DescriptionBHDAP/HSP Subject Matter Expert (SME)Location(s): Hyattsville, MD (on-site)
Position Details:- Full-time position
- No calls, nights, weekends, or holidays!
- Full benefit program, including: health, PTO, & 401k + contribution
Requirements:- Master's Degree
- 10+ years of experience in federal health or human services policy, including work with ASPE, HHS, CMS, SAMHSA, ACL, or related agencies
- Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, disability, aging, or health-system policy (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, LTSS, delivery-system reform)
Summary:The BHDAP/HSP Subject Matter Expert (SME) provides high-level expertise, strategic guidance, and technical leadership across projects supporting the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), specifically within the Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) and Health System Policy (HSP) offices. This role brings deep knowledge of federal health and human services programs, behavioral health systems, disability and aging policy, and health-system financing and delivery reform.
The SME advises federal leadership, guides research and analytic activities, and ensures that project findings and recommendations reflect current evidence, policy context, and operational realities. This position requires extensive experience working with federal agencies, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to translate complex policy issues into actionable insights.
About the Role:Expert Guidance & Policy Leadership- Provide authoritative subject-matter expertise on behavioral health, disability, aging, Medicare/Medicaid policy, delivery-system reform, and cross-cutting human services issues.
- Advise ASPE/BHDAP and ASPE/HSP leadership on emerging trends, policy implications, and strategic opportunities.
- Review and validate analytic approaches, research designs, and policy recommendations to ensure methodological rigor and policy relevance.
Research & Analytical Support- Guide the development of research studies, evaluation frameworks, and analytic plans.
- Interpret complex datasets, program evaluations, and evidence syntheses to inform federal decision-making.
- Ensure analyses reflect current federal regulations, statutory requirements, and program operations.
Technical Assistance & Federal Support- Provide expert consultation to federal partners, grantees, and stakeholders on behavioral health, disability, aging, and health-system policy topics.
- Support the design and implementation of pilot programs, demonstration models, and policy initiatives.
- Assist in developing logic models, performance measures, and evaluation strategies.
Stakeholder Engagement- Participate in high-level meetings, listening sessions, and working groups with federal agencies, states, providers, researchers, and advocacy organizations.
- Synthesize stakeholder perspectives and integrate them into policy analyses and recommendations.
- Prepare expert briefings, talking points, and presentations for senior federal leadership.
Writing & Deliverable Development- Contribute to high-quality policy briefs, technical reports, memos, and issue analyses.
- Ensure deliverables meet ASPE's standards for clarity, accuracy, and policy relevance.
- Provide expert review and quality assurance for project outputs.
Compliance & Documentation- Ensure all work adheres to federal confidentiality requirements, including the Privacy Act, CIPSEA, HIPAA-aligned safeguards, and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) rules.
- Maintain documentation of analytic decisions, sources, and methodologies.
- Support internal and external quality-assurance processes.
Qualifications:- Education:
- Master's degree or higher in Public Policy, Public Health, Health Services Research, Behavioral Health, Disability Studies, or related field.
- Experience:
- 10+ years of experience in federal health or human services policy, including work with ASPE, HHS, CMS, SAMHSA, ACL, or related agencies.
- Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health, disability, aging, or health-system policy (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, LTSS, delivery-system reform).
- Proven ability to provide expert consultation and strategic policy guidance.
- Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting complex research and administrative data.
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to brief senior federal leadership.
- Security & Background Check:
- U.S. Citizenship and a successful background investigation are required.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
- Additional Requirements:
- Willingness to comply with the government vaccination requirements.
- Strategic policy leadership.
- Advanced analytical and synthesis skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Ability to manage competing priorities.
- High attention to detail and methodological rigor.
- Strong collaboration and stakeholder-engagement skills.
- Commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and federal compliance.
Preferred Qualification(s):- Direct experience supporting ASPE/BHDAP or ASPE/HSP.
- Experience leading federal research, evaluation, or policy-development projects.
- Familiarity with federal evidence-based policy frameworks and evaluation standards.
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Knowledge of federal data systems and administrative datasets.
Compensation: TBD
*This position is contingent and will begin upon contract award.
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