Associate Program Research Specialist

Health Research, Inc. • Albany, NY

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Program Research Specialist, located in the AIDS Institute's Office of Drug User Health (ODUH), will be responsible for programmatic oversight, project management activities, and reporting for the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and mortality surveillance strategies; leading the analysis and dissemination of mortality data, overseeing the processing of overdose prevention service data and supporting the evaluation of ODUH funded projects. SUDORS is an enhanced public health surveillance reporting system that aims to collect comprehensive information including the circumstances surrounding drug poisonings/acute drug intoxication events resulting in death (i.e., fatal overdoses) to inform public health action, by using multiple data sources including the death certificate, the coroner/medical examiner report and toxicology testing results. The incumbent will oversee data collection, data abstraction, data quality control and assurance, data analysis, data dissemination, performance monitoring and evaluation, and program management for SUDORS. The incumbent will lead data analysis and produce data products that inform drug overdose prevention activities and population-based interventions. The incumbent will coordinate and oversee coroner/medical examiner, death investigator, and toxicologist engagement efforts to improve the quality and timeliness of mortality reporting including reimbursement and training programs. The incumbent is responsible for disseminating SUDORS data as well as interpret and utilize overdose prevention service data for evaluation projects and will represent ODUH/NYSDOH in local/state/national meetings and conferences. The incumbent will supervise a team of staff and perform other appropriate public health surveillance, epidemiologic and programmatic related duties, as needed.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Biostatistics or a related field and four years of research experience in the collection and analysis of data; OR an Associate's degree in a related field and six years of such experience; OR eight years of experience.
• Valid and unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S. is required.
• The selected candidate must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the official work location specified in the job posting and must also be located in or willing to relocate to one of the following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, or Massachusetts, prior to hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in public health or epidemiology (or Biostatistics).
• Experience in applied forensic epidemiology, drug user health, or toxicology related field.
• Experience with data analysis software and/or statistical software (SAS, SQL or R).
• Experience fielding a large data collection project and/or managing a large database or dataset.
• Experience working with confidential datasets and/or protected health information (PHI).
• Experience producing data visualizations (Tableau, GIS, etc.)
• Experience supervising staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• programmatic oversight
• project management activities
• reporting for the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and mortality surveillance strategies
• leading the analysis and dissemination of mortality data
• overseeing the processing of overdose prevention service data
• supporting the evaluation of ODUH funded projects
• oversee data collection, data abstraction, data quality control and assurance, data analysis, data dissemination, performance monitoring and evaluation, and program management for SUDORS
• lead data analysis and produce data products that inform drug overdose prevention activities and population-based interventions
• coordinate and oversee coroner/medical examiner, death investigator, and toxicologist engagement efforts to improve the quality and timeliness of mortality reporting including reimbursement and training programs
• disseminating SUDORS data as well as interpret and utilize overdose prevention service data for evaluation projects
• represent ODUH/NYSDOH in local/state/national meetings and conferences
• supervise a team of staff
• perform other appropriate public health surveillance, epidemiologic and programmatic related duties, as needed

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance - Several comprehensive health insurance plans to choose from
• Flexible benefit accounts - Medical, dependent care, adoption assistance, parking and transit
• Generous paid time off - Paid federal and state holidays, paid sick, vacation and personal leave
• Tuition support - Assistance is available for individuals pursuing educational or training opportunities
• Retirement Benefits - HRI is a participating employer in the New York State and Local Retirement System and offers optional enrollment in the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan. HRI provides a postretirement Health Benefits Plan for qualified retirees to use towards health insurance premiums and eligible medical expenses
• Employee Assistance Program - Provides educational and wellness programs, training, and 24/7 confidential services to assist employees, both personally and professionally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees