Research Associate

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

Who we are: The mission of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable. Within PDPH, the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (aka “Get Healthy Philly”), works to change policies, systems, and environments to make healthy living an easy choice for residents. The goals of our programs are to reduce obesity, smoking, and other known risk factors for chronic diseases. We are also expanding our injury prevention work, with a focus on reducing gun violence. The Division is especially concerned about documenting, understanding, and working to reduce disparities in health.

The Public Health Data Lab at Get Healthy Philly conducts innovative research and analysis that directly informs city policy and guides public health decisions. We provide the evidence base to answer questions like: Why do some neighborhoods have higher rates of cancer mortality than others? Will restrictions on the sale of certain tobacco products reduce the rate of teen vaping in Philadelphia? What policies or programs have worked to reduce gun violence in other communities, and could they work in Philadelphia?

Our values: Get Healthy Philly’s work is guided by our commitment to all people’s health and humanity. We believe:

·         All people have the right to live to their fullest potential.

·         All communities have the right to create environments that allow them to grow and thrive. 

·         Public health policy must be based on collaboration and true community partnerships.

·         Genuine public health progress must be based on the recognition that knowledge comes in many forms and many places in our society.

·         Success and progress will only come when we treat people, communities, partners, and staff with care and respect.

Join us! We are seeking a skilled and dynamic Research Associate with experience conducting research and using evidence for decision-making. Candidates should have experience with designing and analyzing rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and have strong communication and technical writing skills.

 The Associate will plan, manage and implement data analytic activities related to the work of the Get Healthy Philly team. This will include collecting, cleaning, and managing data; performing statistical analysis; and summarizing results for scientific, policy-oriented, and public audiences. The Associate will use appropriate data sources to monitor trends, patterns, and changes in risk factors and health outcomes. Factors of interest include the health behaviors of individuals, the demographic characteristics of populations, the policy environment, and the built environment. While academic journal publications are encouraged, the primary purpose of our work is to inform and advise policymakers and the public.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

            Responsibilities/Duties

·         Reviews and synthesizes existing literature on topics related to chronic conditions and injury prevention

·         Develops and fields data collection efforts, including surveys

·         Manages, cleans, analyzes, and interprets data 

·         Performs regular data matches between health-related data sources 

·         Guides research projects through Institutional Review Board approval

·         Collaborates with academic, medical, and policy partners

·         With a team, develops new research and data analysis tasks based on the Division’s needs

·         Contributes to research and data products including reports, data briefs, charts, presentations, and manuscripts

·         Works collaboratively with other Associates and Analysts to develop the analysis skills of the entire team

·         Contributes to program evaluation planning

·         Contributes to writing grants

·         Contributes to manuscript development for peer-reviewed journals

·         Participates in division meeting

Qualifications

Qualifications

·         A master’s degree or PhD in epidemiology, public policy, demography, economics, data science, statistics, or a related field.

·         Two to five years of experience in public health or social science research.

·         Demonstrated experience in data analysis with statistical software such as R, Stata, or SAS.

OR

·         Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health which has included a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum. 

Desired skills

·         Knowledge of and experience with epidemiological or social science research methods, including study design, methodology, and preparation of scientific reports

·         Ability to analyze data, write project proposals, and write technical reports

·         Ability to summarize findings for a variety of audiences, e.g. scientists, policy makers, and the public 

·         Interest in using data skills in an applied setting to advance health policy goals

·         Strong analytic abilities with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS, etc.)

·         Experience with interactive data visualization and/or mapping software a plus

·         Excellent oral and written communication skills

·         Experience working with sensitive health information

·         Able to work as a team, prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines, and work independently

Work Environment

Standard office setting with extended periods at work station and periodic use of office equipment.

Position Type and Work Schedule

Fulltime position, typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Flex office schedule options available with supervisor approval.

Travel

Frequent local travel between sites to attend meetings. May occasionally travel outside the city.

Physical Demands

Limited physical demands. Associate will work primarily in an office setting.

Salary and Benefits

Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:

·   Medical with vision benefits

·   Dental insurance

·   Flexible spending accounts

·   Life, AD&D and long-term care insurance

·   Short- and long-term disability insurance

·   403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution

·   Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday

·   Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation are handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit:

1)      A resume or CV

2)      A cover letter that includes:

a.      Your experience with statistical software such as R, SAS or Stata,

b.      Your experience in or with Philadelphia, if any, and

c.       Your past or proposed contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3)      A writing sample (optional)

Additional Information

All applicants must apply to the position through the following link. Also, please upload a resume and cover letter when applying.

https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=32012&clientkey=703E6F23E139A9E15CD4746A9D25637D&jpt=1b79bf1ead1b4f21088d5e9559596326