Senior Policy Analyst, Penn Wharton Budget Model

Job Description Summary

Wharton School Overview: Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year, 13,000 professionals worldwide advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a diverse staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) is a non-partisan, research-based initiative that provides analysis to policymakers to assess the effects of policy on budgetary outcomes (government revenues and costs) and various economic variables. PWBM's work is widely cited and has been influential in many key recent policy discussions, including tax reform, infrastructure, budget reconciliation, pre-K education, paid family leave, universal income, debt, Social Security, and health care. The PWBM team consists of roughly 30 Ph.D. economists, policy analysts, research analysts, software engineers, and developers.

The Senior 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. 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.

Two-year position subject to renewal based on the discretion of the faculty director and available funds. Position contingent upon continued funding.

Job Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 Business Tax and Economic Policy 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.
• Serve as a liaison between policymakers and PWBM staff for requested analyses by communicating (written and verbally) PWBM capabilities, results of analyses, and inquiries.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required (preferably in Economics or a related discipline). A master's degree, for example in Public Policy or Applied Economics, is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience conducting policy analysis and/or economic research at a think tank, government agency, financial institution, or similar is 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.

This position is contingent upon funding and is subject to change based on continued funding availability.

Job Location: 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.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and transcript.

Department / School: Wharton School.

Pay Range: $83,500.00 - $110,000.00 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.