Principal Researcher, Health Implementation & Monitoring

Join AIR as aPrincipal Researcher with our Health Innovations team. Our team works collaboratively to unravel the intertwined challenges of health care quality, costs, and access. Our team of experts - nurses, physicians, psychologists, economists, sociologists, data scientists, and public health experts - advance evidence and save lives by leading rigorous research and evaluation; results-driven technical assistance and training; and leading-edge data science and technology tools.

This Principal Researcher will contribute to large-scale implementationandmonitoringinitiatives for federal health agencies. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in monitoring frameworks, analytic design, alternative payment models, and federal program operations-particularly Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI).

This role emphasizes monitoringexpertise, methodologicalrigor, and the ability tolead large projects or tasks,contribute to thought leadership, project execution, and business development in AIR'slarge andgrowing implementation and monitoring portfolio.

Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of ourU.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. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

The responsibilities for the position include:

Thought Leadership & Technical Expertise

• Serve as a subjectmatter and methodological expert in the implementation and monitoring of federal health programs, especially alternative payment models,and value-based care initiatives.
• Provide leadership in designing monitoring frameworks, performance metrics, data collection plans, and analytic strategies for implementation and monitoring contracts.
• Contribute to AIR's technical vision for CMS and CMMI work, helping shape approaches that meet federal expectations for rigor, transparency, and accuracy.

Project Execution & Oversight

• Direct large, compleximplementation and monitoringor evaluation projects-or a portfolio of smaller projects-ensuring alignment with federal requirements andhighqualitydelivery, on time and on budget.
• Oversee the planning, design, and implementation of project procedures, including monitoring plans, analytic plans, research protocols, monitoring reports, risk summaries, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Serve as a senior contributor to model testing, monitoring, and evaluation tasks, including real-time monitoring, operational assessments, andrapid cyclelearning.
• Collaborate with data and analytic teams to connect monitoring indicators to underlying data sources (claims, administrative, practicebased, statebased).
• Guide development of data protocols, dashboard requirements, and reporting structures for monitoring deliverables.

CMSFacing Expertise & Business Development

• Serve as a thought partner to AIR leadership on work conducted for CMS/CMMI, interpreting federal priorities, model goals, and policy developments.
• Lead or significantly contribute to proposal development involving monitoring, implementation, and operational oversight including designing methodological approaches, reviewing narratives for soundness,and leading staffing and budgeting decisions.
• Cultivate andmaintainrelationships with federal clients and partners, helping position AIR for future CMS and HHS opportunities.

Team Leadership, Mentorship & Collaboration

• Coach, mentor, and support junior andmidcareerstaff, setting developmental goals and modeling highquality technical and analytic work.
• Collaborate with colleagues across research, analytics, communications, TA, and operations teams to ensure integrated,highqualityproducts.
• Contribute to a collaborative environment that values and respects a wide range of perspectives, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

• Ph.D.in Economics, Health Services Research, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience managing and conducting research or related work orMaster'sdegree and at least 11 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years projectleadershipexperienceorlargetask leadership experienceon compleximplementation,analytics,research,orevaluation projects.
• Direct experience working on CMS implementation, monitoring, evaluation, or operational support.
• Proventrack recordof winningor contributing to winningnew business with CMSor other HHS agencies.
• Extensive knowledge of Medicare payment policy,Medicaid and/orMedicare Advantage.
• Experience working withMedicareor Medicaidclaims,and other publicly available datasets.

Skills

• Demonstrated monitoringexpertise, including developing monitoring plans, indicators, protocols, and analysis to support federal program oversight.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skillsappropriatefora seniorlevel researcher.
• Extensive experience in conceptualizing, analyzing, and contributing to largescale federally funded projects.
• Excellent written communication skills with a commitment to accuracy, clarity, and evidencebased messaging.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to see the broader context of complex research and implementation projects.

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.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE:If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.orgor call 202.403.5000.

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