Policy analyst with five years in state government analyzing health and human services legislation. Produced 60+ bill analyses and the cost model behind a Medicaid postpartum coverage extension funded in the 2025 budget. Brings fiscal modeling, nonpartisan writing and the ability to turn complex data into decisions for legislators.
Experience
Policy Analyst, Health and Human Services, Colorado Legislative Research Office (Denver, CO)
Jan 2023 – Present
Write nonpartisan analyses for 60+ health and human services bills across three legislative sessions
Built the cost model for a proposed 12-month Medicaid postpartum coverage extension, projected at $9.4M a year and adopted in the 2025 budget
Brief committee members and staff on deadline, often turning requests around within 24 hours
Developed an Excel caseload projection template now used by 4 analysts
Research Associate, Front Range Fiscal Policy Center (Denver, CO)
Jun 2021 – Dec 2022
Analyzed SNAP and TANF participation data for 64 counties to support 3 published reports
Wrote 20 blog posts and fact sheets translating budget proposals for community partners
Education
M.A. Public Policy, University of Denver, Josef Korbel School (Sep 2019 – Jun 2021)
B.A. Political Science, Colorado State University (Aug 2015 – May 2019)
Skills
Policy areas: Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, behavioral health financing
Writing: bill analyses, issue briefs, committee memos
How to write a Policy Analyst resume
A strong Policy Analyst resume shows the programs, policies and public services you delivered, the budgets and rules you worked within, and the measurable outcomes for residents. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
Sections, in order
Summary
Experience
Education
Skills
Certifications
Length: One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Summary: Write two or three lines: your role, your strongest skills, and one result that proves them.
Skills to feature
Policy analysis
Program evaluation
Budget development
Regulatory compliance
Stakeholder and community engagement
Grant administration
Data analysis (Excel, Tableau, ArcGIS)
Briefing and plain-language writing
Public procurement (FAR or state code)
Interagency coordination
Example bullet points
Cut average permit review time from 42 to 19 days by redesigning intake and adding online plan submission
Wrote the fiscal analysis for a $38M affordable housing bond approved by 61% of voters
Coordinated 14 agencies through a FEMA-funded hazard mitigation plan update adopted on schedule
Tips from recruiters
For federal roles on USAJOBS, list hours per week, GS grade and exact dates for each role, and mirror the specialized-experience wording in the announcement.
Name the laws, programs and funding streams you worked with (for example CDBG, FEMA BRIC, the FAR or the state open meetings act).
Quantify public impact in residents served, dollars managed or days saved rather than describing duties.
Recommended templates
Classic (ATS-friendly): Jake's-style LaTeX classic: small caps and hairline rules
Meridian (ATS-friendly): Modern serif with a hairline date rail on the right
Ivy (ATS-friendly): Harvard-style Times layout with centered headings
Policy Analyst resume FAQ
What should a Policy Analyst resume include?
A Policy Analyst resume should show the programs, policies and public services you delivered, the budgets and rules you worked within, and the measurable outcomes for residents. Use these sections in this order: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills and Certifications. Put your most relevant recent role first and make every bullet show a result, not a duty.
What is the best resume template for a Policy Analyst?
Classic, Meridian and Ivy work well for Policy Analyst roles. They are single-column with standard headings, so applicant tracking systems (ATS) parse them reliably.
How long should a Policy Analyst resume be?
One page for most candidates; move to two only if every line is relevant.
Which skills should a Policy Analyst put on a resume?
Prioritize the skills named in the job posting. Common ones for Policy Analyst roles are Policy analysis, Program evaluation, Budget development, Regulatory compliance, Stakeholder and community engagement and Grant administration.
How do I write strong Policy Analyst resume bullet points?
Start with an action verb, say what you did, and end with a measurable result such as residents served, budget managed and processing time. For example: "Cut average permit review time from 42 to 19 days by redesigning intake and adding online plan submission."