Research Specialist V

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

This position is hybrid with (currently) two in-office days per week in Austin. Applicants from outside Texas must be willing to relocate within 30 days of hire.
The Research Specialist V (RS V) performs work for the Provider Finance Department under supervision of the Manager of Fees, Data, and Research. The RS V performs advanced (senior level) research related to rate setting and reimbursement methodologies used in Texas and other states, Medicaid state and federal regulations, HHSC program data, and research necessary to develop Acute Care reimbursement rates and supplemental payment programs for Medicaid and other client services programs administered by the agency. Research may also include analysis of fee-for-service and managed care claims data. Research will be performed under minimal direction with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of research and survey methods, principles, techniques, and philosophies.
• Knowledge of statistical concepts, methods, and their application to research analysis.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methods, measurement, testing, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of data linkage techniques.
• Skill in Managing multiple and competing priorities.
• Skill in the use of statistical analysis, database, and matching software.
• Skill in Working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Skill in Communication and public speaking.
• Ability to plan, organize, and participate in complex research projects.
• Ability to analyze or evaluate research data and findings.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex statistical data.
• Ability to analyze a problem and recommend an effective solution.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to draft and/or edit narrative reports.
• Ability to explain technical information to others.
• Ability to organize, track, work independently, and complete simultaneous difficult/complex tasks with varying deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships.
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making recommendations.
• Ability to learn and effectively apply new procedures and techniques.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree required. Experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.
• Experience in data analysis and use of Excel, at a minimum.

Nice To Haves

• Formal statistical or literature review research experience in academic setting preferred.
• Experience with Medicaid and/or healthcare finance preferred.
• Experience with SQL, Tableau, and/or an analytics tool such as SAS, Stata, SPSS, R, or Python preferred.

Responsibilities

• Research and Analysis: Oversees and manages legislatively required and ad-hoc research projects from beginning to end. Coordinates, plans, develops, and implements research projects by designing research objectives, creating report outlines and structures, determining the methodologies for data acquisition, conducting analysis, and generating research findings. May involve collaboration with other HHSC divisions and the utilization of advanced statistical techniques to assess research results and the validity of methods.
• Reporting and Dissemination: Prepares internal reports on analysis results to be presented to other staff and HHSC leadership. Delivers oral presentations on findings to various provider and stakeholder organizations and HHSC leadership. Utilizes data visualization techniques to develop charts, tables, and maps. Communicates complex results in a manner that can be easily understood by various audiences.
• Evaluation and Review: Develops plans for approach to research projects, considers merits of possible analytical models or statistical methods, conducts highly advanced research on payment programs. Reviews results of analysis for accuracy, communicates actionable feedback, develops quality control measures.
• Consultation and Technical Assistance: Provides research assistance to Acute Care staff as it relates to fiscal calculation reviews and rate implementation. Assists with the drafting of memorandums and rule amendments. Interacts and updates project management staff. Provides consultation and technical advice on research methods and techniques to staff on the research team and other rate analysts in the department.
• Data collection and querying: Executes data querying on claims and encounter data utilizing tools such as Business Objects and SQL-based querying platforms.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• defined benefit pension plan
• generous time off benefits
• numerous opportunities for career advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees