"Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model"

Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

Job Profile Title

Data Analyst D

Job Description Summary

The Policy Analyst is a public policy expert specializing in one or more of the following areas: health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy. The Analyst offers research support, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in support of policymaker requests and flagship analyses, and reads and interprets legislation. The Analyst is an expert communicator who interprets model output and summarizes results in written and oral formats. The position involves developing and maintaining PWBM's models for household taxes, government transfers, and other policy areas. Advanced statistical programming skills (for example in Python or R) are required for many of the Analyst's tasks.

This position is ideal for recent graduates with master's in public policy or applied economics, and college graduates with experience at think tanks.

Job Description

The Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) is a non-partisan, research-based initiative that provides accurate and transparent economic analysis of public policy. As the honest broker operating at the intersection of public policy and innovative economics modeling, PWBM works directly with policymakers to provide analysis but does not make policy recommendations. PWBM's work is widely cited and has been influential in many key recent policy discussions, including economic relief packages, climate investments, tax reform, infrastructure, education, paid family leave, Social Security, health care and many other areas.

PWBM seeks a policy expert specializing in one or more of the following areas: health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy. The Policy Analyst will help formulate and execute research plans to answer specific, time-sensitive requests from lawmakers, campaigns, and other PWBM stakeholders. The ideal candidate is an expert communicator who can interpret economic model output and summarize the results for non-experts in written and oral formats. The Policy Analyst is also responsible for contributing to the development and maintenance of PWBM's models for household taxes, government benefits, and other policy areas. This position is ideal for recent graduates with master's in public policy or applied economics, or college graduates with experience at think tanks.

*This is a two-year term subject to renewal based on the discretion of the faculty director and available funds. This position is dependent on grant funding.

DUTIES:

• Serve as a public policy topic-area expert. Provide research expertise for addressing policymaker requests, both qualitatively by describing the nuances of specific program design and quantitatively by identifying and collecting information and data from relevant sources and conducting analyses as necessary. Read and interpret legislation.
• Analyze PWBM model output in collaboration with staff analysts and economists. Prepare written summaries of results for public briefs and reports and communicate results to stakeholders.
• Assist with development and maintenance of PWBM's policy models. Regularly incorporate data, staying abreast of relevant data releases and legislative proposals and changes.
• Contribute to data processing, statistical modeling, policy analysis, and projections by utilizing programming skills.
• Support Director of Policy Analysis and Faculty Director in Capitol Hill outreach, communications, and education efforts.
• Apply communication skills and policy expertise to assist with business development efforts (such as grant proposal writing) and social media outreach.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree is required in Economics, Public Policy or a related discipline. A master's degree, for example in Public Policy or Applied Economics, is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience conducting policy analysis and/or economic research at a think tank, government agency, or similar is required.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Demonstrated professional and personal interest in public policy and economics is required.
• Advanced statistical programming skills (for example in Python or R, etc) and proficiency with data analysis tools, including Microsoft Excel, is required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills is required.
• Excellent organizational skills, including a keen orientation to detail and deadlines, as well as the ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks simultaneously is required.
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following subject areas is preferred: health policy, retirement policy, income security programs, discretionary spending, or tax policy.
• Ability to effectively work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hybrid Eligible - This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with a work week that is divided between working onsite and working remotely.

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$70,500.00 - $90,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.