Research Associate

Health Federation of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical with vision benefits

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

The Health Federation of Philadelphia is seeking a dynamic Research Associate for its Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention. This role involves managing and analyzing data to inform public health policies. Candidates should have a master's degree or PhD and experience with statistical software such as R, Stata, or SAS.

The position offers a fulltime schedule, competitive salary, and comprehensive benefits, emphasizing a supportive work environment and local collaborations.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in epidemiology, public policy, demography, or related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in public health or social science research.
• Experience in data analysis using statistical software.

Responsibilities

• Review and synthesize existing literature on chronic conditions.
• Manage, clean, analyze, and interpret data.
• Collaborate with academic and policy partners.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistical software (R, Stata, SAS)

Epidemiological research methods

Communication skills

Team orientation

Education

Master's degree or PhD in a related field

Tools

R

Stata

SAS

Job description

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The mission of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable. Within PDPH, the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (aka Get Healthy Philly) works to change policies, systems, and environments to make healthy living an easy choice for residents, with a focus on reducing obesity, smoking, other known risk factors for chronic diseases, and gun violence. The Division is especially concerned about documenting, understanding, and working to reduce disparities in health.

The Public Health Data Lab at Get Healthy Philly conducts innovative research and analysis that directly informs city policy and guides public health decisions. We provide the evidence base to answer questions such as why certain neighborhoods have higher rates of cancer mortality or if restrictions on the sale of certain tobacco products reduce teen vaping in Philadelphia.

Get Healthy Philly’s work is guided by a commitment to all people’s health and humanity, believing that every community has the right to a healthy environment, that public health policy must be based on collaboration and that genuine progress requires respect for people, partners, and staff.

Join us! The Division seeks a skilled and dynamic Research Associate to plan, manage and implement data analytic activities related to its work. The role involves collecting, cleaning, managing data; performing statistical analysis; and summarizing results for scientific, policy-oriented, and public audiences. The Associate will use appropriate data sources to monitor trends, patterns, and changes in risk factors and health outcomes, informing policymakers and the public.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

• Reviews and synthesizes existing literature on chronic conditions and injury prevention
• Develops and fields data collection efforts, including surveys
• Manages, cleans, analyzes, and interprets data
• Performs regular data matches between health-related data sources
• Guides research projects through Institutional Review Board approval
• Collaborates with academic, medical, and policy partners
• Develops new research and data analysis tasks based on the Division’s needs
• Contributes to research and data products including reports, data briefs, charts, presentations, and manuscripts
• Works collaboratively to develop the analysis skills of the entire team
• Contributes to program evaluation planning and the writing of grants
• Contributes to manuscript development for peer‑reviewed journals

Qualifications

Qualifications

• A master’s degree or PhD in epidemiology, public policy, demography, economics, data science, statistics, or a related field
• Two to five years of experience in public health or social science research
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis with statistical software such as R, Stata, or SAS
• OR any equivalent combination of education and experience, including a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum

Desired skills

• Knowledge of and experience with epidemiological or social science research methods, including study design, methodology, and preparation of scientific reports
• Ability to analyze data, write project proposals, and write technical reports
• Ability to summarize findings for a variety of audiences, including scientists, policymakers, and the public
• Interest in using data skills in an applied setting to advance health policy goals
• Strong analytic abilities with statistical software (R, Stata, SAS)
• Experience with interactive data visualization and/or mapping software a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience working with sensitive health information
• Team orientation, ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines, and independent work capability
• Standard office setting with extended periods at workstation and periodic use of office equipment

Position Type and Work Schedule

Fulltime position, typical hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Flex office schedule options available with supervisor approval.

Travel

Frequent local travel between sites to attend meetings; occasional travel outside the city may be required.

Physical Demands

Limited physical demands. The Associate will work primarily in an office setting.

Salary and Benefits

Our employees are highly valued; we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical with vision benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life, AD&D, and long‑term care insurance
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with a company contribution
• Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
• Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation are handled consistent with the plan documents and department policy.

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit:

1. A resume or CV
2. A cover letter that includes:
   1. Your experience with statistical software such as R, Stata or SAS
   2. Your experience in or with Philadelphia, if any
   3. Your past or proposed contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion
3. A writing sample (optional)

Apply through the following link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=32012&clientkey=703E6F23E139A9E15CD4746A9D25637D&jpt=1b79bf1ead1b4f21088d5e9559596326

Job Location

Philadelphia, PA.