Policy Analyst

Description

Position Summary

Are you interested in using the tools of law and policy to advance health equity? Do you have experience using evidence-based analysis to enact real-world policy change? We are seeking a Policy Analyst to join our interdisciplinary team as we create practical, impactful, and equitable policy solutions.

ChangeLab Solutions is hiring a Policy Analyst for a fixed term of two (2) years, in alignment with grant funding. To support regionally-focused programmatic work, we seek to fill this opening with an individual in one of the following locations:

• Sacramento, California (preferred) or Los Angeles, California
• The state of Georgia

Candidates located outside of these regions may be considered only if we are unable to secure a candidate in a preferred location.

The Policy Analyst works on collaborative interdisciplinary project teams, providing evidence-based policy analysis; produces high-quality written products; develops customized, interactive trainings (presented both in person and virtually); and provides technical assistance to our partners and clients, including government agencies, community-based organizations, policymakers, and public officials across the nation.

About ChangeLab Solutions

Our mission is to create healthier communities for all through equitable laws and policies.

ChangeLab Solutions is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses the tools of law and policy to advance health equity. We partner with communities across the nation to improve health and opportunity by changing harmful laws, policies, and systems. Our interdisciplinary team works with community organizations, governments, and local institutions to design and implement equitable and practical policy solutions to complex health challenges. For more information on how we create healthier communities for all through equitable laws and policies, see www.changelabsolutions.org.

The successful candidate will embody our organization’s core values:

• JUSTICE: We believe that all people have the right to health, justice, dignity, and opportunity. We work to dismantle oppressive and racist systems, laws, and policies and replace them with laws and policies that address the root causes of health inequities.
• LEARNING: We are always learning. We take risks, reflecting on our failures and our successes in order to strengthen our health equity work.
• COLLABORATION: We believe that complex problems are best solved through partnerships across multiple disciplines and sectors that maximize our collective resources and align actions to advance health equity.
• COMMUNITY: We learn from those we work with, and we respect lived experience. We acknowledge that our lives, histories, and futures are interconnected, yet not all voices have been equally heard or valued—which is a barrier to health and equity.
• INTEGRITY: Our solutions in service of health and equity are grounded in evidence, legal precedent, and community-led change efforts.

ChangeLab Solutions has a strong commitment to building a staff that is rich with cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Candidates who can contribute to this goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths and experiences in this area.

Key Responsibilities

Research, Analysis, and Writing (70%)

In collaboration with other staff, the Policy Analyst creates innovative tools and resources that meet the needs of our clients and partners.

• Prepare literature reviews and landscape analyses on a wide range of topics related to public health
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize a variety of primary and secondary research sources—including interviews, focus groups, reports, economic analyses, public health evidence, demographic and health trends, policy documents, and academic literature—to formulate policy and legal interventions
• Research and analyze federal, state, and local policies
• Contribute to the preparation of resources such as fact sheets, checklists, policy guides, toolkits, and model policies. Occasionally, other publications may include scholarly articles, op-eds, blog posts, and other materials.

Technical Assistance and Training (20%)

In collaboration with other staff, the Policy Analyst provides technical assistance on public health and policy matters.

• Provide accurate and tailored guidance to policymakers, advocates, public agency staff, and community groups
• Develop and deliver engaging, interactive trainings and presentations at workshops and conferences and on webinars

Relationship Management (10%)

In collaboration with other staff, the Policy Analyst contributes to the development of successful internal and external relationships.

• Contribute to internal and external dialogue that advances our innovative approach to policy change
• Actively collaborate within and across interdisciplinary teams, including project teams, committees, and other efforts to support internal processes or goals, promote effective organizational culture, or build our public image and brand
• Participate in external calls, webinars, and meetings with our clients as assigned

Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required plus 2-4 years of relevant professional experience in a public health or policy organization (eg, public agency, advocacy organization, community-based work, think tank, or university research center)
• Strongly preferred: experience in engaging with diverse communities, such as rural communities, low-income communities, or communities of color
• Experience in conducting qualitative or quantitative research, policy analysis, or policy evaluation
• Ability to translate complex public policy issues and technical information into accessible and understandable concepts for a lay audience
• Strong attention to detail in written and oral communication
• Strong computer skills, including MS Word and email, and the capacity to learn and master new systems

Strongly preferred:

• Graduate degree in relevant field (e.g., MPH, MPP, MPA, MSW)
• Experience working with or alongside marginalized communities, including communities of color, low-income communities, and rural communities
• Experience working at or with community-based organizations focused on grassroots organizing, community power-building, advocacy, and/or racial justice
• Experience in areas such as social determinants of health, civil rights, or community-centered policy work

Required Personal Attributes

• Cultural humility and deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Strong problem-solving mentality and approach to work
• Strong collaboration skills coupled with the capacity to work independently in a remote or hybrid work environment
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and take personal initiative
• Relationship management skills, to build and maintain relationships and to build credibility as a trusted adviser to colleagues, partners, clients, and stakeholders who hold diverse perspectives
• Ability to collaborate with team members online as needed, outside of a traditional office environment
• Awareness of one’s own knowledge gaps; openness to learning
• Strong team spirit, including a willingness to pitch in and help others

Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate via phone, email, and video conference
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time
• Ability to travel, including out-of-state travel
• Ability to lift and carry 10 pounds and manage luggage during travel

Work Location and Expectations

Candidates located in Sacramento, CA, Los Angeles, CA, or the state of Georgia are very strongly preferred. Candidates located outside of these regions may be considered only if we are unable to secure a candidate in a preferred location.

ChangeLab Solutions is a virtual-first workplace, with a small office in Oakland, CA. All applicants should be comfortable with working from home and with virtual connection programs and practices. Bay Area staff have the option to work from home or in the office, and staff beyond the Bay Area work remotely.

Bay Area staff and staff outside the Bay Area are expected to travel to the Oakland office periodically for meetings and in-person engagement. ChangeLab covers travel costs for staff outside the Bay Area.

Compensation

ChangeLab Solutions is committed to offering a competitive compensation program that centers our values; our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion; and our mission. We seek to attract, motivate, and retain staff by compensating team members in a way that values their contributions to our organization and puts them in the best position to thrive.

Compensation decisions are made in alignment with ChangeLab’s compensation plan, compensation philosophy, and salary structure, which establish pay ranges for each position. The compensation plan is shared with all ChangeLab Solutions staff.

Salary

• Full-time, exempt position for a fixed term of two (2) years; starting salary range of $80,000 to $85,000 per year
• Starting salaries are set in accordance with our compensation plan, which considers multiple induvial and organizational factors, including emphasizing internal equity. To uphold pay equity in alignment with the compensation plan, starting salaries are not negotiable. Before applying, please ensure that this position will meet your compensation needs.

Benefits

To support the well-being of our staff and their families, ChangeLab Solutions invests in a generous benefits program and supports for work-life balance. Our benefit offerings include:

• Medical, dental, vision coverage (ChangeLab Solutions contributes 100% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums.)
• Long-term disability insurance and life insurance
• 403(b) plan with 3% employer contribution
• Commuter benefits and flexible spending accounts (parking, transit, dependent care, health care)
• Generous paid time off package, starting at roughly 4.5 weeks PTO annually, plus 11 holidays and weeklong closure in December
• An inclusive Paid Family and Medical Leave policy, which provides paid time off for employees to care for their own serious health condition, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or welcome a new child
• Stipends for remote and hybrid work
• Work with an interdisciplinary team committed to a shared mission and building a community and culture of connection and inclusivity

How to Apply and Hiring Process

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit all required information via our Paylocity recruiting portal: link

The following items are required for a complete application packet and incomplete applications will not be considered:

• Résumé
• Cover letter that highlights your qualifications and why you are interested in the Policy Analyst position at ChangeLab Solutions

Application Deadline

The preferred application deadline is May 17, 2026. After that date, we will continue to review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Target Start Date

The ideal candidate will be available to begin work by mid-July 2026, with some flexibility.

Hiring Process

We anticipate that the hiring process will consist of a 30-minute phone interview and two 1-hour video interviews. Candidates progressing to the second video interview will be asked to submit a relevant work sample showcasing previous work, such as a policy brief, legal memo, training slide deck, or blog post.

Below is a summary of our projected interview timeline. Please note that these dates are subject to change. Active candidates will be notified of any changes to the projected timeline.

• Phone Interviews: Week of May 18
• First Video Interviews: Week of June 1
• Second Video Interviews: Week of June 15

Accommodation

If you require accommodations during the hiring process, please share your request during interview scheduling.