Principal | Data Scientist

Premier Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 141,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k retirement program

Paid time off

Incentive plans

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Premier Inc. is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead independent and collaborative biostatistics and health outcomes research programs using real-world evidence from EHR and claims data.

Doctoral degree required; clinical/public health background preferred, with the ability to translate analytics into actions for quality improvement and population health management. This expert-level role involves mentoring, strategic leadership, and collaboration across government, hospitals, health

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field with substantial research experience.
• Experience in biostatistics and epidemiology across healthcare domains.
• Strong publication track record in high-impact journals.

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects with government agencies, health systems, and academia.
• Develop and translate research into products and features for quality improvement.
• Design observational studies using RWE datasets (EHR, claims).
• Mentor peers and provide scientific leadership for large-scale implementations.

Skills

Biostatistics

Epidemiology

RWE datasets

Study design

Education

Doctorate (Required)

Tools

R (Tidyverse)

Python

SQL

Job description

Principal || Data Scientist

What you will be doing

This position will lead independent and collaborative research programs in biostatistics and health outcomes research, in partnership with public health government agencies, hospitals and health systems, and academic institutions. Apply advanced statistical and epidemiologic methods to real-world evidence (RWE) datasets, including electronic health record, administrative billing, and post-adjudicated claims data, to design observational studies, answer clinically and operationally relevant questions, and produce high-impact peer-reviewed publications. Lead the development of statistical analysis plans and research protocols, and translate study findings into new products, services, and features that support quality improvement, population health management, and policy.

A doctoral degree and considerable research experience are required. A clinical or public health background is desired, along with an understanding of how clinicians wish to deploy analytics in support of quality improvement and population health management applications.

This level is recognized as expert in their field, knowledgeable of emerging trends and industry practices. Works without supervision with complete latitude for independent judgment. May mentor less experienced peers and display leadership as needed.

• Biostatistics and Epidemiology
• Real-World Evidence and Observational Research
• Partner engagement: public health agencies, health systems, and academia

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership and Collaboration – 25%

• Lead research projects in collaboration with public health government agencies, hospitals and health systems, and academic institutions
• Translate research findings into new products, services, and features with product and engineering teams, and provide scientific leadership for large scale implementation
• Design, conduct, and evaluate observational studies (e.g., cohort and cross-sectional) using RWE datasets, including administrative and EHR data
• Work with internal and external SMEs to identify research questions that improve quality, safety, and efficiency across the healthcare system

Study Design and Statistical Methodology – 25%

• Serve as a subject matter expert in biostatistics and epidemiology across business domains (Cost, Clinical, MDM, etc.)
• Develop statistical analysis plans and research protocols for studies and strategic initiatives
• Apply advanced statistical methods, including GLMs, GLMMs, GAMs, ZIPs, hypothesis testing, propensity score matching, and IPW, and causal inference methods (e.g., mediation analysis, structural equation modeling) where appropriate, to produce valid and reproducible results
• Generate and test hypotheses and interpret study results for clinical, operational, and policy audiences

Stakeholder Engagement and Research Partnerships – 15%

• Facilitate & lead meetings with public health agencies, health system and hospital partners, academic collaborators, and internal teams to define research questions and requirements
• Analyze partner needs, procedures and problems, design research approaches and make recommendations
• Use clinical, public health, or technical background to interpret partner needs and translate them into clinically meaningful research and products
• Translate research findings into features and requirements that feed product backlogs

Publishing and Presentations – 20%

• Generate peer reviewed publications in high-impact journals as first or lead author, highlighting Premier’s research and innovative methodologies
• Create patent submissions to protect Premier’s intellectual property
• Publicly present innovative work at conferences and symposiums to demonstrate Premier’s thought

Knowledge Sharing - Operations – 10%

• Provide statistical and research methodology advice, demonstrations and presentations to colleagues, client, and management
• Provide mentoring and training

Research Operations – 10%

• On your own or indirectly supervising research teams to:
• Develop project estimates, research timelines, and work plans
• Identify develop, review, and evolve best practices, standards, and processes for rigorous, reproducible research
• Participate in the review of team member analyses and deliverables

Required Qualifications

Work Experience

Years of Applicable Experience - 10 or more years

Education

Doctorate (Required)

Preferred Qualifications

Skills

• Strong business/healthcare analytics, statistics, simulation and advanced mathematics, data search, and matching experience
• Leading collaborative research with government, health system, and academic partners
• Excellent writing and speaking skills
• Technical: R (Tidyverse), Python, and SQL; data modeling

Experience

• Considerable post-doctoral research experience leading observational studies in healthcare, public health, or epidemiology
• Biostatistics, epidemiology, and health outcomes research; machine learning experience a plus
• Strong knowledge of real-world evidence (RWE) datasets, including administrative and EHR data
• Strong track record of applied statistics, including GLMs, GLMMs, GAMs, ZIPs, hypothesis testing, propensity score matching, and inverse probability weighting (IPW)
• Development of statistical analysis plans and leading research projects
• Proven track record publishing in high-impact peer-reviewed journals as first or lead author, with observational study designs (e.g., cohort and cross-sectional), and experience submitting patent applications
• Experience with customer engagement, collaboration, and conflict management
• Experience teaching in a related domain in the university setting
• Causal inference (e.g., mediation analysis, structural equation modeling)
• Experience with Posit and Databricks

Education

• Doctorate (required); terminal degree in statistics, biostatistics, or epidemiology preferred

Additional Job Requirements

• Remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time
• Be adaptive and change priorities quickly; meet deadlines
• Attention to detail
• Operate computer programs and software
• Ability to communicate effectively with audiences in person and in electronic formats.
• Day-to-day contact with others (co-workers and/or the public)
• Making independent decisions
• Ability to work in a collaborative business environment in close quarters with peers and varying interruptions

Working Conditions: Remote

Travel Requirements: Travel 1-20% within the US

Physical Demands: Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves remaining stationary most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if movement is required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Premier’s compensation philosophy is to ensure that compensation is reasonable, equitable, and competitive in order to attract and retain talented and highly skilled employees. Premier’s internal salary range for this role is $141,000 - $234,000. Final salary is dependent upon several market factors including, but not limited to, departmental budgets, internal equity, education, unique skills/experience, and geographic location. Premier utilizes a wide-range salary structure to allow base salary flexibility within our ranges.

Qualified full-time and part-time employees also receive access to the following benefits:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k retirement program
• Paid time off
• Participation in Premier’s employee incentive plans
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities

Premier at a glance

• Granted World’s Most Ethical Companies, Ethisphere, 2008-2026
• Named U.S. News & World Report, Best Companies to Work For (2023, 2024, 2025)
• Accredited by Forbes: America’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2024-2025
• Given Modern Healthcare Best in Business Awards: Consultants- Healthcare Management
• Awarded Cigna Workforce Designation Gold Level Recipient (2016,2017,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2025)

For a listing of all of our awards, please visit the Awards and Recognition section on our company website.

Employees receive

• Perks and discounts
• Access to on-site and online exercise classes

Premier is looking for smart, agile individuals like you to help us transform the healthcare industry. Here you will find critical thinkers who have the freedom to make an impact. Colleagues who share your thirst to learn more and do things better. Teammates committed to improving the health of a nation. See why incredible challenges require incredible people.

Premier is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful discrimination because of their age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, pregnancy status, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, covered military or protected veteran status (e.g., status as a Vietnam Era veteran, disabled veteran, special disabled veteran, Armed Forces Serviced Medal veteran, recently separated veteran, or other protected veteran) disability, or any other applicable federal, state or local protected class, trait or status or that of persons with whom an applicant associates. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Premier complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities, where they apply. EEO / AA / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer.

Personal Information submitted will be processed in accordance with Premier’s Employee and JobApplicant Privacy Notice, which includes additional information about your privacy rights.