Sr. Public Health Researcher

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.

Responsibilities

• 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

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.

Application Process

To apply please visit our careers page on our website, www.mhm.org , or

Click here to apply

Date Posted

05/05/2023

About the Organization

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for uninsured and low-income families through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas.

Building partnerships through collaboration is a key objective of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ mission. Using an asset-based and client-centered approach, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ community engagement efforts seek to champion and empower the community voice. With a focus on developing long-lasting, trusting relationships, Methodist Healthcare Ministries connects communities to identify health issues and design collaborative, community-driven solutions. Methodist Healthcare Ministries takes a community-wide, or regional, approach to health improvement with intentional investments in each region—a strategy Methodist Healthcare Ministries refers to as regionalization. Through community engagement, Methodist Healthcare Ministries works to infuse health equity principles by highlighting the social determinants of health—the unique social and physical conditions in which community members live, learn, work, play and pray—that are present in its service region to improve health for all.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries also works with similarly focused organizations and state government in developing more socially conscious public policy. The purpose is to change legislative perspectives and policies so that the root of the problems of the underserved is addressed for the long term.

The mission of Methodist Healthcare Ministries is: “Serving Humanity to Honor God”

This mission includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System – the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed, and it provides revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs.

Contact

Brittani Dmitriev <Bdmitriev@mhm.org>
No Phone Calls Please