Careers in Quality

Summary Description: 

This position supports the organization through research, the development of meaningful data reports and synthesis of information to enable execution of MHM’s mission and progress toward achievement of its vision in advancing health equity. The Senior Public Health Researcher must be knowledgeable about research design, a variety of data sources related to population health and community conditions, and able to compile and report both primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data in a concise and clear format. This position is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and transforming research and data into information that will inform strategy development and execution within the service area. This position requires a strategic thinker who will be tasked with connecting insights to strategy and be a champion for advancing health equity and research. This position will monitor and provide recommendations on the indicators of (vital) community conditions and social determinants of health. This position will frequently collaborate with persons with lived experience, internal departments and external partners, to conduct research, manage research projects, and provide information that will enable data-informed decision making. The Senior Public Health Researcher will be managing multiple projects at once, along with responding to time-sensitive requests from senior leaders and direction from their supervisor. In addition to their assigned duties, this position is expected to fully integrate as a member of MHM, including attending required trainings and company-wide events.

Essential Duties:

• Applies an equity lens to the work, seeks and honors diverse research inputs, challenges biases and stereotypes, analyzes how power and intersectionality impacts different audience/community segments and what that means for creating culturally relevant and respectful strategic recommendations
• Serve as the MHM lead for research internally and externally (external evaluators, research partners, etc.) throughout all phases (design, implementation, analysis, etc.).
• Will monitor, analyze, and interpret external community conditions identified by MHM’s Integrated Impact Team, Strategy & Impact Department, and MHM leadership. Includes maintaining the community conditions dashboard.
• Synthesize data, research, and insights from a variety of sources and functional perspectives to support the alignment and integration of strategic and organizational efforts
• Deliver presentations and present research updates to MHM’s Board of Directors and senior leadership team. Translate processes and findings as needed to a variety of audiences.
• Serve as the organizational research liaison, may serve as the point person to review and fact check materials as an advisor or serve in a supporting capacity. Includes acting as a principal (substantive lead) on projects or provide support on components of projects as requested.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for identifying, recommending, and monitoring community indicators and sources of data.
• Monitor that a study’s methodological procedures are properly followed to ensure data quality.
• Identify, analyze, and promote best practices and guiding principles of research to ensure fidelity to existing models and maximum impact
• Participate in the drafting and/or review of articles and project reports, serving as first author in some cases.
• Collect, analyze, and prepare population level data at various scales (from a residential block to MHM’s service area) for internal projects and data requests that are to be shared with internal and external constituencies 
• Gather, track, and disseminate observations about demographic patterns, strengths, needs, and root causes of health inequities throughout MHM’s service area
• Recommend and develop a dashboard to monitor and report out on MHM’s selected community conditions and indicators.
• Develop regular reports, briefing papers, and information alerts that are data-based, timely, credible, persuasive, and easily understood by a variety of audiences with varying knowledge of subject matters
• Collaborating with stakeholders on design, production, presentation, and refinement of research, project summaries, talking points, and deliverables
• Conduct research on special projects as requested by MHM leadership or the Board of Directors
• Provide analysis and review efficacy of existing and new research (outside of MHM), which may involve the use of quantitative and/or qualitative methods
• Working in collaboration across the organization, as requested, provide research support, guidance, and recommendations to departments ranging from design to data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Will use a community-informed, assets- and place-based lens to gather, analyze, interpret, and report data
• Ensure partners deliver high quality products through the oversight of preparation, negotiation, and execution of research contracts and collaboration agreements. 
• Provide support and guidance to MHM departments and external stakeholders who are engaging persons with lived experience in assessment processes and decision-making to increase long-term impact
• Develop tools and processes to anticipate data requests and be able to assemble and rapidly share data when there are short timelines
• Support efforts to analyze and measure MHM’s impact and influence within the systems in which it operates
• Gain understanding of the market and the impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), vital conditions, and root causes of health and wellbeing
• Provide guidance on developing surveys and research questions to ensure that the data will support decision-making to achieve desired organizational outcomes
• Through coordination with other departments, develop maps to support research, analysis, and dissemination
• Forecast population-level opportunities and barriers and share insights with the Strategy Department and MHM as an organization
• Coordination and development of agendas for meetings and create presentations for internal and external meetings (e.g., board meetings, team strategy sessions, pitch decks, etc.)

• Tracks and coordinates projects, initiatives, and priorities, as needed support  strategic planning and implementation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Master’s level degree in Social/Behavioral sciences, Public Health or related field required. PhD preferred. Five years community development, research, and/or non-profit experience required. Ability to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis required.

Ability to complete projects and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Able to manage a constantly evolving landscape, and shift priorities accordingly. Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment. Knowledge of visualization tools are a plus. Track record of innovative and/or creative systems level thinking.

Must have superior conceptual, analytical, change management, and organizational skills. Must be able to convene, facilitate and coordinate strategic activities that require cross-functions. Must have skills and experience with superior relationship development and influential skills and ability to engage with internal and external constituents.  Willingness to learn new skills

Experience with strategic planning, organizational development and learning, change management, cultural transformation, working with external stakeholders, performing gap assessments and developing plans of action, setting accountabilities and timelines, and monitoring and evaluation processes is highly preferred.

Experience working with underserved populations and/or with specifically addressing disparities that impact health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities is preferred.  

This position requires the ability and experience to interact comfortably and professionally with MHM board members and team members including senior leaders, as well as with senior-level team members of other organizations across sectors. This also includes grassroots organizations, community leaders, and community members, as well as patients and clients.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

None.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Does not supervise staff.

Language Skills:

Strong verbal, organizational and written communication skills. Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or government regulations. Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to explain technical terms to a variety of stakeholders with various levels of understanding. Must be able to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization (diverse audiences). Must be fluent in English; Spanish bilingual is preferred.

Reasoning Ability:

Need to understand processes and work creatively with very different kinds of stakeholders to build consensus. Must have critical thinking skills and be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Must be able to apply good judgement understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Must be able to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

Must be able to demonstrate working knowledge of the Internet, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Must be able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Experience with GIS mapping preferred.

Other:

• Passion to create change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.
• Capacity to adapt rapidly to changing priorities, objectives, and situations.
• Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community.
• Willingness to learn about, research, and champion topics related to health equity.
• Ability to design and implement effective workflow processes and procedures.
• Ability and willingness to take the initiative to work in a changing environment and as part of a team, including taking on tasks at all levels, such as data entry, administrative tasks, and event setup and cleanup.
• Must be able to drive and have access to a vehicle; maintain valid driver’s license and auto liability insurance (travel up to 15%).  Must be able to travel across the 74 counties of MHM’s Service area to meet with community stakeholders and must be willing to travel outside of the service area and the State of Texas to meet with national partners.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position necessitates bending, stooping, twisting, turning, walking, climbing step stools, sitting and standing for periods of time. Must be able to lift and maneuver at least 25 pounds.

This position may require travel outside of San Antonio up to 15% of the time.