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Social Science Research Analyst

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

San Francisco, CA · HybridFull-time$91–145K/yrPosted 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$91–145K/yr
Location
San Francisco, CAHybrid
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Social Science Research Analyst develops and uses survey, market research, and statistical methodologies to study assigned CMS programs. The role analyzes beneficiary needs and preferences, survey data, and health care operations or policies, and provides research information for plan-focused projects. It also interprets data tabulations and graphs, identifying limitations, biases, sampling errors, and inconsistencies.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Survey MethodologiesMarket ResearchStatistical MethodologiesPolicy AnalysisProgram AnalysisSurvey Data AnalysisCase Mix AdjustmentData InterpretationAttention to DetailCustomer ServiceFlexibilityInfluencing and NegotiatingIntegrity and HonestyInterpersonal SkillsLearningReading ComprehensionSelf-ManagementStress ToleranceTeamwork

Qualifications

52 Weeks Specialized ExperienceBehavioral or Social Science Degree or Equivalent

Full job description

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a Social Science Research Analyst, GS-0101-12, you will develop and use survey, market research, and statistical methodologies and techniques to conduct studies of assigned CMS programs.

Duties

  • Develop and conduct policy and program analyses to identify and understand the needs and preferences of HHS health and human services beneficiary programs and the populations they serve.
  • Conduct analyses of survey data, including analyses of case mix adjustments of survey estimates of satisfaction with plan and provider services.
  • Provide statistical/research information and justification on the operational aspects of specific plan-focused projects.
  • Interpret data tabulations and graphs; identify critical factors such as data limitations, biases, sampling errors, and inconsistencies.

Qualifications

ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. Your resume (limited to no more than 2 pages) must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from being considered further. In order to qualify for the GS-12, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: Conducting health care operations or policy development for Medicare or Medicaid; Developing studies to analyze the impact of health care operations or policies using statistical methodologies/techniques; AND Utilizing research and analysis to develop communication materials such as regulations, briefing documents, or reports. Substitution of Education for Experience: There is no substitution of education to meet the specialized experience requirement at the GS-12 grade level. Combination of Experience and Education: There is no combination of experience and education to meet the specialized experience requirement at the GS-12 grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, all candidates must have the following educational requirements: Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. or Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. or Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. TRANSCRIPTS are required to verify satisfactory completion of the educational requirement listed above. Please refer to the "Required Documents" section below for the documentation required at the time of application. Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13082410 How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the results of the online assessments required for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You will be placed in one of the following categories based on category rating and selection procedures if you meet all of the requirements outlined in this job opportunity announcement: Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements If you are found to be among the top-qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same. The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of professional or scientific positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Other Information

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923 Tour of Duty: Flexible Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required Workplace Flexibility at CMS: This position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in this announcement. CMS offers flexible working arrangements and allows employees the opportunity to participate in alternative work schedules at the manager's discretion. Salary Ranges: Atlanta, GA: $94,654 - $123,052 Boston, MA: $101,375 - $131,790 Dallas, TX: $81,186 - $126,502 Denver, CO: $99,800 - $129,742 Kansas City, MO: $90,968 - $118,261 San Francisco, CA: $111,896 - $146,468 Seattle, WA: $100,602 - $130,786 Woodlawn, MD/Bethesda, MD/Rockville, MD/Washington, DC: $102,415 - $133,142 For more information about pay based on locality, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Salaries & Wages Page. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy. Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents. A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

How this job compares

Set against the 458 open Policy Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$91–145K/yr
  • US median$89–140K/yr293 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $118K, is close to the US median midpoint ($117K) — in the middle half of Policy Analyst salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 20 open Policy Analyst jobs in California and 458 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Policy Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 371 postings).
Education
234 of the 458 open Policy Analyst jobs (51%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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