Research Analyst-Behavioral Health

Westat•Bethesda, MD

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Westat is seeking a Research Analyst to support research on behavioral health and health policy, including projects addressing the needs of people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The role works collaboratively with project leadership and multidisciplinary teams to translate research into resources for audiences such as federal and state policymakers, clinical service providers, and people affected by mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The analyst may contribute to research on 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 access to effective behavioral health care. Responsibilities span the research process, from study design through data collection and management, analysis, and reporting. The position also involves technical assistance and training for grantees and stakeholders, as well as presenting findings to clients and other stakeholders. Westat values regular in-person collaboration and gives preference to candidates able to work two days per week at its Bethesda, Maryland office or another Westat office location. This is a U.S.-based position; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not offered. Some positions may have project-specific residency criteria. US citizenship is required by contract.

Requirements

A master’s degree in public policy, a social science discipline such as sociology, economics, political science, or psychology, or an analytical methods field such as applied statistics; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields plus 2–5 years of relevant experience.
Experience with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods evaluation approaches and use of analytic software as appropriate.
Experience using Microsoft Office software, including 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.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience writing technical reports, such as literature reviews, study plans, methodology reports, or summaries of research findings, or contributing to peer-reviewed journal articles.
Knowledge of public health approaches to evaluating mental health conditions, 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.
Conduct data collection, including surveys, interviews, site visits, observation protocols, and acquisition of administrative data.
Provide technical assistance and training to federal grantees and other stakeholders.
Present evaluation findings to federal clients and other stakeholders.
Assist with qualitative or quantitative data analysis.