Research Scientist - Health Care Policy Research

Company: NORC at the University of Chicago
Location: Bethesda
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

JOB DESCRIPTION: NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Research Scientist to support the Health Care Research Department in our Chicago Loop office. This position is responsible for providing direction and task leadership in all aspects of project work, including, but not limited to Medicare and/or Medicaid data, and which could include analytic approach, questionnaire design, data collection strategy, acquisition of existing data, data analysis, and/or preparing study conclusions for projects. NORC recognizes that talented and skilled researchers live throughout the U.S. and actively supports remote work arrangements. As a condition of employment, all NORC employees and contractors – including those working remotely - must be fully vaccinated (as defined by current CDC guidance) against COVID-19. DEPARTMENT: Health Care Programs and Evaluation NORC’s expertise and ongoing work in health care delivery and financing — including access to insurance, payment and delivery-system reform, benefit design, and quality measurement — advance stakeholders’ understanding of policies and programs, facilitate implementation, and contribute to important improvements in cost and quality. NORC’s expert staff has extensive knowledge of all aspects of health care delivery, from private marketplaces and employer-sponsored insurance to Medicare and Medicaid; from large health care systems to small clinics; and from the needs of children to those of older adults, people with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minorities. Our expert team includes social scientists that acquire, collect, and analyze data from health care organizations and patients; evaluators; health services researchers; health-policy analysts; and professionals with first-hand experience running and supporting health care programs. NORC’s Health Care staff work closely with colleagues in Health Sciences and Public Health to offer program, policy, and research solutions. Our work is guided by a commitment to long-lasting partnerships, transparency, and high-quality, nonpartisan research that improves health and health care for all people. RESPONSIBILITIES: Serve as task leader on complex scientific and or technical components of large projects, or a series of smaller projects, as part of a multidisciplinary team. Contribute substantively to planning discussions around the collaborative design of quantitative and qualitative research studies, evaluations, and analyses. Develop structured interview protocols and content; and lead or co-lead stakeholder interviews. Assist with the management and oversight of project-specific budgets and contracts. Work closely with project leadership and clients to ensure that we meet contractual requirements (deliverables and timelines) and client expectations using the highest standards of quality and collegiality, and within budget parameters. Author sections of analysis reports, technical reports, and other documented deliverables that are due to the client as described in project statements of work. Co-author and present research at client and professional meetings and participate in in-person briefings of project findings. Contribute to the development of abstracts and articles for publication in refereed journals. As part of the larger proposal team, and with guidance from departmental leadership Independently draft and manage contract proposals and grant applications, communicating effectively with proposal team members, within and across departments, with clients, consultants, and members of the policy and research community. Supervise and mentor junior staff, as relevant to experience, and tasks Perform other duties as assigned within the department to contribute to the growth and to ensure the well-being of its members. REQUIRED SKILLS: Master's Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in public policy or related fields (training in an array of social science disciplines will be considered). PhD preferred. At least 7 years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility in evaluation research, policy analysis, survey research or related field (or equivalent education) including at least 3 years of social science project management. Knowledge of the Medicare and/or Medicaid programs, including delivery system reform, provider payment, access to care, and beneficiary experience. Familiarity with Medicare, Medicaid, and/or commercial claims data is a plus Experience working for the federal government or a federal contractor, ideally with work focusing on the Medicare and/or Medicaid program. Experience with conducting policy analysis in a government or professional services environment. Experience with and knowledge of the principles of quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and data analysis. Experience with estimating project and proposal costs and managing project budgets. Excellent oral and written communication skills and aptitude in working with project teams, leading tasks, and coordinating across multiple projects (including those run by others within NORC). WHAT WE DO: NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge. WHO WE ARE: For over 75 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale. EEO STATEMENT: NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally- protected characteristics. LI-MS1

Keywords: NORC at the University of Chicago, Frederick , Research Scientist - Health Care Policy Research, Science, Research & Development , Bethesda, Maryland