MCH Health Care Data Analyst

Inside Higher Ed; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution seeks a Senior Research Associate/MCH Health Care Data Analyst to conduct healthcare claims analytics related to Medicaid. The ideal candidate will analyze complex datasets, interpretations of trends, and assist in health care projects focused on Maternal and Child Health. Strong skills in SAS, SQL, R, and Python, along with a master's degree and relevant experience in health services research, are essential. This role offers opportunities to contribute to important projects affecting community health.

Qualifications

• Requires a master’s degree and five years of relevant experience.
• Experience/training in health services research preferred.
• Understanding of claims data systems like Medicaid or Medicare.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing data analysis and management SOPs.
• Analyze complex healthcare data and identify trends.
• Create clear reports demonstrating analytic findings.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Data management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Master’s degree in area of research specialty

Tools

SAS

SQL

R

Python

Excel

Power BI

Job description

The Senior Research Associate/MCH Health Care Data Analyst provides high-level professional healthcare claims analytics work related to Medicaid and conducts quantitative analyses that support health care projects and research activities focused on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) populations.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Requires a master’s degree in area of research specialty and five years of job related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience/training in health services research.
• At least 4 years of experience with the analysis of claims/encounter data.
• Strongly prefer an understanding of Medicaid, Medicare, and/or private healthcare claims data systems.
• Understanding of and/or experience with analysis of electronic health record data, including data elements used in MCH contexts.
• Strong proficiency in SAS, SQL, R, and Python.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.
• Experience with large relational database administration.
• Demonstrated experience in data management and analysis with administrative data, including health or behavioral healthcare claims such as Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance data, or state agency and national datasets; experience with relevant MCH populations preferred.
• Proficiency in SAS, SQL, and other statistical analytical software programs (e.g., R, Python).
• Demonstrated ability to use analytical and visualization tools such as Excel (including advanced data manipulation techniques) and Power BI.
• Interest in public health or issues relevant to health services research, MCH, and health program or policy evaluation.
• Ability to plan for and work on multiple projects concurrently.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making decisions and maintain thorough documentation of the decision-making process.
• Exemplary communication skills and ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, complicated processes to diverse audiences.
• Strong commitment to rigorous research methods, objectivity, accuracy of findings, and reproducibility of results.

Job Duties

• Actively contributes to the review of working practices and developing data analysis and management standard operating procedures, including developing rigorous documentation of methods, decisions, flowcharts, and other practices that ensure reproducibility of results. (15%) Analyzes and interprets complex healthcare data. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15
• Analyzes and interprets complex healthcare data from various sources; identifies, analyzes, and interprets trends and patterns in complex datasets to understand MCH issues. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15
• Obtains, validates, and compiles data from multiple sources to create summary files for both external and internal use. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10
• Manages large databases of health insurance claims from Medicaid, Medicare, all-payer data warehouses, and other state administrative datasets, as well as EHR data. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10
• Creates clear reports that demonstrate analytic findings and present these to the management and relevant stakeholders; Ensures accuracy and timeliness of reports, including regularly scheduled and ad‑hoc reporting requests. Responsible for all follow‑up and/or research requests regarding clinical data. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15
• Coordinates and problem‑solves with Institute faculty/staff to understand needed support and use cases and develops innovative solutions to fill gaps in analytics. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15
• Works independently under the direction of the Principal Investigators to design, manage, implement, and interpret statistical analyses focused on MCH‑related healthcare expenditures, utilization, and quality. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15
• Performs other research related duties as assigned. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 5

Desired Start Date: 05/01/2026

Position End Date: 06/30/2028

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.