Policy Analyst

Based in Falls Church, VA, MPS is a Small Business, dedicated to empowering our clients through innovative change management services, with a focus on organizational effectiveness. Founded by a former Peace Corps volunteer, our consultants have served executives in the federal sector for over a decade, working on several high-profile initiatives. We pride ourselves on being experienced consultants, trusted advisers, and reliable partners. As a designated Employer of National Service, our core value is a commitment to public service.

Policy Analyst (Contract) — Forest Industry Regulations & Permitting

The Policy Analyst leads the Regulatory & Permitting Study supporting Wisconsin’s Forests FIRST strategy. This independent role translates complex statutes, rules, and administrative processes into actionable insights and recommendations. The analyst conducts regulatory inventories, structured interviews, and comparative policy analyses to identify key barriers and develop implementation playbooks that guide administrative or statutory reforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Define clear problem statements and detailed workplans aligned with study objectives.
• Inventory Wisconsin statutes, codes, and permitting processes across DOT, DSPS, PSC, DNR, and local jurisdictions.
• Conduct structured interviews with stakeholders (mills, contractors, AHJs, utilities, trade groups).
• Develop comparative policy matrices benchmarking Wisconsin against peer states.
• Synthesize evidence into Top-10 Barriers lists, administrative vs. statutory options, and implementation playbooks.
• Produce stakeholder-ready reports, decision decks, and concise process diagrams.
• Coordinate closely with the Project Manager and Senior Policy Advisors for review and integration.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen or Legal Resident
  
• BS in Political Science or a related field
• 5+ years relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience conducting statutory/regulatory research and comparative policy analysis.
• Strong ability to interpret complex regulations into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Skilled in process mapping, structured interviewing, and plain-English policy writing.
• Proficiency in O365 (Teams, SharePoint), version control, and disciplined documentation practices.
• Excellent communication and organization; able to operate independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Wisconsin regulatory agencies (DOT, DSPS, PSC, DNR) or related experience in the Lake States/New England/Southeast regions.
• Exposure to transportation, mass-timber/code approvals, interconnection/CHP, and environmental permitting topics.
• Experience preparing reports and materials for public or governmental review processes.
• Comfort interpreting light analytical outputs from R/Python-based studies.

MPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its business activities including recruiting and selection. We are committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment for employees, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.