Research Scientist, Public Health Management Corporation

Posted by Public Health Management Corporation on December 21, 2015

JOB DESCRIPTION
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Research & Evaluation Group
POSTING DATE: November 9, 2015

JOB OVERVIEW:
The Research and Evaluation Group at PHMC is looking for a new full-time Research Scientist to join its dynamic team. The Research and Evaluation Group at PHMC (REG) is focused on applied, community-based research and evaluation. With 50 different funders and clients, the right candidate for this position will enjoy a work environment where there is an opportunity to contribute to multiple projects focused on diverse public health, social justice, and education issues, while also bringing to the department his/her own expertise and depth of knowledge in a substantive area. Areas of particular interest include criminal justice, public health, health services, behavioral health and substance use disorders, and early childhood education.
This is a full-time position with responsibility for leading multiple projects within REG. The Research Scientist will conceptualize and conduct research studies. He/she will participate as an author in the reporting of scientific findings in reports, briefs, white papers, other grey literature and peer reviewed articles, including as lead author. The Research Scientist has major responsibility for contributing to the growth of the research department by leading and/or co-leading grant proposals and other funding opportunities. The Research Scientist provides budgetary oversight to multiple projects and insures that funder requirements and expectations are being met. The Research Scientist ensures that project staff, including Project Managers and Research Assistants, are effectively leading the day to day operations of projects, providing leadership and guidance where needed. The Research Scientist will participate in multiple research and/or evaluation studies as an investigator/project director, while making significant contributions to the growth of REG through the pursuit of new funding via contracts, grants, and partnerships. The Research Scientist reports to the Managing Director of the Research and Evaluation Group.

It is expected that the Research Scientist will be early- to mid- career stage.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Conceptualize and lead research and evaluation studies, including creating data analysis plans, conducting and supervising primary and secondary data collection and data analysis, and report writing.
 Take leadership role in developing and writing proposals. The Research Scientist will be expected to identify new funding opportunities and regularly lead or co-lead grant submissions. The pace of grant writing within the Research and Evaluation Group is steady. The Research Scientist should expect to lead a minimum of 12 proposals per year, with support from colleagues.
 Build relationships with other teams/business units and affiliates across the organization as well as external researchers and organizations to support new opportunities for partnership and funding. The Research Scientist will cultivate relationships with new collaborators/partners, including teams/business units and affiliates across the organization as well as government, other non-profits, university partners, and for-profit partners.
 Supervise and mentor junior research staff.
 Prepare progress reports and presentations and represent REG at selected national, state, and local meetings and conferences to communicate accomplishments and share information about REG’s mission, research, & evaluation studies.
 Publish in the grey and peer reviewed literature. It is expected that the successful candidate will lead the publication of at least two new manuscripts per year.

SKILLS:
 Outstanding oral and written communication skills, such as those required for presenting to national audiences and funders, writing competitive grant proposals, writing concise program and progress reports for funders, and publishing in the peer reviewed literature.
 Must have strong quantitative data analysis skills; qualitative data analysis skills also important.
 Excellent team leadership and supervision skills. Must have a passion for mentoring junior staff, and for supporting a culture of continuous learning.

EXPERIENCE:
 As this position is open to early- and mid-career researchers, prior experience should reflect career stage. Early career researchers will be expected to have some experience with grant writing and publication in the peer reviewed literature, while mid-career researchers should have a track record of successfully competing for grants and publication.
 Experience working with large datasets, conducting inferential statistics; mixed methods experience desired.

GRADE: 23

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in public health, social science, criminal justice, psychology, early childhood education, health services or related field.

SALARY: Starting salary anticipated in mid- to high $60s, and is commensurate with experience. PHMC offers an extremely competitive benefits package to its employees, including but not limited to generous paid time off for personal, sick, vacation and holidays; health and dental insurance; company paid pension plan; a 403B tax deferred annuity plan; flexible spending account; and, transportation benefits program.

ABOUT PHMC: PHMC is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit corporation founded in 1972. It is a member institute of the National Network of Public Health Institutes, and is designated as the Public Health Institute for the State of Pennsylvania. For over 40 years, PHMC has been working in partnership with communities, government, the health care sector, and other non-profit agencies to address the public health challenges facing southeastern Pennsylvania. PHMC employees share a passion and commitment to improving the lives of the region’s most vulnerable citizens. While PHMC’s focus has always been on serving the southeastern PA region, some of its programs have a multi-state focus, and a few are national in scope. Major program areas at PHMC include behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, primary health care, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, child welfare, early childhood education, services to the homeless, and criminal justice/re-entry services. To learn more about PHMC and its many programs, visit http://www.phmc.org.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION GROUP AT PHMC: PHMC’s Research and Evaluation Group (REG) has worked closely with hundreds of external organizations to design, implement and evaluate the impact of a diverse portfolio of public health, social justice and educational programs. At any given time, REG has close to 50 different clients and funders. Our team has completed a wide variety of community needs assessments, program evaluations, and scientific research projects. Some of our recent research and evaluation studies have focused on statewide and regional tobacco prevention, cessation and control; violence prevention and human trafficking; LGBT health and wellness; maternal and child health; substance use and behavioral health; HIV/AIDS prevention; nutrition and food security; chronic disease prevention; injury prevention; emergency preparedness; and, worksite wellness.

Our work is primarily conducted in Southeastern PA, however we are also actively involved in research across the State of PA, and are leading evaluations of public health programs in other States. We also are leading studies with a national focus. Our funders and clients include: federal, state and local government; private and non-profit organizations, including foundations and community-based organizations; health care systems; and, national organizations and their regional chapters.

TO APPLY:
Please email cover letter and curriculum vitae to: regresumes@phmc.org. Please include Research Scientist in Subject Line.

PHMC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, VETERANS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.