Research Analyst-Behavioral Health

Westat•Bethesda, MD

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Westat is a leader in research, data collection and analysis, technical assistance, evaluation, and communications. Our evidence-based findings help clients in government and the private sector accelerate advancements in health, education, transportation, and social and economic policy. Our dedication to improving lives through research and our approach to projects grounded in investigative curiosity, statistical and data rigor, adaptive methods, and advanced technology are why clients find exceptional value in our work. Westat has an immediate opening for a Research Analyst to join our team of leading researchers supporting our continued work on behavioral health and health policy. You will be assisting with projects that address the needs of individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with project leadership and multi-disciplinary project teams to help translate science into resources for diverse audiences including federal and state policy makers, clinical service providers, and individuals affected by mental health conditions and substance use disorders. In this role, you will have substantive opportunities to assist with research on behavioral health topics such as behavioral health system transformation, healthcare financing, behavioral health program evaluations, mental health and substance use services, recovery and resilience, substance misuse prevention, overdose prevention, opioid and stimulant use disorders, and advancing access to effective behavioral health care. We value regular in-person collaboration and preference will be given to candidates who can work 2 days per week at our Bethesda, Maryland office or at one of our other Westat office locations.

Requirements

A master’s degree in public policy or a social science discipline, such as sociology, economics, political science, psychology or in analytical methods such as applied statistics; or a bachelor’s degree in public policy or a social science discipline, such as sociology, economics, political science, psychology or in analytical methods such as applied statistics and 2-5 years of relevant experience
Experience with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods evaluation approaches and using analytic software as appropriate
Experience using Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to produce visually-appealing reports, tables, graphs, and presentation slides
Experience creating data visualizations based on evaluation data
US Citizenship is required by contract

Nice To Haves

Experience writing technical reports (such as literature reviews, study plans, methodology reports, summaries of research findings) or contributing to peer-reviewed journal articles
Knowledge of public health approaches to evaluate mental health conditions and substance use disorders and service delivery
Experience using library databases to identify relevant journal articles and reports and reference management tools to organize sources
Experience with data collection, developing analysis plans, and overseeing analyses
Experience working on Federal government contracts, especially for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Demonstrated experience working on multiple projects quickly and simultaneously
Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills
Ability to take initiative and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

Support all stages of research from study design through data collection and management, analysis, and report writing
Conduct literature searches, synthesize research findings, and contribute to writing on health policy and behavioral health topics
Assist in synthesizing research findings
Conduct data collection efforts, such as administering surveys, interviews, site visits, observation protocols, and acquiring administrative data
Provide technical assistance and training to federal grantees and other stakeholders
Present evaluation findings to federal clients and other stakeholders
Assist with analysis of qualitative or quantitative data