Research and Data Associate-GIS Analyst

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services.  Health equity is at the heart of all our work. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

Who we are: The Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP), within the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), works to make healthy living more accessible for residents. We recognize that health is shaped by structural factors including systemic racism and other social, economic, and political forces; thus, we work to change systems, policies, and environments to improve health. We take a data driven approach to program and policy design, looking to evidence-based solutions when possible and contributing to building that evidence base with our own research. Chronic disease focus areas include preventing disease related to tobacco use, poor nutritional environments, lack of physical activity opportunities, and other known risk factors. Our injury prevention work focuses on the gun violence crisis in Philadelphia. We work collaboratively with partners across the City to advance these goals. CDIP’s work focuses on identifying and addressing health disparities in the City and is guided by a commitment to health justice.

Our values: At CDIP, we value health justice. Our work is guided by a commitment to all people’s health and humanity. We believe:

  • All people have the right to live to their fullest potential.
  • All communities have the right to create environments that allow them to grow and thrive. 
  • Public health policy will be developed in full partnership with the community.
  • Knowledge comes in many forms and many places in our society.
  • Progress only happens when we treat people, communities, partners, and staff with care and respect.

Join us! We are seeking a skilled and dynamic Research and Data Associate - GIS Analyst with experience in public health data analysis and research. Candidates should have experience with GIS mapping and quantitative research and have strong communication and technical writing skills.

The Research and Data Associate - GIS Analyst will work with the Director of Research and Evaluation and other staff to plan, manage, and implement data and geospatial analytic activities across a variety of CDIP program areas, including those related to primary care access, tobacco control, gun violence prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and the built environment. The employee in this position is responsible for managing all aspects related to geographic data management and map production for the division. The person in this role will also conduct data analysis, research, and evaluation activities that are not solely geospatial in nature. Tasks include data collection, cleaning, management, and presentation; developing research questions; performing statistical analysis; reporting and summarizing findings in clear and concise written and oral reports; and collaborating with other team members and partners on research and evaluation activities. The Associate will use appropriate data sources to monitor trends, patterns, and changes in risk factors and health outcomes. Factors of interest include: the environments in which people live, work, play and receive medical care; demographic and other social determinants; health behaviors of individuals; and the policy environment. While academic journal publications are encouraged, the primary purpose of our work is to inform and advise our programs, policymakers, and the public.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Manage, clean, analyze, and visualize geospatial data, including Census data, administrative data, survey data, hospitalization data, and internal research and evaluation project data.
  • Maintain an internal GIS data hub for the division.
  • Manage geospatial layers that are maintained by the division and play an important role in policy and programs, including maps of farmers markets and tobacco free school zones.
  • Create maps and other data products and respond to data requests. Responding to data requests may include conducting background research and analysis to support new research questions, policy positions, and interventions.
  • Contribute to division research, data, and evaluation needs that are not geospatial in nature.
  • Work with a team to perform all aspects of the research process for research and evaluation projects, including literature reviews, designing research questions, constructing research instruments, data collection, data entry and preparation, data analysis, statistical analysis, and reporting of research findings.
  • Communicate research findings in the forms of tables and graphs, reports, data briefs, presentations, and manuscripts. The Research and Data Associate should be able to report findings to a variety of audiences.
  • Work with external partners on research and evaluation projects.
  • Participate in division meetings related to policy and programming and advise on the use of data to inform those efforts.
  • With a team, develop new research and data analysis tasks based on CDIP’s needs.

Qualifications

  • A master’s degree with a focus in social science research methods such as epidemiology, public health, demography, data science, economics, or a related field.
  • Two or more years of experience in public health or social science research (can include experience during school).
  • Demonstrated experience in data analysis with mapping software such as ArcGIS (preferred) and statistical software such as R (preferred), Stata, or SAS.

OR

  • Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health which has included a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum.

Desired Skills and Experience

  • Knowledge of and experience with epidemiology or social science research methods, including study design, methodology, and preparation of scientific reports.
  • Strong mapping abilities using software (e.g., ArcGIS, Leaflet)
  • Ability to summarize findings for a variety of audiences, e.g. scientists, policy makers, and the public.
  • Interest in using data skills in an applied setting to advance health policy goals.
  • Analytic abilities with statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS).
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Able to work on a team, prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines, work independently, take initiative, and follow projects through to completion.
  • Experience with interactive data visualization (e.g. Tableau, Shiny) a plus.
  • Experience with REDCap a plus.

Work Environment:

Standard office setting with extended periods at workstation and periodic use of office equipment. Staff are expected to come into the office; based on conversations with supervisor, a combination of in-office and remote work may be allowed per City and Department policy, currently up to 60% (3 of 5 days) remote.

Position Type and Work Schedule:  Full time position, typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Travel:  Some local travel between sites to attend meetings.

Physical Demands:  Limited physical demands. Associate will work primarily in an office setting.

Salary and Benefits:  Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:

  • Medical with vision benefits
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Life, AD&D and long term care insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution
  • Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
  • Employee Assistance Program

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit:

  1. A resume or CV
  2. A cover letter that includes:
    1. Your experience with statistical software such as R, SAS or Stata,
    2. Your experience with mapping software such as ArcGIS,
    3. Your experience in or with Philadelphia, if any, and
    4. Your past or proposed contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  3. A writing sample (optional)

We are dedicated to building a staff that reflects the diversity of Philadelphia. We will prioritize applications from individuals who identify with one or more of the following groups:

a) People of color,

b) Individuals with disabilities,

c) LGBTQ+,

d) First-generation college students, and/or

e) Individuals from a family that has qualified for federal financial assistance.

Applicants who are originally from and live in the Philadelphia area are strongly encouraged to apply.