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Principal Researcher, Healthcare Quality Measure Development

US-Remote | US-VA-Arlington | US-NC-Chapel Hill | US-IL-Chicago | US-CA-Sacramento | US-TX-Austin

Join AIR as a Principal Researcher with our Healthcare Innovations team. Our team works collaboratively to unravel the intertwined challenges of health care quality, costs, and access. Our team of experts – nurses, physicians, psychologists, economists, sociologists, data scientists, and public health experts – advance evidence and save lives by leading rigorous research and evaluation; results-driven technical assistance and training; and leading-edge data science and technology tools.

The Principal Researcher is a senior technical expert in quality measure development and implementation for largescale federal programs, particularly Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI). This role will contribute to quality strategy, measure refinement, annual measure updates, and analytic work that supports performance based payment and monitoring.

This role emphasizes quality measures expertise, methodological rigor, and the ability to lead large projects or tasks, contribute to thought leadership, project execution, and business development in AIR’s large and growing implementation and monitoring portfolio. 

Candidates hired for the position may work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of our U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories.   

About AIR:

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities for the position include:

Quality Measurement Strategy & Technical Expertise 

  • Lead construction, interpretation, and computation of quality measures across Medicare and Medicaid model components.
  • Provide expert guidance on quality measure use across key CMS model functions (e.g., performance-based payment, monitoring).
  • Advise CMS on implications of measure updates for feasibility, administrative burden, interoperability, and alignment with national frameworks. 
  • Serve as senior advisor for quality measurement strategy for CMS/CMMI models, including:
    • annual review and refinement of quality measure sets; 
    • assessment of specification changes, certifications, and updates from measure stewards; 
    • quantitative and qualitative evaluation of measure performance. 

Data, Analytics & Technical Leadership

  • Oversee measure computation using claims, practice based, state based, and beneficiary level data.
  • Ensure analytic rigor and accuracy in all measure calculations and reporting.
  • Interpret measure performance results and generate actionable insights for federal clients.

Project Execution & Oversight 

  • Lead or contribute to complex research and analytic tasks, ensuring high quality, clarity, and CMS‑ready deliverables.
  • Support development of quality‑related components of model implementation materials, monitoring plans, analytic plans, and reporting requirements.
  • Collaborate with monitoring, analytics, data, and policy teams to ensure quality measure work aligns with broader model operations.
  • Direct large, complex implementation and monitoring or evaluation projects—or a portfolio of smaller projects—ensuring alignment with federal requirements and high-quality delivery, on time and on budget. 

CMS Facing Expertise & Business Development 

  • Serve as a thought partner to AIR leadership on work conducted for CMS/CMMI, interpreting federal priorities, model goals, and policy developments. 
  • Lead or significantly contribute to proposal development, including designing methodological approaches, reviewing narratives for soundness, and leading staffing and budgeting decisions. 
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with federal clients and partners, helping position AIR for future CMS and HHS opportunities. 

Team Leadership, Mentorship & Collaboration 

  • Coach, mentor, and support junior and midcareer staff, setting developmental goals and modeling high quality technical and analytic work. 
  • Collaborate with colleagues across research, analytics, communications, TA, and operations teams to ensure integrated, high quality products.
  • Contribute to a collaborative environment that values and respects a wide range of perspectives, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.

Qualifications:

Education, Knowledge, and Experience

  • Ph.D. in Economics, Health Services Research, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience managing and conducting research or related work or Master’s degree and at least 11 years of relevant experience. 
  • Minimum of 5 years project leadership experience or large task leadership experience on complex implementation, analytics, research, or evaluation projects. 
  • Direct experience with CMS/CMMI quality measurement, including alternative payment models or model evaluation.
  • Deep familiarity with quality measure specifications, measure stewardship, certification processes, and use of measure repositories/tools.
  • Experience with Medicare and Medicaid quality measures, including claims‑based, practice‑based, patient‑reported, and state‑based measures.
  • Proven track record of winning or contributing to winning new business with CMS or other HHS agencies. 

Skills

  • Advanced technical expertise in quality measurement (development, refinement, specification review, testing, validation). 
  • Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills appropriate for a senior level researcher. 
  • Extensive experience in conceptualizing, analyzing, and contributing to large‑scale federally funded projects. 
  • Excellent written communication skills with a commitment to accuracy, clarity, and evidence based messaging. 
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners. 
  • Strong strategic thinking and ability to see the broader context of complex research and implementation projects. 

Disclosures: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks. AIR maintains a drug-free work environment. 

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.orgor call 202.403.5000.

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AIR’s Total Rewards Program, is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers the anticipated annual salary as listed. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

Anticipated Annual Salary Range

$147,600 - $196,800 USD

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