Policy Analyst Jobs
Policy Analyst jobs are open across government agencies, nonprofits, think tanks, healthcare, and financial services, from entry-level research roles to senior and principal positions, with specializations in health policy, economic policy, and regulatory affairs. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 67+ Policy Analyst jobs
Job Summary:
The Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program was founded in 2000 and has recruited and mentored hundreds of medical students to academic careers in ophthalmology. The over-arching goal of the program is to develop clinician scientists in ophthalmology, and this is accomplished through curated research opportunities, professional development seminars, tiered mentorship, and career advising. Each year, there are roughly 100 medical students and ophthalmology trainees who submit abstracts of their mentored ophthalmology research for presentation in the RV Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Symposium. In addition, nearly half of the medical student participants will complete the Pathway to Success Program which is geared toward helping them prepare their applications for ophthalmology residency. In support of the RV research program, this Project and Policy analyst will facilitate the operation of the Rabb-Venable Pathway to Success initiative which works with 45-50 ophthalmology applicants per year to prepare them to be successful in the SF Match program. Program activities begin in February with meeting registration, proceeds through the summer with a virtual professional development series and in-person meeting concurrent with the National Medication Association – Ophthalmology Section meeting, and ends in January with ophthalmology match day. The analyst will apply professional concepts to conduct analytical studies or projects of moderate scope and complexity to address a variety of policy, research and procedural issues. Will fully analyze issues and problems, gather data and information, find and evaluate alternatives, solutions and best practices for desired outcomes and make sound recommendations.
Department Description:
The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology is one of the leading ophthalmology departments in clinical care, training, and research nationwide. The Department of Ophthalmology is one of the largest recipients of federal grant funds among peer departments. We are ranked 1st in National Eye Institute Funding and 2nd in overall National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the country. Additionally, we have been the #1 recipient of the Research to Prevent Blindness funding nationwide with nearly $1.2 million granted in a single year. Overall, the Department has a wide-ranging portfolio of 60 active research grants.
UCSF’s renowned eye care services have a new state-of-the-art home. In November 2020, the Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision opened its doors. Located at UCSF's Mission Bay Campus, the center houses the Vision Clinics, where many of UCSF's eye care programs relocated, as well as research and teaching facilities. Ophthalmology conducts its patient care, teaching, research, and public service activities currently at multiple UCSF campuses: Parnassus, Mt. Zion, Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC), San Francisco General (SFG), East Bay and Benioff Children’s Hospital at Mission Bay and in Oakland. The Department sponsors numerous invited speakers, research seminars, journal clubs, as well as a postdoctoral training program focused on mentorship, networking, and recognition. The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology consists of approximately 300 FTE’s (including UCSF Health employees) including faculty, basic scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, residents, fellows, clinical, research and administrative staff.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
- 1+ yrs related work experience
- Working knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs
- Proficient in communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Proficient in ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality
- Demonstrates ability to use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns
- Demonstrates ability to analyze, research and synthesize large amounts of data with strong attention to detail
- Proficient in ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques
- Working knowledge of AI programs
Job Summary:
The Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program was founded in 2000 and has recruited and mentored hundreds of medical students to academic careers in ophthalmology. The over-arching goal of the program is to develop clinician scientists in ophthalmology, and this is accomplished through curated research opportunities, professional development seminars, tiered mentorship, and career advising. Each year, there are roughly 100 medical students and ophthalmology trainees who submit abstracts of their mentored ophthalmology research for presentation in the RV Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Symposium. In addition, nearly half of the medical student participants will complete the Pathway to Success Program which is geared toward helping them prepare their applications for ophthalmology residency. In support of the RV research program, this Project and Policy analyst will facilitate the operation of the Rabb-Venable Pathway to Success initiative which works with 45-50 ophthalmology applicants per year to prepare them to be successful in the SF Match program. Program activities begin in February with meeting registration, proceeds through the summer with a virtual professional development series and in-person meeting concurrent with the National Medication Association – Ophthalmology Section meeting, and ends in January with ophthalmology match day. The analyst will apply professional concepts to conduct analytical studies or projects of moderate scope and complexity to address a variety of policy, research and procedural issues. Will fully analyze issues and problems, gather data and information, find and evaluate alternatives, solutions and best practices for desired outcomes and make sound recommendations.
Department Description:
The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology is one of the leading ophthalmology departments in clinical care, training, and research nationwide. The Department of Ophthalmology is one of the largest recipients of federal grant funds among peer departments. We are ranked 1st in National Eye Institute Funding and 2nd in overall National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the country. Additionally, we have been the #1 recipient of the Research to Prevent Blindness funding nationwide with nearly $1.2 million granted in a single year. Overall, the Department has a wide-ranging portfolio of 60 active research grants.
UCSF’s renowned eye care services have a new state-of-the-art home. In November 2020, the Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision opened its doors. Located at UCSF's Mission Bay Campus, the center houses the Vision Clinics, where many of UCSF's eye care programs relocated, as well as research and teaching facilities. Ophthalmology conducts its patient care, teaching, research, and public service activities currently at multiple UCSF campuses: Parnassus, Mt. Zion, Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC), San Francisco General (SFG), East Bay and Benioff Children’s Hospital at Mission Bay and in Oakland. The Department sponsors numerous invited speakers, research seminars, journal clubs, as well as a postdoctoral training program focused on mentorship, networking, and recognition. The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology consists of approximately 300 FTE’s (including UCSF Health employees) including faculty, basic scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, residents, fellows, clinical, research and administrative staff.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
- 1+ yrs related work experience
- Working knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs
- Proficient in communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Proficient in ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality
- Demonstrates ability to use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns
- Demonstrates ability to analyze, research and synthesize large amounts of data with strong attention to detail
- Proficient in ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques
- Working knowledge of AI programs
See All 67+ Policy Analyst Jobs
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Find Policy Analyst JobsPolicy Analyst Job Market
A snapshot from current openings nationwide, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Stand Together Foundation6
- Anthropic3
- State of Washington3
- Airbnb2
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical2
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector11
- Non-Profit & Social Services8
- Technology & Software8
- Education7
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in policy analyst jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in public policy, political science, economics, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience conducting quantitative or qualitative policy research and analysis
- Strong written communication skills with experience producing policy memos, briefs, or reports
- Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel, Stata, R, or Python
- Familiarity with the legislative, regulatory, or budgetary process relevant to the policy domain
- Experience engaging with stakeholders, government agencies, or cross-functional teams on policy issues
Tips for Your Policy Analyst Job Search
Tailor your resume to policy domains
Policy analyst roles are domain-specific, so a resume that worked for a health policy position won't land a regulatory affairs role. Reframe your experience around the policy area in each job posting, using the same terminology the employer uses.
Lead with quantified policy impact
Generic claims like 'conducted research' get skipped. Recruiters want to see outcomes: legislation informed, budgets analyzed, stakeholder reports that shaped decisions. Pull a concrete result from each role you've held and put it in the first bullet under that job.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists policy analyst openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter for your institution type first
The interview style, writing samples expected, and decision timelines differ significantly between federal agencies, state governments, think tanks, and private-sector policy teams. Narrow your search by institution type before refining by policy area so your prep stays focused.
Prepare a policy memo writing sample
Most policy analyst interviews include a written exercise or ask for a sample. Have a two-page policy memo ready that shows your ability to define a problem, weigh options, and recommend a course of action. Keep it relevant to the organization's issue area.
Follow up with a stakeholder framing
After an interview, your thank-you note should reference one specific policy challenge the team mentioned and connect it to something you've worked on. This signals you were listening as an analyst, not just a candidate answering questions.
Policy Analyst Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most policy analysts?
The companies hiring the most policy analysts right now include Stand Together Foundation, Anthropic, and State of Washington, with the largest share of openings in New York, Washington, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Federal agencies, state health departments, and major think tanks consistently represent a significant portion of active postings.
How many policy analyst jobs are remote?
About 40% of policy analyst openings are fully remote or hybrid as of June 2026, though availability varies considerably by sector and seniority level. Research-heavy and writing-focused sub-roles, such as regulatory analysis and policy development for advocacy organizations, tend to offer the highest share of remote arrangements compared to roles requiring regular agency or legislative coordination.
How do you become a policy analyst?
Most policy analysts start with a bachelor's degree in public policy, economics, or political science, then build domain knowledge through internships with government agencies, nonprofits, or think tanks. Many roles, especially at the federal level, expect a master's degree in public policy or a related field. Strong research, data analysis, and policy writing skills developed through academic or professional work are essential to getting hired.
Can you get a policy analyst job with little experience?
Entry-level policy analyst roles exist, but they're competitive, so you'll need to substitute direct experience with relevant signals. Academic research projects, capstone policy papers, volunteer work with advocacy organizations, and internships at government offices all demonstrate analytical and writing capability. Targeting roles at smaller nonprofits or state agencies often gives first-time candidates more realistic entry points than large federal agencies.
What does the policy analyst interview process look like?
Most policy analyst interview processes include an initial screening call, at least one panel interview with policy staff or leadership, and a written exercise such as drafting a short policy memo or analyzing a brief case study. Federal agency interviews frequently incorporate structured behavioral questions, while think tanks and nonprofits often focus heavily on your familiarity with their specific issue area and your ability to communicate research findings clearly.
Where can I find and apply to policy analyst jobs?
You can find and apply to policy analyst jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, policy domain, and preferred work arrangement, then apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 67+ Policy Analyst Jobs
Jump back to the full list of openings and apply to any policy analyst role that fits.
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