Sponsor Funded Professional - Research Associate I

Research Associate I

Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Wellbeing

Georgia Health Policy Center

Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Georgia State University

At the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC), we approach our work with a passion for being excellent, to positively impact people's lives, and to find creative and innovative ways to learn and fulfill our goals. We are growing and we are thrilled that you are interested in being a part of our team. We are surrounded by individuals empowered to use their expertise and talents to achieve our mission to integrate research, policy, and programs to advance health and well-being.

Are you ready for us? Are you seeking an opportunity with purpose and direction? If you are, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We hire great people from a wide variety of educational, career, and personal backgrounds, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes us a stronger team.

GHPC is seeking a research associate I (RA I) for training, technical assistance, and evaluation to join the already awesome team and take the GHPC to the next level of excellence and global achievements!

WHAT MAKES GHPC A GREAT PLACE?

• A knowledge-sharing organization that collaborates with diverse partners.
• A flexible work environment.
• Professional development opportunities and mentorship.
• Competitive base salary.
• Generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, tuition assistance, retirement, etc.
• A rapidly growing center within an academic setting.

The center's current scope of work includes behavioral health, health & health care financing, health in all policies, health systems transformation, long-term services & support, maternal health & child well-being, population & global health, and rural health. The center conducts, analyzes, and disseminates qualitative and quantitative research to connect decision-makers with the objective research and guidance needed to make informed decisions about health policy and programs. The center is at work locally, nationally, and internationally with public and private partners to improve health and well-being.

ABOUT THIS POSITION

The RA I is a contributing member of multiple research projects, evaluation, technical assistance, policy development, and programmatic teams. The RA I will provide research and project support that contributes to a scientifically sound background for center activities. This position will work primarily on projects within the portfolio focusing on Georgia Youth at Risk for Psychosis within the Center of Excellence for Children's Behavioral Health, including evaluating and supporting program implementation, facilitating focus groups, collecting data from external partners, and other administrative duties. In addition, the RA I will coordinate special projects as assigned by senior staff, facilitate meetings, and assist in the preparation, coordination, and dissemination of various GHPC research-related materials on mental health services for children and youth. This is an Atlanta-based position.

Current projects in the Georgia Youth at Risk for Psychosis portfolio involve data collection, and providing program implementation support, monitoring, evaluation, and training and technical assistance for partnering Mental Health Resiliency Clubhouses and their affiliated community service board outpatient centers that are supporting the screening, assessment, and intervention for youth at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P).

HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Serve as project support staff by providing administrative and research assistance to existing contracts and grants.
• Serve as a team member who designs and conducts quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation to address health-related problems and publishes results in professional conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
• Draft reports, abstracts, briefing papers, literature reviews, presentations, and other research-related communications.
• Submit Institutional Review Board applications and maintain approval.
• Conduct desk reviews, environmental scans, community mapping, and other exploratory and information-gathering methods.
• Facilitate group meetings using design strategies that ensure meeting goals and objectives are met.
• Coordinate special projects assigned by senior staff.
• Assist senior staff in identifying and responding to new research and funding opportunities.
• Provide data-informed technical assistance to partners to support decision-making, capacity-building, and sustainability at the practice, programming, and policy levels.
• Assist with administrative and other duties assigned as the job necessitates.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO MAKE YOU SHINE

• Qualitative and quantitative analytic skills.
• Writing and reporting skills, including formatting.
• Presentation skills
• Group facilitation skills
• Networking skills and aptitude for representing GHPC with local, state, and national organizations.
• Demonstrated participatory and team-oriented style of interaction.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation techniques, methodologies, equipment, processes, and procedures.
• Skills and experience with data collection, such as conducting interviews and focus groups.
• Knowledge of automated systems and software (spreadsheets, databases, word processors, presentations, analysis software [e.g., NVivo, SPSS, SAS], and survey software [e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey]).
• Ability to multitask, pay attention to detail, and exhibit excellent customer service abilities.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Innovative mindset.
• Effective oral and verbal communication with external and internal customers.

DO YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE IN ANY OF THESE AREAS?

• Mental health services for children and youth.
• Substance use disorders.
• Behavioral health and developmental disabilities.
• Child and adolescent mental health.
• LGBTQ health.
• Implementation science.
• System of Care.
• Health and racial equity.
• Social determinants of health.
• Administrative claims data use.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree and two years of related experience; or a combination of education and related experience.

Preferred Hiring Qualifications:

• The candidate is expected to know general health policy and qualitative and quantitative research.
• Experience in survey administration, data analysis of multiple data sources, and working with a variety of state and community partners is strongly desired.
• The candidate must also demonstrate proficient verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional working proficiency in English is a requirement.
• Proficiency in Spanish.