[Hiring] Senior Economist @American Institutes for Research

Role Description

AIR is currently seeking a Senior Economist to join our Healthcare Innovations Program. The Health Economist conducts policy-related research and evaluation studies focused on domestic health care programs, including topics such as:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Other public health insurance programs
• Innovative delivery and payment models
• Rural hospitals
• Aging and long-term care
• Health plan performance and quality measurement
• Telehealth
• Health information technology

The 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’s U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of conceptual frameworks for complex research projects.
• Direct the management and analysis of large-scale healthcare datasets using advanced econometric techniques.
• Apply rigorous quantitative methods to evaluate healthcare programs, policies, and interventions.
• 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

• 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.
• Extensive experience with STATA and proficiency in other statistical tools (e.g., R, Python) is a plus.
• Proven track record of designing and executing experimental and quasi-experimental studies.
• Prior research experience in areas such as labor economics, education, health, or international development using advanced methods (e.g., fixed effects, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables).
• Experience managing complex projects and working with government, nonprofit, or philanthropic clients.

Skills

• Exceptional quantitative and analytical skills.
• Expertise with large healthcare datasets, including Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage enrollment and claims data, as well as prescription drug encounter and pricing data sources.
• Strong business development acumen and proposal writing experience.
• 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.

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.
• 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.

Benefits

• Anticipated annual salary range: $137,000 — $167,000 USD.