About the role
Position Summary
The TANF Policy Subject Matter Expert (SME) serves as the authoritative source on TANF statute, regulation, guidance, and state-level implementation for the technical assistance team. This individual ensures that all products, recommendations, and marriage-awareness activities are grounded in an accurate understanding of TANF's purposes, allowable uses of funds, and work requirements, and that they are actionable within the real operating environment of state and tribal TANF agencies.
Key Responsibilities
Provide expert guidance on TANF statute, regulations, policy guidance, and allowable uses of TANF funds as they relate to marriage and family-strengthening activities.
Review all technical assistance products for policy accuracy, feasibility, and alignment with the four purposes of TANF.
Advise the team on how marriage-incentive and marriage-awareness strategies can be implemented within TANF program rules, including addressing marriage penalties and disincentives.
Serve as a content expert in TA engagements, peer-learning sessions, and webinars with state and tribal TANF administrators.
Analyze state TANF plans, policies, and promising practices (such as integrated relationship-education and work-readiness models) to identify replicable approaches.
Interpret emerging federal guidance and reauthorization developments and brief the team on implications.
Support the Research and Data Analyst in framing policy-relevant research questions and interpreting findings for a policy audience.
Required Qualifications
Deep, current expertise in the TANF program, including its legislative history, block-grant financing, work participation requirements, and state administration.
Demonstrated knowledge of allowable marriage- and family-strengthening activities under TANF.
Familiarity with the research literature on marriage, family structure, and economic self-sufficiency.
Experience advising government agencies or grantees on TANF policy and program design.
Strong analytical writing skills and the ability to translate policy into practical guidance.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior service within, or consulting to, a state or tribal TANF agency.
Experience with marriage-penalty analysis in means-tested benefit programs.
Knowledge of related programs (SNAP, Medicaid, EITC/CTC) and their interaction with family formation.
Education & Experience
Master's degree in public policy, social work, economics, law, or a related field preferred (Bachelor's with substantial equivalent experience considered). Minimum of eight years of TANF policy or human-services policy experience, including direct work on family-strengthening or marriage-related initiatives.
Originally posted on Himalayas