Policy Analyst

We are seeking talented professionals interested in joining a government policy office working on regulatory reform. If joining a small, agile team developing new innovative ways of thinking about key policy issues sounds fantastic, and you are looking for a groundbreaking opportunity for mentoring and on the job experience, please apply! 

This position is with the Utah Department of Commerce, Office of Professional Licensure Review. The office was created July 2022 as part of the State of Utah’s efforts to promote economic advancement and streamline and modernize government through the review of all occupational regulations in the state.  We need a talented, driven professional to help develop the analytical tools, processes, and deliverables of the Office of Professional Licensure Review.  As a policy analyst for this one-of-a-kind office, you will be helping Utah do something very few other states have done, and accomplish it 'the Utah way' with collaboration and innovation at the fore.  When successful, the Office will influence policies that open up occupations and employment to more Utahns, while ensuring consumer safety and access to qualified services. 

In this position, you will use sound analytical, research, and critical thinking tools to review the State’s policies in light of economic and workforce context, and develop and communicate recommendations for right-sizing regulations that meet Utah’s needs. Your work and ideas will directly inform legislative and agency actions that support economic growth while also enhancing consumer safety and trust in Utah’s economy.

**After an initial in-person period, and if eligibility requirements are met, a hybrid telework schedule may be available. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

Your duties will include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• Proposing, developing, and completing professional licensure reviews as described in statute.
  • Identifying licenses and legislation for review, including working with stakeholders to determine the scope of each review.
  • Gathering data and information (qualitative and quantitative) related to public health and safety, workforce and economic conditions, regulation in other jurisdictions, industry needs, etc., through general research in order to produce reports on licensed professions.
  • Perform analyses assessing the benefits and drawbacks of existing and proposed statutes, rules, and policies.
  • Synthesizing and summarizing research and analysis for senior government leaders, legislators, industry stakeholders, and others.
  • Making recommendations to improve legislation.
• Self-managing a workload with a high degree of productivity and professionalism.
  • Representing the Office with various internal and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrating proactivity and leadership in accomplishing the Office’s mission.
  • Working collaboratively with other team members to share information, knowledge, and skills in accomplishing research tasks.
  • Interpreting, clarifying, explaining, and applying policy and procedures, statutes, and rules, etc.
  • Preparing and/or editing presentations, reports, and other documents; reviewing for accuracy and completeness; updating information and/or evaluating against research and data; comparing elements for consistency or logical relationships, etc.
  • Writing/Drafting presentations, reports, documents, and/or other written material.
  • Performing other duties as assigned.
• Assist in research planning and project management as needed.
• Support legislative processes (e.g., reviewing draft legislation) as appropriate.
• Coaching temporary employees or interns as appropriate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience, education, or training with quantitative skills, methods, and analysis.
• Experience, education, or training in public policy analysis; or
• Experience, education, or training in using data (qualitative and quantitative) to support changes to social welfare laws, programs, or resource allocation in any setting (nonprofit, social enterprise, public sector, academic).

PREFERENCES

• A degree of any level in public policy, public administration, political science, economics, law, business, management, or 4 years of work experience related to the same fields.
• Experience as a management consultant, public sector consultant, policy researcher, or policy analyst.
• Project management experience (work planning, assessing, developing, and tracking).
• Sound general research skills, including qualitative methods.
• Familiarity with quantitative data analysis skills and a general comfort with using numerical data to draw conclusions via statistical analysis, data visualization, and similar tools.
• Familiarity with statistical software packages and languages (e.g., Excel, Stata, SAS, SPSS, R).

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

This Policy Analyst will join a small, agile team, developing a new, innovative way of thinking about a key issue with strong support from the Governor and legislature. The right candidate will be in a position to influence, develop, and pilot new analytical tools and policy approaches, which will be innovative not just for Utah, but nationally as well. Additionally, this context will give the right candidate rapid professional development from both strong supervisory relationships, mentoring, and training, and also groundbreaking on-the-job experience. Click here to learn more about our office. 

The mission of the Department of Commerce is to strengthen trust in Utah’s commercial activities.  As part of our team, your efforts will help do this by making an ongoing review of licensure requirements part of Utah’s regulatory DNA and help ensure Utah’s workforce regulations remain reasonable, relevant, and reliable.

This position is eligible for a rich benefits package, generous paid time off, and a great work-life balance. You can learn more about the offered benefits here.

AGENCY

In addition to the Office of Professional Licensure Review, the Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and business community.  We provide oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending. You can learn more about the agency by visiting the website.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):
  • 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those who have other medical insurance coverage.
  • 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those who have other dental insurance coverage.
  • 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare
• Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS):
  • Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems prior to 7/1/2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.
  • Employees hired on or after 7/1/2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System.
    • Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))
    • Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.
  • Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.
• Paid Time Off:
  • Annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick).
  • Annual leave amounts increase with years of service.
  • We have 12 paid holidays.

Qualifications:

Education or experience that demonstrates a high degree of critical/strategic thinking. 

Systems-level Thinking: ability to understand and navigate complex public and other systems.

Comfort with ambiguity: the ability to understand and analyze emerging policy areas with few precedents or models. Ability to formulate approaches to answering complex questions with incomplete data. Identifies high-value ideas and information to improve policy.

Proactivity and self-management skills: works with minimal supervision, manages own time effectively, maintains control over all current projects/responsibilities. Proactively pursues high-value tasks and follows up on all relevant issues, while deprioritizing tasks of lower value. Communicates proactively with supervisor and team members about progress and challenges. English fluency. 

Openness to Feedback: willing to take edits and redirection gracefully; curiosity and desire for learning and professional development.

The ability to understand and, in some cases, draft recommended changes to law and policy (rules and statutes). 

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written prose.

The ability to speak and present clearly, conveying complex, nuanced research findings important to groups, including internal leaders, boards, legislators, associations, etc.

Supplemental Information:

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Job classification: Research Consultant II (#16058). **May underfill as a Research Consultant I (#16056).

Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.

DHRM rules apply for promotions/transfers.

Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA53-3-202(1)(a).   

Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.

Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.