Research & Evaluation Consultant

University of Massachusetts Medical School; Westborough (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Medical School's ForHealth Consulting unit seeks a Research & Evaluation Consultant to lead evaluation and research projects. You will work with clients and funders to define questions, design robust studies, monitor project quality, and summarize findings for journals, reports, and presentations.

A PhD in health policy, public health, epidemiology, economics, sociology, or related field is required, with post-doctoral experience preferred.

Qualifications

• PhD in health policy, public health, epidemiology, economics, sociology, or related field or equivalent.
• 1+ year post-doctoral research/evaluation experience required.
• Experience with program evaluation methods and dissemination to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage program evaluation & research projects focusing on health and social programs.
• Provide scientific direction to evaluation projects and analytic staff.
• Identify funding opportunities and contribute to proposal development.
• Develop budgets and manage financial aspects of projects.
• Disseminate findings through client presentations, publications, webinars.
• Support development of R&E staff and strategic planning.
• Provide methodological support to other units.

Skills

Program evaluation

Quantitative methods

Qualitative methods

Dissemination of findings

Meetings facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Budgeting knowledge

Data security & privacy

Education

PhD in health policy/public health/economics/epidemiology or related field

Tools

SAS

SPSS

Atlas.ti

MS Office

Job description

Overview

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Research and Evaluation (or designee), the Research & Evaluation Consultant is responsible for directing and managing a range of program evaluation and research activities within the Research and Evaluation (R&E) Unit of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School. This incumbent will develop/lead evaluation/research projects with existing or new clients, work with clients/funders to define evaluation/research questions, conceptualize and implement research/evaluation design, and summarize and disseminate findings of evaluation/research projects.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the design and implementation of program evaluation and research projects, with a focus on health and social programs/services for vulnerable population. Responsibilities include identifying potential projects, directing the design of scientifically sound project plans, monitoring the quality of project implementation, summarizing the results for a variety of audiences including peer-reviewed journals and presentations.
• Provides scientific direction to R&E projects/tasks and analytic staff on specific evaluation/research activities.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities and potential funding sources (grants, contracts, etc.) and leads/supports the development of new program evaluation/research projects or tasks within R&E focus areas (e.g., lead/contributes to proposal writing or capture planning).
• Works with R&E business staff to develop budgets and manage administrative and financial aspects of specific projects.
• Participate, as appropriate, in dissemination and eminence building activities (e.g., client presentations, conference presentation, publications, site visits).
• Supports professional development of R&E staff.
• Contributes to the development of strategic planning and works with R&E, PPHS, and CWM leadership to implement this strategic vision.
• Provides methodological support to evaluation/research activities in other CWM business units.
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATIONPh.D in health policy, public health, epidemiology, economics, sociology, or evaluation or related field or equivalent education/experience and at least 1 year of post-doctoral research/evaluation experience required (or equivalent).

REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCEDemonstrated record of using a variety of program evaluation/research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods)Demonstrated track record in disseminating evaluation/research findings to various audiences through publications, presentations, policy briefs, webinars and other mechanismsExperience working with or extensive knowledge of public programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social SecurityAbility to facilitate meetings and establish productive, professional relationships with executive management, government officials, and private contractorsDemonstrated experience in computer based analytic tools (e.g. SAS, SPSS, Atlas ti), as well as MS Office suiteUnderstanding of policies and procedures related to data security and privacyCommunication and presentation skills, both oral and written, and ability to collaborate effectively with other researchers, staff, clients and external partnersDemonstrated management skills and general knowledge in budgeting