Research Associate III

JBS International•North Bethesda, MD

1d•Remote

About The Position

JBS International is seeking a behavioral and mental health specialist to conduct complex statistical and data analytic studies related to rural health transformation initiatives, with expertise in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data. The role leads research and evaluation work, including study design, data preparation and analysis, and the application of evaluation findings to improve behavioral and mental health initiatives. It serves as a point person on national evaluation technical assistance and community-level projects, collaborating with federal clients, partner organizations, and rural communities to align project activities with intended outcomes. The position also supervises Research Assistants and Research Associates and collaborates with senior staff on strategic project and business needs. The role designs quantitative and mixed-methods evaluations; manages literature reviews and information synthesis; develops data collection instruments, protocols, and databases; and oversees data collection and analysis. It prepares client-ready reports, presentations, issue briefs, and case studies, using visualizations to communicate findings to varied audiences. Additional duties include developing IRB and OMB submission materials, assisting with project budgets, schedules, and staffing, and managing tasks and deliverables for contract compliance. This is a remote position. Candidates living within 50 miles of the North Bethesda or San Mateo offices will be considered for hybrid employment. The position requires the ability to attain a Public Trust Clearance.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, economics, sociology, or another related social science field.
Eight years of experience, including five years directly related to the essential job functions.
Proficiency with SAS, R, Python, SQL, or other statistical packages or languages.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Ability to conduct advanced statistical analyses with minimal supervision.
Strong project management, supervisory, problem-solving, and communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with clients and translate technical concepts for diverse audiences.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to write clearly and concisely, with attention to detail and audience, with minimal supervision.
English fluency, both oral and written.
Ability to attain a Public Trust Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience analyzing CMS data.
PhD in public health, epidemiology, economics, sociology, or another related social science field.
Experience leading national evaluation technical assistance projects and community-level projects.
Experience with funding procurement for and management of contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants related to rural health initiatives and programs.
Expertise in operations and financial management to monitor and improve program outcomes against operational and budget goals.
Experience leading federal behavioral and mental health projects, including serving as the point of contact and making staffing, financial, and other decisions to align project activities with outcomes.
Experience facilitating engagement with federal organizations, community organizations, and rural communities to implement behavioral and mental health initiatives and programs.
Experience with ATLAS.ti or other qualitative software.

Responsibilities

Design quantitative and mixed-methods evaluations to assess the effects of health initiatives and programs on health outcomes, sustainability, capacity, and access.
Manage literature reviews and synthesize information.
Design data collection instruments and protocols, which may include surveys, qualitative interviews, data abstraction tools, and quality assessment tools related to behavioral and mental health.
Lead and oversee data collection and the development of data collection databases.
Lead and oversee statistical and data analysis, including data cleaning protocols, data quality issues, and advanced data-wrangling processes.
Prepare client-ready reports, PowerPoint presentations, issue briefs, and case studies with charts, tables, dashboards, infographics, and other data visualizations.
Conduct statistical and data analysis with minimal supervision, including overseeing the creation of cleaned and merged datasets and creating variables.
Develop IRB and OMB submission materials with minimal supervision.
Assist with project budget, schedule, and staffing management with minimal supervision.
Manage tasks and deliverables to ensure contract compliance with minimal supervision.
Supervise Research Assistants and Research Associates performing research and evaluation tasks, including sampling, weighting, data management, statistical analysis, continuous quality improvement, reports, and presentations.
Serve as a point person on national evaluation technical assistance and community-level projects, making staffing, financial, and evaluation design decisions to align activities with intended outcomes.
Facilitate collaborative input and engagement with federal clients, partner organizations, and rural communities to complete workplans.
Proactively mitigate project implementation problems and identify opportunities and solutions to further support clients and project teams.
Collaborate with senior staff on strategic project and business needs.