MDRC is seeking an expert in health policy to help develop, implement, and evaluate innovative health and behavioral health interventions for low-income populations. The position will be based in MDRC’s
Welfare and Barriers to Employment policy area but will also involve collaborations with MDRC’s other policy areas.
Responsibilities:
For its growing work related to health care, MDRC is seeking candidates with expertise in the design and implementation of health and behavioral health policies and programs intended to improve health and other life outcomes. The interventions MDRC will study are likely to be funded primarily by Medicaid or Medicare and are likely to include working-age adults with chronic and multiple health conditions, serious mental and physical disabilities, and barriers to accessing quality care. The position will allow the successful candidate to:
- Work with a team of quantitative and qualitative researchers, practitioners, program administrators, and technical assistance intermediaries to develop and design new demonstration projects to rigorously test promising health initiatives for disadvantaged populations, such as welfare recipients and those with disabilities;
- Provide technical assistance and program-related support to local program staff — including administrators and front-line providers — in national demonstration projects;
- Discuss research methods with local officials and work with them to design and implement studies that answer key policy questions;
- Play a lead role in field research aimed at understanding how health-related interventions operate; and
- Write reports and papers and disseminate findings to policymakers, practitioners, and the broader research communities (e.g., public and health policy and social science disciplines).
Qualifications:
Prospective candidates should possess some combination of the following qualifications:
- A Ph.D. in public policy, health policy, or social science or a master’s degree with extensive demonstrated research experience.
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the health policy or research field, preferably with a focus on the health needs of low-income populations.
- Extensive expertise in the policies and operations of the primary public health insurance programs (Medicare and Medicaid).
- Expertise in disability-related policies, particularly Social Security Administration benefits.
- Extensive expertise in the health needs of disadvantaged populations, especially health-related employment barriers for low-income populations.
- Expertise in the etiology or treatment of chronic health conditions, such as depression, diabetes, obesity, and asthma.
- Expertise in quantitative or qualitative research methods.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently, to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to meet deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with and relate to program staff, researchers, policymakers, and funders.
The successful candidate may choose to be based in either MDRC’s New York City office or Oakland office. Regular travel to study sites and to meetings with other researchers and project funders will be required.
To apply:
Please send, fax, or email resume, cover letter, and the names of two references to:
Human Resources Department
Research Associate — Health Policy [2007-49]
MDRC
16 East 34th Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Fax: (212) 532-8453
Email:
jobs@mdrc.org
