Research Scientist I Jobs

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

Position Summary

Under general direction of the Director of Research & Evaluation, the Research Scientist I (RSI)will provide research and evaluation support on projects of the Center for Wellness and Nutrition, a program of the Public Health Institute (PHI CWN). The RSI will work primarily on statewide SNAP-Ed program evaluations; including formative, process, outcome, and impact projects; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change evaluation. This position currently works as the primary analyst for North Carolina and Georgia state SNAP-Ed projects and as a key analyst for the CalFresh Branch of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), serving the CalFresh Healthy Living Program. The Research Scientist I also acts as the Center expert on the Program Evaluation And Reporting System (PEARS), providing guidance and technical assistance to clients. This position provides data analysis support on other projects as needed.

As a project lead or member of a project team, the RSI will be responsible for cultivating relationships with external organizations and agencies and supplying authoritative research and evaluation support directly to clients. Responsible for applying advanced knowledge, skills, and experience to develop evaluation approaches, the Research Scientist I will prepare evaluation plans; select, conduct, and write moderately complex data analyses; and ensure compliance with PHI’s IRB and state-level IRBs. This position also supports local-level evaluation planning, and collection, use, and reporting of data.

The RSI will direct and coach junior research and evaluation staff and may be assigned supervisory duties.

PHI CWN’s vision is for a healthy nation where wellness is achievable for all individuals and communities, and its mission is to build capacity and leadership in communities and institutions to make optimal health accessible for all. PHI CWN’s work falls within the four primary areas of training, education, research and evaluation, and advocacy, all of which use a health equity framework to variously address the priority areas of increasing access to and consumption of healthier foods, with a focus on fruits and vegetables; decreasing consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages and increasing consumption of water; increasing physical activity and preventing obesity and chronic diet related illnesses. We are seeking someone who is passionate about public health and is skilled in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Location: This position is located in the Sacramento, CA region. It is a remote-hybrid position, meaning that the incumbent generally works remotely but for occasional required visits to the Sacramento office and client premises in order to meet business needs. Candidates who can work on a hybrid model of remote and in office are preferred, but consideration will be given to candidates who can only work remotely. Some travel outside the Sacramento region may be required.

Employment Type: Full Time

Starting Pay: Full salary range for this position: $80,043 to $118,302 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $80,043 (minimum) to $99,173 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

40%

Leads and collaborates on evaluation projects of moderate scope; leads data analysis projects: selects appropriate analyses and prepares evaluation and data analysis plans and timelines; completes quantitative analyses of moderate scope and qualitative analyses of limited scope; reviews quantitative and qualitative analyses conducted by colleagues and supervisees. Plans and conducts formative, process, outcome and/or impact evaluation activities related to local-level nutrition interventions, either direct education and/or policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change; maintains client relationships; coordinates data collection and data entry; provides quantitative and basic qualitative data analysis and interpretation.

As a member of matrixed project teams, works closely with program staff to understand and meet the needs of the programs and clients, and, to collaboration on establishing the basis for the various evaluation tasks, including clarifying the primary intended uses and other intended uses for the findings, identifying key evaluation questions, determining methods for data collection and analysis, clarifying resources needed to answer evaluation questions, and identifying how to support the primary use of the findings.

20%

Serves as primary support for PEARS, a centralized database used for collection, evaluation, and reporting of evidence-based SNAP-Ed programs and interventions across California, Georgia and North Carolina; ensures data quality through the reporting cycle and supports the maintenance of data quality throughout the data lifecycle; maintains relationships with PEARS subcontractors and vendors; maintains technical expertise and skills in use of PEARS database; provides database management and technical assistance and training expertise to statewide partners.

20%

With minimal support, writes and disseminates reports, research briefs, and fact sheets; prepares abstracts and delivers oral and poster presentations for lay, professional, and scientific audiences. Collaborates on writing projects including statewide annual report, evaluation reports, research briefs, evaluation webinars, program implication and recommendation summaries, and fact sheets, as well as manuscripts for publication; prepares abstracts and presents oral and poster presentations for lay, professional, and scientific audiences; creates, proofs, and edits graphics and documents for reports and slide presentations (Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel).

15%

Contributes to proposals, prepares and submits IRB protocols, coordinates evaluations with program staff” oversees data collection and implements quality assurance procedures. Conducts literature reviews and writes reports; identifies validated tools, instruments, and methods for research and evaluation projects; collaborates with team and contractors to develop new methods for data collection and documentation; develops and conducts key informant interviews, focus group guides, and other surveys as needed.

5%

Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, or substitute with four additional years of related experience.
• Three years of relevant research and/or evaluation experience.

Other Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Direct experience with analysis of local level program data preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Substantial experience with evaluation-related technical assistance to local agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data independently with minimal guidance.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, and quantitative skills.
• Master’s degree preferred, either MPH or MS in nutrition, public health, social sciences, health promotion or closely related field, with graduate level coursework in statistics and research methods preferred.
• Demonstrated abilities of independent work, scientific reasoning, verbal presentation of scientific data, and production of written reports and/or scientific publications.
• A thorough knowledge of USDA SNAP-Ed reporting requirements and evaluation framework is required to develop and support applicable data collection systems and to provide training and technical assistance to local agencies.
• Research or evaluation experience with quantitative statistical software, such as SAS, SPSS, or R.
• Background in research/evaluation approaches that focus on racial or health equity, such as decolonized approaches, participatory evaluation, community engagement, etc.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

PHI WORKFORCE MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

Per the PHI Workforce Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is a condition of employment for all domestic based employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they are granted a reasonable accommodation under applicable law.

New hires need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date or apply for an exemption/accommodation within three business days after their start date. Depending on the circumstances, new hires who do not comply with this Policy, or who cannot be reasonably accommodated, will either have their employment suspended or terminated. Candidates who are non-compliant will have their offers rescinded.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at [email protected].

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