"Policy Researcher/Senior Policy Researcher, Health Care Program (Associate/Full Specialist) - UC Berkeley Labor Center"

Position overview

Position title: Policy Researcher/Senior Policy Researcher, Health Care Program

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by the rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t24-b.pdf. The current full-time base salary range for this position is $75,600 - $194,800.
Off-scale salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Spring 2026

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on funding and performance

Application Window

Open date: February 10, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Department Overview

The UC Berkeley Labor Center, at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE), has an opening for a policy research specialist to join our dynamic organization at the forefront of research and education on the most pressing economic challenges affecting working families in California and communities across the country. The Center provides timely, policy-relevant research on labor and employment issues, and helps educate a new and diverse generation of union and worker organization leaders and students.

Position Description

The Policy Researcher will conduct policy-relevant research related to health coverage, health care affordability for workers and their families, and the health care workforce. The Health Care Program's research especially examines health care policy impacts for California's low-income and immigrant working families and communities of color. This position is well-suited for applicants with strong foundational research skills and an interest in labor and economic justice, and offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-impact, high-visibility organization and to work with a nationally-recognized team of researchers, policy analysts, and academics.

Position Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct policy-relevant qualitative and quantitative research on health coverage, health care affordability, and health care workforce issues in the state of California and nationally
• Provide technical assistance to stakeholders and policymakers on issues related to health care and labor and employment topics
• Serve as co-author or lead author on research reports and policy briefs
• Contributing to fundraising proposals for research projects
• Coordinate with researchers on other UC Campuses
• Engage the public via presentations, responding to media requests, authoring op-eds, and providing public testimony
• Support the Center's efforts to build a diverse generation of future labor researchers, including working with and/or supervising graduate student researchers

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Department: https://irle.berkeley.edu/

Unit: https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Associate Specialist
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least five (5) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree and at least three (3) years of professional experience
Full Specialist
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least ten (10) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree and at least eight (8) years of professional experience
OR
PhD or equivalent international degree and at least two (2) years of professional experience.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Public Policy, Economics, Public Health, Sociology, or related field
• Five (5) years of relevant experience in research and policy analysis
• Demonstrably strong quantitative skills and experience in working with large datasets as well as strong STATA and/or R programming skills
• Familiarity in working with Census, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), or California Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) data
• Established track record of conducting research and policy analysis on health care and/or labor and employment issues, including analysis of the role of race, immigration status, and income
• Substantial knowledge of federal and state health care policies and major health policy issues
• Experience with health care sector financial analysis and/or health economics
• Advanced writing skills, geared toward policy research reports
• Strong collaboration skills, including experience working with stakeholders such as unions and health care consumer organizations, state agencies, and University faculty, staff, and students
• Experience scoping and managing multiple research projects and competing timelines

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Writing Sample #1 - Applied research or policy writing
• Writing Sample #2 - Applied research or policy writing on which you were lead author and/or that focused on health care or labor issues (Optional)

Reference requirements
3-5 required (contact information only)

About UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service... [abbreviated for brevity, full text in original]

Job location
Berkeley, CA; Eligible for 3 days remote work