Analytics & Research Senior Scientist

Press Ganey

About The Position

The Senior Research & Analytics Scientist is a senior individual contributor who provides scientific leadership across a portfolio of products, programs, and strategic initiatives focused on measuring patient experience in healthcare. Serving as the primary methodological authority, this role ensures the validity, reliability, actionability, and comparability of survey-based measures, benchmarking and comparative performance measurement programs, analytics solutions, and emerging data products. The Senior Scientist partners closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, Operations, Client Support, Advisory, and Executive Leadership to solve complex measurement challenges, guide strategic decisions, and drive innovation. The role focuses on survey science, benchmarking methodology, psychometrics, and applied analytics, distinguishing it from traditional data science roles centered on model or software development. As a trusted advisor, the Senior Scientist translates complex scientific concepts into actionable recommendations while balancing methodological rigor with business and operational needs. The role establishes and maintains the standards, governance frameworks, and validation processes that ensure data, measures, and insights are trustworthy, methodologically sound, and fit for use in client decision-making, benchmarking, quality improvement, and advanced analytics. This position offers the opportunity to combine scientific rigor with creativity to develop new measurement approaches and analytics solutions. A central focus is elevating the patient voice by ensuring patient experiences are accurately captured, meaningfully interpreted, and translated into insights that improve healthcare quality and outcomes.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Survey Methodology, Statistics, Psychometrics, Sociology, Psychology, or another quantitative social science or healthcare-related discipline
7+ years of professional experience in survey research, analytics, or related fields
Deep expertise in survey methodology, questionnaire design, psychometric testing, sampling, weighting, and bias mitigation
Experience implementing appropriate research methodologies to address complex measurement questions, including, for example, experimental designs, A/B testing, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), qualitative research, and mixed-methods studies
Demonstrated experience translating analytical findings into actionable insights used for decision-making or improvement
Strong interpersonal effectiveness, including the ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, collaborate constructively, build trust, navigate disagreement professionally, and develop productive relationships across a wide range of stakeholders
Proficiency in SPSS, R, Python, SQL, or equivalent tools

Nice To Haves

Experience with healthcare measurement, analytics, or regulatory survey programs
Experience with benchmarking governance or large-scale measurement frameworks
Experience evaluating AI-enabled or alternative methodological approaches

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary methodological authority for assigned products, benchmarking programs, and strategic initiatives
Provide scientific leadership and consultation on measurement, benchmarking, analytics, reporting, and methodology decisions
Represent Research & Analytics in cross-functional, client, and executive discussions, translating complex findings into actionable recommendations
Serve as an escalation point for complex methodological issues, client concerns, and critical business decisions requiring scientific guidance
Evaluate the benefits, risks, and methodological implications of key decisions, ensuring measurement quality, benchmark integrity, and stakeholder trust
Lead the design, evaluation, and continuous improvement of survey instruments and measurement frameworks
Apply expertise in survey methodology, questionnaire design, sampling, weighting, bias mitigation, and survey operations
Ensure the reliability, validity, comparability, and intended use of measures through validation studies, equivalency testing, and evaluation of survey design and administration approaches
Maintain methodological standards and best practices
Partner with Product and Engineering across the product lifecycle
Evaluate and guide the methodological design, validation, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of products, reporting capabilities, survey content, and measurement solutions
Lead the development, governance, and evolution of benchmarking and comparative performance measurement methodologies, ensuring that performance comparisons remain valid, reliable, interpretable, and fit for purpose
Establish and maintain benchmarking governance standards, adjustment methodologies, quality criteria, and related frameworks
Evaluate the impact of methodological changes on benchmark validity, trends, and reporting
Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on benchmarking methodology and governance
Apply statistical and analytical methods to identify drivers of patient experience performance, emerging trends, and opportunities for quality improvement
Develop, evaluate, and validate analytical frameworks, methodologies, and reporting approaches that support measurement, benchmarking, and strategic decision-making
Translate complex analytical findings into actionable insights that inform decisions and drive improvement
Lead the design and evaluation of pilot studies, validation efforts, and innovation initiatives involving emerging measurement approaches, data sources, and technologies
Establish evidence standards and decision frameworks for assessing the readiness of new methodologies, AI-enabled capabilities, and alternative measurement approaches for benchmarking, reporting, and operational use
Identify risks, limitations, and governance requirements when evidence is insufficient to support adoption
Serve as a subject matter expert in healthcare experience measurement, patient-centered research, and healthcare analytics
Guide the development and evolution of measurement programs, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices
Ensure methodologies accurately capture patient experiences and generate meaningful, actionable, and scientifically sound insights
Monitor industry developments and recommend enhancements to measurement programs and methodologies
Develop and disseminate research, educational resources, and thought leadership materials that advance organizational understanding of survey science, benchmarking, analytics, and healthcare measurement
Represent the organization in client and industry settings