Senior Research Associate

The Oregon Pediatric Improvement Partnership (OPIP) supports a meaningful, long-term collaboration of stakeholders invested in child health care quality, with the common purpose of improving the health of the children and youth of Oregon. OPIP staff and projects are focusing on building health and improving outcomes for children and youth by:

1. Collaborating in quality measurement and improvement activities.
2. Supporting evidence-guided quality activities.
3. Incorporating the patient and family voice into quality efforts.
4. Informing policies that support optimal health and development.

This position is under the supervision of the Director of the Oregon Pediatric Improvement Partnership (OPIP), with close direction from OPIP's Senior Staff (Medical Director, Facilitation and Improvement Manager)

A mission focused organization; this position will play a critical role in OPIPs novel and innovative projects focused on population- and community-based approaches to improving care for children. This is a fast paced environment and is leading innovative and transformative work on topic areas including complex care management, building health and resilience for children with social complexity, and early childhood development.

The program and project work will support the mission, goals and objectives of OPIP, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and OHSU. This position will be part of the leadership team focused on supporting policymakers, health system leaders, and clinical providers in improving care for children and youth with health complexity. The work requires passion and commitment to improve care for children and deep understanding of how population data can be used to guide and inform system-level improvement efforts that address policies at the state, system and practice level. This work also requires an understanding of how to lead population-based improvement efforts focused on children and methods by which to stimulate and support collective action in a community.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Project Management and Lead Implementation Support of Community and Population-based Improvement Efforts. Support the principal investigator (PI) and senior leadership team to manage and assure specific project goals are met and to provide Sr. Level leadership and oversight of implementation. Work in collaboration with SR Leadership team on project and / or research implementation protocols creating management and project timelines for projects focused on improving health care quality. Responsible for oversight of day-to-day management and coordination with external partners in specific regions such as health systems leaders in OHA (coordinated care organizations). Provide oversight and guidance to junior staff working with clinical providers implementing improvement efforts. Responsible for updating some project funders via ongoing communication and drafting interim/final grant reports and meeting with Sr. Level leaders to share findings. Responsible for IRB submissions and updates.
• Lead efforts with CCOs and Population Program Managers on use of the health complexity data to inform population based improvement efforts including, but not limited to, care coordination programs and partnership efforts with clinical providers. Provide senior level support to the OPIP and OHA team to ensure the child health complexity data is released in an way that is meaningful, relevant and actionable.
• Support facilitation of OHA and state policy makers on use of the health complexity data and facilitation of meetings with statewide stakeholders on systems and processes that can better address the needs of children across the state. Includes supporting strategic meetings with policymakers, assistance in designing and facilitating meetings of specialty care stakeholders, and writing strategic summaries of the findings to inform next steps.
• As a member of the team, provide general program assistance to the OPIP Leadership team on OPIP's mission and vision. Includes tasks related to the organization development of OPIP, presentations at key advisory and steering committees.
• Provide direction and supervision supports to junior OPIP staff on projects for which this position has specialized expertise and knowledge.

• Doctorate degree in public health or health services management, health care policy analysis or related field. OR Masters degree in public health or health services management, health care policy analysis or related field and 5 years of relevant experience as research associate or equivalent with demonstrated experience in health care quality improvement. Successful in the day-to-day execution of project protocols and supervision of junior staff and external partners in implementing complex work plans within the context of a multi-disciplinary study team OR Bachelors degree in public health or health services management, health care policy analysis or related field and 9 years of relevant experience as research associate or equivalent with demonstrated experience in health care quality improvement. Successful in the day-to-day execution of project protocols and supervision of junior staff and external partners in implementing complex work plans within the context of a multi-disciplinary study team
• Working knowledge of basic QI methodology, including PDSA cycles, breakthrough collaborative models, and analyzing practice workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively participate in multiple research projects simultaneously and excellent creativity and attention to conceptual clarity, logistical detail and both factual and data analysis accuracy.
• Demonstrated skill in engaging and working with external academic and policy experts as well as consumer advocacy, health care plan and physician practice leaders.
• Sophisticated knowledge of public and private sector health care services organization and financing and related federal and state agencies pertinent to child and adolescent health care and care for adults with chronic illness.
• Knowledge using population based data based on claims, medical chart, and other services use.
• Successful in ensuring PI input and approval of all aspects of the day to day operation of projects that impact research quality and/or the timely completion of work.
• Understanding of how todraft interim and final grant reports to funders.
• Presenting research results to external national research and policy audiences.
• Ability to work in a computerized work environment, including high proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (WORD, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as use of graphics software such as Visio.

• PhD in public health or health services management, health care policy analysis or related field.
• At least seven years research experience specific to health care quality improvement and measurement, communications and improvement methods with emphasis on performance measurement design, testing and application to population-based instruments, State Medicaid/CHIP agencies and with front-line health care providers.
• Specific experience in working with primary care practices and in implementing quality improvement projects in these settings.
• Knowledge and experience with the concepts of Medical Home and care coordination.
• Knowledge and experience with health plan and state Medicaid agency encounter and enrollment data.
• Outstanding conceptual and interpersonal skills and ability to write and communicate effectively to both scientific/technical audiences, as well as to lay audiences and consumers of health care.
• Excellent management, interpersonal and administrative skills for assisting in the day-to-day operation of complex and multiple projects.
• Outstanding knowledge and at least 3 years of experience working with and supervising staff using population based data based on claims, medical chart, and other services.
• Successful in leading population and community-based improvement efforts.
• Deep experience with child health population health data.
• Understanding of adverse childhood events.
• Experience with community based improvement efforts.
• Experience with collective action models of improvement.
• Experience facilitating health system leaders, practices, and other entities.

Upload cover letter and CV/resume.

Software Powered by iCIMS
www.icims.com