Senior Economist, Healthcare Innovations

Join AIR as a Senior Economist and use your experience and expertise to help us deliver on our mission: to generate and use rigorous evidence that contributes to a better world for all. The Senior Economist will lead complex research initiatives, design innovative analytical frameworks, guide client strategy, and contribute to AIR's thought leadership in economics and public policy.

This Senior Economist will report to AIR's Healthcare Innovations Team, which supports high-quality implementation and produces rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of new approaches to care and payment-translating findings into actionable insights for policymakers, payers, providers, and patients.

This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR'sU.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. Mission-focused and evidence-driven, AIR applies rigorous research and technical expertise to close gaps in opportunity and access, improving lives across communities and systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of conceptual frameworks for complex research projects.
• Direct the management and analysis of large-scale datasets using advanced econometric techniques.
• Apply rigorous quantitative methods to evaluate programs, policies, and interventions.
• Lead tasks or projects that design, implement, and monitor new payment and care delivery models
• Oversee the documentation of analytic procedures and ensure reproducibility and transparency.
• Author technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and policy briefs; present findings to clients, stakeholders, and academic audiences.
• Lead proposal development, including conceptual design, methodology, and budgeting.
• Mentor and supervise junior economists and research analysts, fostering professional growth and technical excellence.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams and ensure high-quality deliverables aligned with client expectations.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, providing strategic and analytical expertise.
• Contribute to AIR's strategic initiatives and thought leadership in economics and public policy.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, or a related social science field, with demonstrated expertise in econometrics or applied statistics.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience conducting quantitative research in policy-relevant domains.
• Proficiency in statistical programming tools (e.g., R, Python, STATA).
• Proven track record of designing and executing experimental and quasi-experimental studies.
• Prior research experience in health using advanced methods (e.g., fixed effects, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables).
• Experience managing complex projects and working with government, nonprofit, or philanthropic clients; experience with the Innovation Center at CMS preferred.

Skills:

• Strong business development acumen and proposal writing experience.
• Exceptional quantitative and analytical skills.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical findings for non-technical audiences.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective collaborator in virtual and cross-functional team settings.
• Client-management skills, with an ability to deliver work on time and on budget.

Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements. American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

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