[Hiring] Associate Policy Analyst @CHAPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILDREN

Role Description

Chapin Hall is seeking an experienced Associate Policy Analyst to join our Implementation Collaborative team. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, strong independent judgment, and exceptional project management skills to manage complex deliverables, competing priorities, and cross-functional partnerships with minimal day-to-day direction.

The Implementation Collaborative team consists of national experts in child welfare, juvenile justice, homelessness, and mental health services dedicated to collaborating with state and local jurisdictions to integrate the best available evidence into system transformation strategies. The team works across five interconnected domains of capacity building and systems change:

• Data analytics and evidence use
• Leadership, governance, and strategy
• Practice and implementation supports
• Policy and alignment
• Continuous quality improvement

This position will report directly to a Senior member of the Policy Team and allows for remote work and periodic in-person travel to the east and/or west coast depending on project needs. The Associate Policy Analyst will be expected to independently drive project coordination, manage workstreams, and serve as a proactive partner to project leads—requiring both substantive knowledge and the organizational discipline to execute without significant oversight.

Responsibilities

• Project Management and Coordination
  • Independently manage project workplans, timelines, and deliverables across workstreams with minimal direction—proactively identifying gaps and opportunities.
  • Serve as the primary point of coordination for project-related meetings with external partners—developing result-based agendas, synthesizing meeting notes, tracking action items, and integrating outputs into overarching workplans.
  • Create and maintain SharePoint sites and project management tools (Smartsheet, MS Office) in service of substantive deliverable and workplan management.
  • Develop and maintain internal and external communication structures that keep project teams aligned and accountable to timelines and goals.
• Data, Evidence, & Analysis
  • Conduct thorough reviews of relevant policy and literature, synthesizing findings using both peer-reviewed journals and grey literature to inform project strategy.
  • Support development and implementation of continuous quality improvement processes, systems change initiatives, and evidence-based practices.
  • Assist in the translation of data and research findings into practical decisions and ultimately, policy and practice change.
  • Independently produce work products that reflect an accurate understanding of the client implementation stage.
• Writing and Material Development
  • Independently develop PowerPoint presentations, briefs, memos, reports, tools, surveys instruments and item guides, implementation plans, presentations, and other products for internal and external audiences.
  • Develop workforce supports and training materials related to human service system transformation, redesign, and implementation.
• General
  • Actively participate and provide substantive contributions in meetings with external stakeholders.
  • Manage competing priorities and requests from multiple team members and client partners across a cross-matrix environment, exercising sound independent judgment to prioritize appropriately and keep workstreams moving.
  • Work collegially and collaboratively with colleagues across policy, research, and administration to share information, responsibility, and resources.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned.
• Job Specialization
  • Demonstrated experience independently managing complex project coordination functions, including maintaining internal and external workplans, tracking deliverables and timelines, and managing competing priorities across multiple workstreams.
  • Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and exercise sound independent judgment, proactively driving workstream progress, identifying risks, and recommending solutions without significant day-to-day direction from project leadership.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop plans, tools, and materials calibrated to the client's current stage of implementation within a human services or child welfare context.
  • Experience supporting facilitation of virtual collaborative workgroups or learning collaboratives with multiple external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, social work, public policy, psychology, or another relevant field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 1-3 years of relevant experience with a degree required.
• In lieu of a degree and/or relevant experience, Lived Experience is strongly preferred.
• Subject matter familiarity in children’s mental health, child welfare, implementation science, program evaluation, and/or project management preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge with continuous quality improvement within human service programs or a strong interest in gaining skill and capability in this area.
• Demonstrated experience with SharePoint, all Microsoft Office tools, survey tools such as Redcap, as well as other project management tools such as Smartsheet.
• Ability to translate and convey research findings and complex concepts in oral and written communications.
• Strong attention to detail with good organization skills required.
• Experience working with and supporting large teams remotely.
• Ability to use data and evidence to inform decision making.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a collaborative policy or research environment.
• Ability to problem solve and manage multiple, concurrent tasks.
• Demonstrated judgment and discretion in the handling of sensitive information.

Requirements

• Familiarity with Motivational Interviewing (MI) as a clinical practice or evidence-based intervention preferred.
• Experience supporting continuous quality improvement activities, including rapid cycle improvement planning, monitoring implementation progress, or contributing to implementation findings and recommendations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plans
• Paid time off
• Sick time
• Parental leave
• Retirement options