Qualitative Research and Policy Specialist - Research Scientist 3

Minnesota Department of Human Services; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Minnesota Department of Human Services seeks a Qualitative Research and Policy Specialist to lead expert-level qualitative work across the Office of the Medicaid Medical Director. You will design, code, and analyze data from listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys, turning insights into actionable policy changes.

The role requires rigorous documentation of methods and findings, development of qualitative infrastructure, and collaboration with cross‑functional teams to support health equity

Qualifications

• 3+ years of qualitative or mixed-methods research leadership.
• Experience designing qualitative data collection and consent tools; IRB processes and data management.
• Ability to translate qualitative findings into policy recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end qualitative research across OMMD portfolio.
• Design studies, develop codebooks, code data, construct themes, and interpret findings.

Skills

Qualitative research

IRB protocols

Data coding

Theme development

Policy translation

Qualitative methods

NVivo/ATLAS.ti

Mixed-methods

Education

Master's degree in public health or related field

Doctoral degree (preferred)

Tools

NVivo

ATLAS.ti

Dedoose/MAXQDA

Job description

• Telework Eligible: Yes

Working Title: Qualitative Research and Policy Specialist

Job Class: Research Scientist 3

Agency: Human Services Dept

• Job ID: 98119
• Location: St. Paul
• Telework Eligible: Yes
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 10/30/2026
• Closing Date: 11/19/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office
• Division/Unit: Health Care Administration / Office of Medicaid Medical Director
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift / 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Professional
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position is eligible for telework for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.

This position provides expert‑level qualitative research, methodological design, and policy translation across the Office of the Medicaid Medical Director (OMMD), which works across four domains: Clinical Integration and Innovation, Advancing Health Equity, Community Engagement, and Research and Analytics. This work spans OMMD’s portfolio, from integrated care models and health equity analyses to shared governance structures such as the MAC/BAC and the implementation of federal changes to Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, including H.R. 1. Ultimately, the goal of this position is to bring increased rigor to how OMMD listens to communities and providers, turning input from listening sessions, focus groups, co‑design processes, and surveys into findings that can withstand scrutiny and drive actionable policy change. This position leads qualitative work across the team from start to finish, including study design, codebook development and refinement, coding, theme construction and analysis, integration with claims and administrative data, and writing for legislative reports, federal deliverables, and peer‑reviewed publications. This position also builds the qualitative capacity across OMMD and DHS by setting methodological standards, directing and reviewing the analytic work of others, and developing qualitative data infrastructure.

Minimum Qualifications

Three (3) years of research experience leading qualitative or mixed‑methods research.

Experience must demonstrate:

• Leading the full qualitative analysis process, including designing qualitative data collection and informed consent tools, completing IRB review protocols, collecting qualitative data through focus groups, interviews, open‑ended survey items, observations, and document analysis, developing and refining a codebook, coding data using deductive, inductive, or hybrid approaches, constructing themes, and interpreting findings in relation to the research questions.
• Ensuring the trustworthiness of qualitative findings through methodologically appropriate practices such as reflexivity, consensus coding, peer debriefing, triangulation, member reflection, and audit trails.
• Writing qualitative methods and findings sections that clearly document the analytic approach, reflexivity, and trustworthiness practices and present themes supported by participant data, in products such as peer‑reviewed manuscripts or formal research or evaluation reports.
• Using qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti, Dedoose, MAXQDA) to manage, code, and analyze data, including memoing, queries, and maintaining an audit trail.
• Applying research ethics and data privacy requirements to qualitative data, including informed consent, confidentiality in group settings, and de‑identification of transcripts and quotes, consistent with requirements such as IRB processes, HIPAA, or the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

***A master’s degree in public health, public policy, social work, sociology, evaluation, or a related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience; a doctoral degree may substitute for two (2) years.***

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or doctoral candidacy with substantial training in qualitative research methods
• First-author or lead-author peer‑reviewed publications using qualitative or mixed‑methods designs
• Experience training, mentoring, or directing others in qualitative analysis, including reviewing coding and interpretation for rigor
• Experience building qualitative research infrastructure that others can sustain and reuse, such as protocols, codebooks, methodological standards, or methods libraries
• Experience integrating qualitative findings with quantitative, survey, claims, enrollment, or administrative data in mixed‑methods designs
• Experience with NVivo, including setting up and managing team‑based coding projects
• Experience leading multiple qualitative studies at once across different topics, populations, or program areas
• Experience conducting qualitative research with health care providers or clinical partners, as well as with community members
• Experience with community‑based participatory research, co‑design, or other community‑engaged research that centers lived experience and shared authority with communities
• Experience with trauma‑informed and culturally responsive approaches to qualitative data collection, including attention to power dynamics between public agencies and community participants
• Knowledge of Tribal consultation and Indigenous data sovereignty principles
• Knowledge of Minnesota Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, state and federal co‑administration of Medicaid, or federal Medicaid policy changes such as H.R. 1
• Experience translating qualitative findings into policy recommendations and authoring legislative reports, equity reviews, or federal deliverables
• Skill in writing in plain language and in conceptualizing visual summaries of qualitative findings for executive, legislative, and public audiences
• Experience presenting and defending qualitative methods to technical, non‑technical, Tribal, and federal audiences
• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures, including communities historically harmed by public systems

Additional Requirements

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS - The Department of Human Services will conduct reference checks to verify job‑related credentials and criminal background check prior to appointment.

About Human Services Dept

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE! The Minnesota Department of Human Services impacts the lives of 1.7 million people every year, helping them meet their basic needs so they can achieve their highest potential.

Working together to improve the state we love. What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

• A sense of purpose in their work
• Connection with their coworkers and communities
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
  • Fertility care, including IVF
  • Diabetes care
  • Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well‑being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

• Training, classes, and professional development
• Tuition reimbursement
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

• A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well‑being, or job performance
• Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran‑friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants With Disabilities

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email [e-mail] and let us know the support you need.