The Applied Public Policy Graduate Fellowship, under the direction of the Executive Director of Workplace Equity and Inclusion or Designee, offers a unique opportunity for currently enrolled graduate students and recent master’s or doctoral graduates to gain hands-on experience in health and human services policy, financing, research, and service delivery.

This fellowship, lasting up to two years, places Fellows within the Massachusetts state health and human services agency (MassHealth), where they will contribute to meaningful projects that require advanced analytical, research, and communication skills.

This is a hybrid position requiring Fellows to work on-site at the MassHealth office in Boston two days per week. Remote work requires a private, secure space with reliable internet and adherence to data privacy standards.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. for the two-year program duration. Work authorization must extend beyond the host institution of the applicant’s current or previous degree program.

In order to be considered for the Fellowship, applicants must submit a resume and cover letter that specifically and clearly highlights their skills and background as it relates to the position.

The Fellow will be assigned to the Behavioral Health Strategy and Policy Team within the Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health.

MassHealth’s Behavioral Health Strategy & Policy team within the Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health (ACBH) is driving an innovative agenda to support MassHealth members with behavioral health needs in an evolving policy and industry space. For example, the Behavioral Health Strategy & Policy team has been instrumental in implementing the Commonwealth’s multi-year Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform which aims to expand access to effective treatment and build a more robust community-based crisis system to divert members from requiring care in an emergency department. The team drives strategy and policy design, development, and implementation across behavioral health service, age, and diagnostic continuums.

The Fellow will help drive behavioral health policy for ACBH and support the design, development, implementation, and monitoring of high-priority policy initiatives to ensure MassHealth members receive high-quality, outcome-oriented behavioral health care from a diverse and sustainable behavioral health care provider network.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

Support policy workstreams and strategic projects across ACBH that require holistic considerations, cross functional alignment, and breaking down ambiguous problems into addressable components to drive to a strategic solution and successful policy implementation.
Develop work plans and support day-to-day efforts in developing strategic policy recommendations and supporting behavioral health policies from design through implementation.
Identify potential risks to strategic priorities and policy initiatives and designs strategies to mitigate or avoid risks and escalate issues as appropriate.
Support internal and external stakeholder engagement (e.g., members, advocates, providers) on relevant strategic initiatives and policy changes to collect feedback on proposed recommendations.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement and develop policy and strategic recommendations.
Support the preparation of formal recommendations to ACBH and MassHealth leadership.
Assist in resolving operational challenges faced by providers and health plan partners.
Collaborate with teams across MassHealth and agencies within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to drive forward behavioral health policies and priorities aimed at addressing key challenges or opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of and/or interest in behavioral health care, substance use disorder, mental health policy and programs, including Medicaid and Managed Care programs
Ability to provide structure and process management to the projects, including under tight time constraints
Coachability and flexibility to operate in a highly dynamic environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
MS Excel and PowerPoint skills
Comfort with ambiguity and providing structure to ambiguous problems
Strong interpersonal skills
Passion for behavioral health, public service and policy
Commitment to health equity

Perform complex executive and administrative tasks with independence, prioritization, and decision-making.

Utilizing evidence-based methodologies, conduct advanced research to support the development of innovative health and human services initiatives, policies, and departmental objectives.

Coordinate and participate in stakeholder engagement activities to gather input and build partnerships that inform policy development.

Perform in-depth data analyses, create comprehensive reports, and develop visualizations to communicate findings clearly and effectively.

Manage and implement project tasks efficiently, ensuring completion within established timelines and maintaining regular communication with supervisors and mentors regarding progress.

Participate in professional development, networking, and educational activities, and contribute to knowledge-sharing efforts within the fellowship cohort and the broader organization.

Ensure compliance with all data privacy and security requirements, maintaining confidentiality and upholding organizational standards in all work environments.

Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support MassHealth's mission and departmental goals.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Master's Level Degree (or Master’s Degree Candidate with 21+ Credits earned); Applicants must have completed their master’s degree, or may be a currently enrolled graduate student with at least 21 earned credits.

Advanced analytical and communication skills

Strong attention to detail and ability to synthesize information from diverse sources.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard office tools.

Reliability and ability to set consistent work hours.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Earned Doctorate, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies Applicants may have completed their master’s degree, or doctoral coursework, Certificate of Advanced Graduates Studies (CAGS), or doctoral degree, or be in the final semester of their master’s or CAGS, or in the final year of their doctoral or other advanced degree coursework.

Experience working at the intersection of health care and social services.

Familiarity with Massachusetts health care and/or social services sectors.

Background in policy design, data analysis, or project implementation.

Applied Public Policy Graduate Fellow- MassHealth Behavioral Health Team