Reports to: Executive Director of the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab
Location: Remote or Washington, D.C.
Employment Type: Full-time or part-time (multiple positions)
About the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab: The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab will launch in 2026 as an independent, nonpartisan policy lab to collaborate with stakeholders to develop actionable, model public policies at the state and federal levels to help older adults and individuals with disabilities access care, live independently, and age well. The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab will be headquartered at the National Academy of Social Insurance and is made possible by funding from The SCAN Foundation.
Position Summary: We are seeking one or more experienced subject matter experts to develop and advance public policy to improve health and independence for older adults and people with disabilities, especially those with low income. The position is part of the new Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab.
This role offers a unique opportunity to translate lived experience with aging and disability into actionable model policies. The ideal candidate has subject matter expertise on one or more public programs that cover health care or LTSS for low-income older adults and people with disabilities, a broad network of contacts, and experience driving policy improvements at the state and/or federal level.
This position is well-suited for someone with significant public policy experience, enthusiasm for diving deep into policy and legal details, eagerness to collaborate with other organizations, and determination to make tangible improvements in how older adults and people with disabilities access health coverage and health care services. We also highly value flexibility, a sense of humor, and a general commitment to making the world a better place.
Key Responsibilities:
Policy development and analysis
- Identify health-related policy solutions to address the lived experiences, priorities, and preferences of older adults and people with disabilities, with a focus on solutions that make coverage simpler to access and health care more affordable.
- Develop health-focused model policies (e.g., legislation, regulation) to improve experiences and outcomes for older adults and people with disabilities, focusing on opportunities to improve Medicaid, Medicare, and other public health/LTSS programs
- Write and meticulously edit model policies, issue briefs, and policy analysis
Leadership & communications
- Educate the public and health professionals on how federal and state health policies affect older adults and people with disabilities
- Develop collaborative partnerships with a wide array of external organizations to advance health policy
- Present policy analysis to various audiences in nonpartisan but compelling ways
- Support junior staff to develop research skills and policy expertise
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Technical expertise and 10+ years of relevant experience with policy, regulations, and statue governing one or more public programs that cover health care or LTSS for low-income older adults and people with disabilities
- Experience building coalitions and navigating differing policy perspectives
- Experience with state or federal legislative and/or rulemaking processes
- Excellent communication skills, including experience public speaking
- Advanced degree in public policy, health policy, health law, or similar preferred
- Lived experience with disability, caregiving, or enrollment in public insurance programs is highly valued
Compensation & Benefits: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Consistent with the District of Columbia’s Wage Transparency Act, the minimum and maximum salaries for this position are $165,000 and $210,000. The Academy offers a competitive benefits package.
To Apply: Please send a resume and a short cover letter in a single PDF outlining your interest and relevant experience to TEngelhardt@nasi.org, along with contact information for three references. Please use the subject line: Last Name: Deputy Director – Aging & Disability Health Policy. No phone calls, please.
The National Academy of Social Insurance values diversity. Women, BIPOC individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of social insurance and related programs are encouraged to apply.
About the National Academy of Social Insurance: The National Academy of Social Insurance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership of more than 1,300 of the nation’s leading experts on social insurance. Our mission is to advance solutions to the challenges facing the nation’s social insurance programs, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, disability policy, and related areas.
About The SCAN Foundation: The SCAN Foundation envisions a society where all of us can age well with purpose. The SCAN Foundation pursues this vision by igniting bold and equitable changes in how older adults age in both home and community. The SCAN Foundation’s grants and impact investments prioritize communities that have been historically marginalized with an emphasis on older people of color, older adults with lower incomes, and older residents in rural communities. Learn more at https://www.thescanfoundation.org/.