, proposal development, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Serves in leadership roles (e.g. task or workstream lead, deputy project director) for complex evaluations of Medicare payment and service delivery models, ensuring task execution, quality of task deliverables, staffing, and client relationships.
• Provides technical leadership for evaluations of CMMI models and demonstrations, including technical expertise with quasi‑experimental designs, mixed‑methods research, Medicare and/or Medicaid claims analyses, analysis of EHR data, beneficiary and provider outcomes, and sub‑group analyses.
• Effectively coaches and manages others to promote their development; sets developmental goals and measurements for staff.
• Fosters an environment that values a wide range of perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, and individual strengths.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Ph.D. in Economics, Health Services Research, Quantitative Psychology, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant experience or Master's degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 2 years experience managing task or workstreams within a larger project.
• Served in a project leadership role (e.g., Deputy Project Director, Task Lead, or similar) on one or more CMMI model evaluation contracts.
• Demonstrated success leading or contributing to winning proposals for CMS, AHRQ, or other HHS agencies.
• Extensive knowledge of Medicare payment policy, Medicare Advantage, and/or Medicaid.
• Knowledge of Medicare claims, provider claims, survey data, EHR data, and publicly available datasets.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with federal clients and partners.
• Ability to communicate complex evaluation findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Must possess strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills at a senior level.
• Ability to lead teams, especially for business development activities as part of pre‑RFP planning and design, and through proposal response.
• Extensive success in writing, conceptualizing, analyzing, and consulting on large‑scale federally funded projects.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when writing.
• Command of appropriate protections and handling of data sets containing PHI/PII

Disclosures

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full‑time basis. Employment‑based visa sponsorship (including H‑1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basisof any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law, including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braid, locs, and twists), creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition (e.g., cancer), sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, civil union status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information, or military or veteran status.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug‑free work environment.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone [e-mail] call 202.403.5000.

#LI-MP1 #LI-REMOTE

AIR's Total Rewards Program, is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers the anticipated annual salary as listed. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

Anticipated Annual Salary Range

$120,000 — $150,000 USD