Principal Research Scientist – Value Based Payment Expert

Company: NORC at the University of Chicago
Location: Washington
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY: Join the Health Care Programs Department at NORC as the newest Principal Research Scientist! Here you will have the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of one of the nation's most respected research institutions. The Principal Research Scientist will lead policy projects working with both the federal and state governments, focusing on health care financing and payment reform. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing alternative payment methodologies, including patient and provider attribution, risk adjustment, measures monitoring, benchmarking, and payment calculations for federal and state clients. This role may also be responsible for managing tasks or projects related to Medicaid financing and oversight, demonstrating subject matter expertise, and identifying new business opportunities and drafting and developing proposal responses describing payment model design and implementation. Ideal candidates will have a background in health policy and health care financing. Knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid payment is required, and direct experience working with the CMS Innovation Center and State Medicaid programs is preferred. Qualified applicants may be considered for other roles, such as Senior Fellow. Preferably, this position will have a hybrid work schedule of one or two days a week in either our Washington, DC or Chicago, IL office. Remote applicants may also be considered. DEPARTMENT: Health Care Programs Research NORC’s Health Care Programs team provides a wide array of services and expertise to support federal and state government and foundation clients in addressing health system transformation and delivery, payment reform and implementation, and a range of policy issues facing public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace coverage. NORC’s expert staff has extensive knowledge of all aspects of health care delivery, from private marketplaces and employer-sponsored insurance to Medicare and Medicaid; from large health care systems to small clinics; and from the needs of children to those of older adults, and people with disabilities. Our expert team includes social scientists that acquire, collect, and analyze data from health care organizations and patients; evaluators; health services researchers; health-policy analysts; and professionals with first-hand experience running and supporting health care programs. RESPONSIBILITIES: Play a lead role in growing NORC’s portfolio in the area of CMMI model implementation and monitoring contracts. Guide clients in their development and implementation of value-based payment methods or alternative payment models, including such elements as patient attribution, risk adjustment, cost calculations, and tracking how payment flows among stakeholders and how payment supports improvements in access and quality. Manage of a team of subject matter experts, data and analytic experts to ensure payment models are evidence-based and fast-paced work is done effectively Mentor and grow staff capability and expertise related to alternative payment models and Medicaid financing (preferred). Engage in business development activities including idea generation, federal proposal writing, and responding to requests for proposals (RFPs) in the area of health care payment model design and implementation. Guide programs and policymakers in using evidence to make decisions. Author white papers, decision memos, briefs, and reports. Present to clients as well as policy and professional audiences. Participate in and contribute to internal discussions and strategic thinking concerning future research opportunities and the implications of ongoing policy-making for NORC. Manage contracts and work closely with clients to ensure that contractual requirements (deliverables and timelines) and client expectations are met using the highest standards of quality and collegiality. Monitor and oversee the financial and administrative aspects of ongoing projects. Manage multiple project teams of senior, mid-level, and junior staff, and bring in experts as needed, to meet client expectations and contractual requirements. Supervise and mentor junior staff. REQUIRED SKILLS: At least 12 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in the design, development, implementation, and ongoing support of value-based payment models. Experience may be in state or federal government or other relevant experience such as a consulting firm, Accountable Care Organization or managed care organization. At least 5 years of experience directing or managing projects in support of value-based payment, alternative payment models, or health policy, ideally in a design and implementation role. Expert knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid policy including ongoing value-based care initiatives developed and implemented by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and those developed by state Medicaid programs. Strong understanding of federal and state health care policy environments, including knowledge of emerging key issues, Medicaid and Medicare payment systems, and value-based payment. Deep understanding of varying value-based payment approaches and the design elements involved including attribution and risk-adjustment methods, cost benchmarking, and quality metrics measurement and calculation. Familiarity and experience with CMS data and systems (e.g. Chronic Conditions Warehouse, Virtual Research Data Center, Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files (TAF), Model Space). Master or Doctoral degrees in Public Policy, Health Economics, Health Services Research or related fields (training in an array of social science disciplines will be considered). Ability to work in and with statistical packages, such as Python and SQL or Stata/ SAS/ R Experience leading responses to requests for proposals and securing contracts to conduct high-caliber, compelling health services research projects for the federal or state government and philanthropic foundations. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to translate evidence for program and policy audiences. Intellectual curiosity, strong problem solving, and relationship management skills Ability to manage time to work on multiple projects simultaneously. A strong foundation in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, and demonstrated experience designing and leading research studies. Managerial, leadership, and interpersonal skills to lead inter-disciplinary, cross-national project teams. Experience with estimating project and proposal costs and managing project budgets Occasional travel for site visits and meetings required. Preferably, this position will have a hybrid work schedule of one or two days a week in either our Washington, DC or Chicago, IL office. Please include a CV and Cover Letter when applying. Candidates should be prepared to provide professional references upon request. SALARY AND BENEFITS: The pay range for this position is $171,000 to $220,000. This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment Dental and vision insurance A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC). WHAT WE DO: NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge. WHO WE ARE: For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale. EEO STATEMENT: NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.

Keywords: NORC at the University of Chicago, Bel Air North , Principal Research Scientist – Value Based Payment Expert, Science, Research & Development , Washington, Maryland