Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s (+4 years relevant experience) or master’s degree (+ 2 years relevant experience) in public health, public policy, sociology, economics, or related field
• At least 2 years of experience with at least one major statistical software package (SPSS, Stata, SAS, or R), with a preference for SAS or Stata.
• At least 2 years of experience with the acquisition, manipulation, use, and management of secondary data sources.
• Experience with data cleaning and creating variables, including consistency and logistic checks, in secondary datasets.
• Experience with creating data visualizations.
• Commitment to advancing health equity and justice in health care.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team.
• Experience communicating updates on time-sensitive tasks with teams/supervisors.
• Experience working on projects or in environments that require excellent organization skills and the ability to manage multiple streams of work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with audiences from various disciplines, communities, and cultures.
• Experience working in a maternal and child health-related field.
• Experience constructing longitudinal datasets from secondary data sources.
• Experience creating maps in GIS.
• Experience in data analyses, including descriptive statistics and some experience in or knowledge about more complex analyses (regressions, longitudinal, survey weighted, summary datasets, casual, pre-post design, etc.)
• Experience participating in or leading research projects in public health or health services research
• Demonstrated interest in advancing health equity; improving maternal and infant health outcomes; advancing health for rural people; informing health policy through research

The School of Public Health division of Health Policy and Management is seeking applications for a full-time Data Analyst (8352R4, Researcher 4) to join the Rural Health Research Center (RHRC).

The School of Public Health (SPH) is committed to antiracism and anti-oppression and welcomes you to join us in our pursuit of building equity and driving justice. We particularly encourage applications from those who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in our School, including those who are American Indian, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, veterans, and those from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Starting Salary Range: $65-70,000 annually, dependent upon the selected candidate’s relevant qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Work Arrangements: The University of Minnesota endorses a “Work. With Flexibility.” and we offer a flexible work environment that meets the needs of our students, faculty, staff, and partners we serve. This position has the option to work remotely. Work arrangements will be discussed during the interview. Onsite location: Rural Health Research Center, 2221 University Ave. SE, Suite 350, Minneapolis TC Campus - East-bank

POSITION SUMMARY:
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a research team member for projects that are a part of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, with a focus on maternal and child health care research. This position will collaborate on a variety of research/evaluation, technical assistance, and monitoring projects that are national in scope.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
This position has three essential functions: 1) data acquisition and management; 2) data analysis and visualization support; 3) research writing and support.

Specific responsibilities include:

Data management – 50%

Support database creation and management in collaboration with the principal investigator and project leads, including the following tasks:

• Data acquisition and management: identify, acquire, and manage secondary data sets used to create database in SAS. Examples of secondary data sets include the American Hospital
• Association Annual Survey, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider of Services File, Hospital Cost Report Information System, Area Health Resources Files, County
• Health Rankings, and American Community Survey.
• Data linkage processes: manage the process of merging and manipulating various data sources to create a single usable database on maternity care access
• Preparation of health care access and covariate indicators: construct new variable measures through appropriate data transformations and linkages and create documentation describing the processes and data organization.
• Document and perform data quality checks and resolve comparability issues: review data and documentation to ensure differences are being addressed appropriately and are clearly documented; conduct logic checks, including identifying and resolving missing data issues, review finalized data and documentation
• Variable documentation: summarize key information about each variable in a clear, usable format, including notes for analytic consideration relevant to each variable

Data analysis and visualization – 40%

Support data analysis and development of data visualizations, including the following tasks:

• Conduct descriptive analytics and create frequency tables of key indicators related to maternity care, rural health, health equity and public health
• Conduct quantitative data analyses, including descriptive statistics, time trends, and causal analyses (with support and supervision)
• Assist with creating annual reports using SAS or Stata and GIS, including development of national and state maps reporting county-level information on access and distance to care, data tables and figures
• Create downloadable data tables with documentation on maternity care access that can be used to support public health projects on this topic

Research writing and support – 10%

Support principal investigator, research project leads, and team members to clearly summarize and communicate research findings, including the following tasks:

• Collaborate in writing policy briefs, reports, data analysis summaries, and peer-reviewed publications, and making presentations at professional conferences and meetings
• Attend (virtual) weekly meeting with your supervisor (principal investigator/project lead) and/or with the research team
• Attend (virtual) month meetings with the larger research team and provide project updates

At the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center (RHRC), we conduct policy-relevant research to improve the lives of rural residents and families, to advance health equity, and to enhance the vitality of rural communities. We have a long history of rigorous research in rural health, and our funding comes from a cooperative agreement with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). We study access to and quality of rural health care and rural population health outcomes in order to build the evidence base for policymaking. Our work maintains a focus on eliminating inequities based on geography, race, gender, nationality, age, and ability. We are committed to the highest standards of excellence in research and to communicating results to academic and policy audiences as well as to the people and communities to which our research pertains. Research and scholarship efforts are national in scope and involve a wide array of contacts and collaborations with community and University partners across the country.

Please note: At this time, the University’s employment site is limited in how it collects applicant demographic information. Applicants are encouraged to provide their pronouns and/or preferred name within their attached application materials.

Please detail in your cover letter your experiences with data, including relevant courses, internships, and jobs.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).