Yale University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Tobin Center for Economic Policy produces rigorous, policy-relevant research that informs real-world decisions.

The Health Policy Impact Lab, led by Associate Faculty Director Prof. Zack Cooper, combines empirical research, policy engagement, and communications to shift conversations on U.S. health spending, support policymakers, and raise the productivity of the health system. Its work has shaped state and federal legislation, including the bipartisan No Surprises Act, and has been cited by Congress, the White House, and national media.

We are seeking a Research Director to lead and manage the Lab’s growing portfolio of health economics and health policy research. This senior leader will work closely with Professor Zack Cooper and collaborators to develop their research portfolio, oversee research personnel and project execution, and ensure delivery of timely, high-impact scholarship.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced health economist motivated to shape policy through rigorous scholarship and translation. A successful candidate will bring creativity, technical skill, and a strong capacity for mentorship to advance the Lab’s ambitious research agenda. They will be a self-starter, an excellent communicator, and someone who thrives in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate is an expert programmer fluent in multiple languages with deep experience using complex healthcare datasets. They will also demonstrate leadership, analytical judgment, and a commitment to improving public policy through evidence and action.

Essential Duties:

- Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of economists, fellows, RAs, and students; foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.

- Provide leadership and expertise in the planning and implementation of major research projects.

- Identify, establish, and maintain critical data assets for the research agenda.

- Work with faculty and partners to identify analytical approaches to solve specific, high-priority research questions.

- Apply advanced econometric, statistical, and machine learning methods to descriptive and causal inference design, including data visualization to evaluate health care markets and policy reforms.

- Train and support analytic team members on programming and coding.

- Develop systematic and efficient approaches to projects to establish workflows that promote research quality, reproducibility, and on-time project delivery.

- Oversee the quality, integrity, and documentation of research coding and outputs.

- Contribute to or co-author published articles, policy briefs, presentations, and grant proposals.

More information & to apply: https://tobin.yale.edu/opportunities/research-director-health-policy-impact-lab