Budget and Policy Analyst

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Budget and Policy Analyst. The ideal candidate will collaborate with agency staff to develop the Department’s annual budget, conduct fiscal and policy analyses, forecast expenditures, and monitor and report on assigned budget line items and other cost areas.

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

• Prepare budget requests by projecting resource needs through the analysis of expenditure, caseload, and other available cost information.

• Prepare required documentation for incorporation into the Department’s current-year spending plan, maintenance funding estimate, and next year budget request.

• Analyze and report on the estimated cost impact of policy and regulatory changes and the effectiveness of existing programs.

• Using a problem-solving approach, prepare fiscal and policy impact analyses of proposed critical management, legislative, and regulatory changes.

• Use clear, defensible methodologies and outline specific assumptions in the notes of the analysis.

• Collaborate with senior-level staff in developing new programs and policies and in pursuing other agency goals.

• Present in a professional manner written and/or verbal fiscal and policy analysis to key decision makers in the Department, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and the legislative branch.

• Update and report on spending projections on a monthly basis.

• Manage resources supporting the Department’s programs through tracking, analyzing, and reporting on program expenditures and savings, with an eye toward early identification of potential funding issues.

• Review contracts, RFRs, and other procurement documents for budgetary implications.

• Ensure that funding is aligned in the state accounting system (Mosaic) with projected expenditures.

• Work to make the Budget Unit collaborative and effective by taking a team approach, communicating well, sharing information, and assisting others with technical skills and analysis.

Required Qualifications

• Strong analytical, mathematical, and statistical skills.

• Ability to communicate and write effectively.

• Ability to collect, extract, and manage complex data sets while maintaining data integrity.

• Ability to synthesize complex data sets into non-technical collaterals.

• Experience working with large databases, forecasting, and analyzing data sets using Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, and other data analysis software.

• Knowledge of the health and human services industry.

• Graduate degree with a public policy, statistics, research, or business focus preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing budget unit activities.

• Knowledge of the organizational structure and functions of DTA.

• Familiarity with the Massachusetts state budget process.

• In-depth knowledge of BEACON, Mosaic, HRCMS, and other back-end databases.

• Advanced Structured Query Language (SQL).

• Oracle databases and tools, including the development, automation, and scheduling of data extraction reports.

• Knowledge of data warehousing, database version control, data extraction, and business intelligence theories.

TO APPLY: Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter. First consideration will be given to those applicants who apply within the first 14 days.

About The Department of Transitional Assistance:

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the state agency responsible for administering public assistance programs to low-income residents of the Commonwealth. DTA is committed to providing a high level of service to all those in need. The mission of the Department is to assist and empower low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency. DTA serves one out of every seven people in Massachusetts – including working families, children, elders, and people with disabilities. Our services include food and nutritional assistance, economic assistance, and employment supports.

Learn more about our services and programs visit: www.mass.gov/dta

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.