Research Director I - Health Policy Specialist

NORC at the University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a talented Research Director I to support the Health Care Programs Research Department. The role will focus on researching, interpreting, and implementing federal and state healthcare data sharing and privacy policies and regulations, particularly those related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Responsibilities include developing program policies and procedures, monitoring regulatory changes, assessing their operational impact, identifying documentation gaps, and recommending corrective actions and process improvements. The role also requires translating complex regulatory guidance into practical procedures, training materials, and job aids, while clearly communicating findings and recommendations to internal teams, government clients, and external partners. This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Due to the requirements of this position supporting critical work for a federal government client, qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, have resided in the U.S. for at least three of the last five years, and be eligible to obtain and maintain a federal government client badge and Public Trust background investigation/clearance. NORC’s Health Care Programs team provides a wide array of services and expertise to support federal and state government and foundation clients in addressing health system transformation and delivery, payment reform and implementation, health equity, and a range of policy issues facing public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace coverage. Our subject matter experts employ a variety of methods and approaches to inform client needs, including: research design and implementation, qualitative and quantitative data collection, policy analysis and program design, technical assistance and operational support, data management, linkage, and analysis of large complex administrative and health data sets, and monitoring of quality and performance data.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public policy, public health, health services research, health administration, or related field.
• At least 4 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in health policy or related field.
• Strong analytic ability, writing and organizational skills are required.
• Strong proficiency with MS Office software.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong writing skills.
• Authorized to work and lived in the US for 3 of the last 5 years.
• Eligible to obtain a federal government client badge and successfully obtain and maintain a Public Trust background investigation/clearance.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to a team that provides technical assistance to researchers seeking access to health data by clarifying federal and state requirements related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
• Develop and author program procedural documentation and work with the client to establish and implement within the program, ensuring alignment with customer and company standards, processes, and requirements.
• Work with project leadership to develop and maintain awareness of current policies and regulations and proactively identify downstream impacts and offer solutions.
• Identify gaps in documentation and participate in a process for corrective action as well as provide recommendations to enhance training materials, job aids, and operational documents.
• Compile and interpret regulatory and sub-regulatory guidance to develop and implement program policies and procedures.
• Summarize information and effectively communicate findings, both in writing and verbally, within internal team and to external government and partners.

Benefits

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
• Dental and vision insurance
• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Bereavement leave
• Tuition assistance
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level