Legacy Modernization Sr. Policy Strategist

About Nava
Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple and effective. Since 2015, federal, state, and local agencies have trusted Nava to help solve highly scrutinized technology modernization challenges.

As a client services company, we guide agencies constrained by legacy systems to a future with sharp user experiences built on secure, reliable, fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure. We bill for our time, offering our expertise and problem-solving approach to help our government partners enhance their digital products and services. People are at the heart of our work, from members of the public who rely on benefit programs to government agency staff. Through human-centered design and modern engineering best practices, we help our government partners understand user needs and deliver on their missions more effectively. This focus gives everyone at Nava the opportunity to do work that is meaningful, impactful, and deeply connected to public good.

Position summary

As a member of Nava’s Technical Solutions and Services team, you'll partner with Nava project teams and our governmental partners to quickly and creatively build products that greatly improve the speed and cost of legacy modernization efforts. A key aspect of your role will be to bridge the gap between statutory requirements and practical product design, ensuring our solutions are compliant and user-centric. You’ll translate complex policies into actionable insights for technologists, and conversely, communicate technological possibilities and limitations to policy and operations audiences. This dual understanding will be instrumental in transforming regulatory challenges into opportunities for improved service delivery and more effective government systems.You are a strategic and outcomes-oriented thinker, adept at identifying patterns across complex information and making thoughtful decisions that impact various teams, both internal and external. You possess excellent communication skills and balance rigorous analysis with a practical mindset to drive clear, high-quality decisions and forward progress. You have the ability to synthesize research of programs, policies, and government operational models into concrete recommendations that positively impact service experience outcomes. You stay up to date about technology, legislation, and policy trends, and care deeply about improving the way government programs operate.

What you'll do::
• Collaborate with cross-discipline teammates (Engineering, Product, Design) to rapidly experiment on policy-related challenges
• Develop and hone repeatable strategies to incorporate into the product
• Evaluate product outputs for value and accuracy
• Evangelize the value of Nava’s legacy modernization solution(s) to internal and external stakeholders as warranted
• Perform in-depth analysis of federal and state statutes and regulations for benefit programs such as Medicaid, Paid Family Leave and WIC
• Analyze policies and regulations and translate findings into practical recommendations that inform product architecture, technical requirements, and delivery plans
• Create artifacts, such as policy briefs and process flows, to support decision-making and prioritization
• Deliver formal and informal written and oral presentations on policy information to diverse audiences
• Identify regulatory constraints early in project lifecycles and propose solutions that maintain compliance while supporting user-centered design
• Distinguish between policy mandates and operational or technical decisions influencing program processes

Required Skills:
• At least 5 years of experience in policy analysis, or a combination of relevant graduate-level education and experience
• Hands-on experience analyzing, interpreting, or implementing Medicaid policies and programs
• Strong ability to build and nurture relationships with both internal teams and external partnersSelf-directed and comfortable working independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical and policy contexts
• Understanding of public programs, ideally at multiple levels of governmentAbility to document research processes, findings, and recommendations clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner

Desired skills:
• Direct experience implementing government program policy and/or operational changes in the context of building technology solutions
• Experience or familiarity working in agile project management environments and applying human-centered design principles
• Graduate degree in public policy, public administration, or related field

What we're looking for::
• Skilled in analyzing public programs through qualitative and quantitative research to guide government implementation decisions and propose practical solutions
• An adaptive, empathetic, collaborative, and positive mindset
• Highly resourceful, reliable, and detail-oriented
• Comfortable with ambiguous, rapidly-evolving environments with many parallel threads

Other requirements
All roles at Nava require the following:
Legal authorization to work in the United States
Ability to meet any other requirements for government contracts for which candidates are hired
Work authorization that doesn’t require visa sponsorship, now or in the future
May be subject to a government background check or security clearance, depending on the contract

Perks working with Nava
Health coverage — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs
Insurance coverage — Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost
Time off — vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating holidays to rest and recharge
Company holidays — enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO
Annual bonus — when Nava meets its goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus
Parental leave — paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home
Wellness program — full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools
Virtual care — see doctors online with no copay through UnitedHealthcare’s virtual visit program
Sabbatical leave — earn extended unpaid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest
401(k) match — Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan
Flexible work — remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities
Home office setup — company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs
Utility support — monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses
Learning opportunities — internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills
Development opportunities — LinkedIn Learning access & an annual allowance for courses, tuition, & certs
Referral bonus — get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team
Commuter benefits — pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable
Supportive culture — A collaborative and remote-friendly team environment where people genuinely care

Location
We have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

*If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time.

Stay in touch
Sign up for our newsletter to find out about career opportunities, new partnerships, and news from the broader civic tech community.

Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process.

We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Nava is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, religious creed, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, reproductive health autonomy, pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Nava prohibits any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all employees, applicants, contractors, and temporary workers of Nava.