Research and Data Associate

HEALTH FEDERATION OF PHILADELPHIA•Philadelphia, PA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Research and Data Associate works with the Director of Research and Evaluation and other staff in the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP) to plan, manage, and carry out data analysis, research, and evaluation across program areas including primary care access, tobacco control, gun violence prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and the built environment. The role covers the research process from data collection, cleaning, and management through statistical analysis and communication of findings. The Associate uses appropriate data sources to monitor trends and changes in risk factors and health outcomes, including factors related to the environments where people live, work, play, and receive medical care; demographics and social determinants; individual health behaviors; and policy environments. The work primarily aims to inform programs, policymakers, and the public, while peer-reviewed publications are also encouraged. CDIP works to make healthy living more accessible for Philadelphia residents and uses evidence and data to address health disparities and advance health justice. Its work seeks to improve health by changing systems, policies, and environments, in collaboration with partners across the city. This is a full-time position in a standard office setting. Staff are expected to work in the office full-time. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some local travel between sites is required to attend meetings. The role involves extended periods at a workstation and periodic use of office equipment, with limited physical demands.

Requirements

Master's degree focused on social science research methods, such as epidemiology, public health, demography, data science, economics, or a related field; alternatively, an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted by the Department of Public Health, with a bachelor's degree as the educational minimum.
Two or more years of experience in public health or social science research; experience gained during school may count.
Demonstrated data analysis experience using statistical software such as R, Stata, or SAS.
Knowledge of and experience with epidemiology or social science research methods, including study design, methodology, and preparation of scientific reports.
Ability to analyze data, write project proposals, and write technical reports.
Ability to summarize findings for scientists, policymakers, and the public.
Interest in applying data skills in an applied setting to advance health policy goals.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work as part of a team, prioritize and manage multiple tasks and deadlines, work independently, take initiative, and follow projects through to completion.

Nice To Haves

Experience with R; R is preferred among the listed statistical software.
Experience with REDCap.
Strong mapping abilities using software such as ArcGIS or Leaflet.
Experience with interactive data visualization tools such as Tableau or Shiny.

Responsibilities

Manage, clean, analyze, and interpret administrative, survey, hospitalization, and internal research and evaluation data.
Conduct research and evaluation activities, including literature reviews, developing research questions, designing research instruments, collecting and preparing data, performing statistical analysis, and reporting findings.
Communicate findings through tables, graphs, reports, data briefs, presentations, and manuscripts for a range of audiences.
Manage evaluation projects with internal and external partners, track implementation activities, obtain quantitative and qualitative data within project timelines, and report progress and results to stakeholders.
Conduct data and evaluation reporting for grant activities, including gathering grant metrics from external partners.
Guide research projects through Institutional Review Board approval.
Respond to ongoing data requests by conducting background research and analysis to support research questions, policy positions, and interventions.
Assist with qualitative research.
Review and synthesize literature on chronic disease and social determinants of health.
Participate in division meetings related to policy and programming and advise on using data to inform these efforts.
Develop and conduct data collection efforts, including surveys.
Contribute to manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
Work with the team to develop research and data analysis tasks based on CDIP's needs.