PROFESSIONAL POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Research Associate II: Population Health and Health Policy (PHHP)
Division: Muskie School of Public Service
Department: Cutler Institute for Health & Social Policy
Location: Portland
Schedule: Full-time/Flexible
Reports to: Senior Research Associate
STATEMENT OF THE JOB: The primary purpose of this grant-funded position is to develop and
direct large and complex or methodologically-demanding health services research and
evaluation projects related to health care quality measurement, substance use/abuse and
behavioral health. The Research Associate participates as a senior member of a collaborative
team of Muskie School/ USM faculty and staff and other state stakeholders to develop a health
care measurement and substance/behavioral health research portfolio including proposal
development and securing funding to support this work. The Associate serves as Principal
Investigator or Project Director on state and national projects with responsibility for design and
execution of methodological and analytic research plans, training and supervision of project
staff, managing workplans and budgets, writing project reports, preparing and presenting
project results at state and national conferences, and preparing scholarly publications. The
Associate also helps build capacity of allied research staff in program evaluation methodologies.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Research and Evaluation
1. Works with a collaborative team of state and local public health leaders and
University faculty and staff to jointly identify priority health care quality
measurement, substance use/abuse and behavioral health research and evaluation
needs.
2. Assesses the capacity of the University to develop and carry out large, complex
quantitative research and evaluation projects and works with the team to identify
and implement capacity-building strategies.
3. Helps coordinate currently funded health care quality, and substance
abuse/behavioral health research and evaluation initiatives across the University.
4. Provides technical support to research and evaluation teams in the development of
new research and evaluation projects.
5. Identifies and cultivates relationships with collaborators, funders and audiences.
6. Assists with developing and implementing public health workforce educational
offerings, including but not limited to, mentoring graduate students, teaching
public health elective courses and continuing professional education.

Proposal/Project Development and Design
1. Identifies strategic research, evaluation, and policy analyses opportunities in target
areas and conceptualizes project topics and methods.
2. Frames policy and practice relevant research goals and objectives to external
funding entities.
3. Assures appropriateness of research design and secondary data to topics.
4. Directs proposal development process for complex proposals; delegates sections,
monitors time lines, develops budgets, drafts and edits narratives, oversees
submission from collaborators, assures submission of proposal on time.
5. Writes methodological and analytic sections of proposals.
6. Negotiates with funders and collaborators on required revisions to proposals.

Data Collection and Analysis
1. Conceptualizes and designs data collection and analyses plans, including complex
multivariate models involving longitudinal or hierarchical data.
2. Negotiates data use agreements.
3. Applies appropriate econometric and/or biostatistical analytic methods, including
statistical and model diagnostics, in consultation with statistical experts.
4. Provides training and technical assistance to staff and others on quantitative file
construction, analytic techniques and data presentation.
5. Assures integrity of informed consent protocols.
6. Designs sampling strategy for surveys and qualitative studies/projects.
7. Conducts sensitive and complex key informant interviews.
8. Assures integrity of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
9. Interprets results from quantitative and qualitative data.
10. Analyzes and evaluates policy implications from findings.

Project Management
1. Acts as principal investigator or project director on large and analytically complex
projects: supervises and coordinates day-to-day project activity, directs staff,
manages budget, monitors work plan, and revises as necessary to assure that project
activity is completed on time and within budget.
2. Negotiates and implements changes to work plan with staff and collaborators.
3. Monitors the integrity of project activities and products.
4. Provides assistance to state and regional agencies and staff on issues related to
project work.
5. Assures compliance with Institutional Review Board and other University, state and
other federal requirements.
6. Maintains project data, prepares and submits interim and final project reports.
7. Writes research briefs, working papers and other documents related to project
activity. Assures and monitors the integrity of qualitative and quantitative
interpretation of information.
8. Acts as liaison with state and federal agencies.

Publication and Dissemination
1. Conceptualizes and writes policy briefs, reports, working papers, and peer-reviewed
articles.
2. Develops and organizes disseminations strategies for project products.
3. Prepares and presents project findings to policymakers and funders.
4. Prepares and presents project findings at state and national conferences and
meetings.
5. Cultivates external relationships and markets publications to internal/external
audiences.
6. Prepares and submits manuscripts for scholarly publications.
SPECIAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES*:
 Ability to provide own transportation (fully-insured vehicle), provide proof of a valid
driver’s license, and compliance with Maine law regarding vehicle insurance.
 Work on federally funded projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary supervisory responsibility for up to three
professionals. This includes, but is not limited to, providing orientation and support,
conducting performance evaluations, approving annual leave, authority to discipline and assign
work, supporting professional development. May have project oversight of classified staff,
temporary employees and student workers.
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES: Develops project budgets and manages grant and contract funds in
accordance with Institute and USM policy. Responsible for annual operating budget in excess
of $400,000.
PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO JOB PERFORMANCE: Makes
presentations at professional conferences or forums; provides assistance to community
agencies, legislators, state agency staff or others on issues related to the research and
evaluation; prepares reports and journal articles or other materials for scholarly publications;
participates in state or national professional associations.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS:
Internal: Muskie School faculty and staff, USM Faculty and applied research staff.
External: Federal and State funders and policy makers, colleagues in various public and
private organizations, individuals and service providers in the field.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
 Demonstrated experience in developing and managing health policy, research and/or
program evaluation projects of a large and complex nature in areas of health care
quality, substance abuse and/or behavioral health. Includes knowledge of and
experience with state and national funding sources, competitive proposal development,
planning and managing large research, evaluation and/or technical assistance projects.
 Demonstrated experience using large national survey datasets to address key policy
questions (e.g. MEPS, BRFSS, CPS).



Strong quantitative and qualitative methodological skills, including demonstrated
knowledge and competence in the use of statistical software (SAS preferred, SQL, SPSS).
Demonstrated ability to communicate and work with a broad spectrum of
administrators, researchers and other professionals in public health.
Knowledge and experience with scholarly writing and other forms of dissemination.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
 Doctorate in public health, social work or closely related field and four years of relevant
professional experience.
 Demonstrated experience in health care quality, substance abuse and/or behavioral
health research and evaluation.
 Project management skills and experience.
License/Certifications:
 Valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
Preferred:
 Experience with state government and nonprofit public sector programming in the area
of health care quality.
*NOTE: All individuals who are recommended to fill and subsequently offered a position with special essential responsibilities
as listed above, or other licensure or certification, shall have the following additional applicable background screening
completed (in addition to regular and standard background screening) based on the responsibilities of the position: Credit
history screening, and/or Sex offender registry screening, and/or Federal criminal history screening and/or License/certification
verification. .
Date Approved: 3/2015
Date Revised:
Job Family: 5
Salary Band: 06
Unit:
UMPSA
CUPA code: 470440
Employee:
TBD
Position #:
00022744