Equity Research Data Specialist (Remote)

Heluna Health (HH) is partnering with the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Office of Health Equity (OHE) to ensure equity is considered and operationalized throughout the COVID-19 response and recovery. Under the general direction of OHE's COVID-19 Integrated Health Equity Research Team Supervisor, the Equity Research Data Specialist will perform high level analysis about how COVID-19 response and recovery efforts are impacting underserved and marginalized populations, supporting efforts in OHE's Advancing Community Equity Branch to assure that the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery addresses health equity and serves to improve equitable health outcomes, especially among underserved and disproportionately affected populations.
The Integrated Health Equity Research team works in close partnership with other CDPH epidemiology and research teams to support data equity at large, as well as other CDPH teams to inform priorities and outreach with a health equity lens. This team is also responsible for identifying communities with high vulnerability for COVID-19, supporting community partnerships, and making recommendations to ensure that data equity is embedded in CDPH work.
The Equity Research Data Specialist provides data analysis and epidemiological expertise for other OHE programs, and other CDPH collaborators, including the Immunization Branch, the Coronavirus Control Branch, Safe Schools for All, and other teams.
If hired for this position, applicant will be required to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 prior to the start date; or have a valid religious or medical reason qualifying the applicant for an exemption (that may or may not require accommodation).
This is a temporary, grant-funded, full time, benefitted position. This position is funded through June 2025 and may be extended should funding be available.
The salary range for this position is $85,000/year to $95,000/year.
Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume to be considered.
Must be able to work Pacific time zone business hours and occasionally work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitor vaccination, case, hospitalization, and death rate data across racial equity and other health equity metrics, flagging potential trends that may lead to wider disparities.
• Support community partnership teams with priority populations such as Black, Tribal, rural, people experiencing homelessness populations and advocates, among others. Provide consultation on best practices for data sharing and collaborative program planning as part of these partnerships.
• Communicate the results of data analyses to multiple stakeholders, in written documents and in meetings and calls.
• Download, clean, interpret, and summarize data using state and federal sources in response to questions and data requests from CDPH leadership and outside stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the OHE Health Equity Research and Statistics Section (HERSS), provide high-level review and guidance on epidemiological and statistical projects related to health equity, particularly in communities at highest risk for COVID-19.
• Perform basic data management, data cleaning and statistical analysis using SAS, R, or other statistical programming languages on COVID-19 data to complete data extracts.
• Participate in and present on calls with public health partners and/or local health jurisdictions, to provide updates and context on COVID-19-related public health metrics (e.g., vaccination, case, or death rates) in California, and other requests.
• Produce and analyze reports for the purposes of monitoring disease trends as they relate to health equity.
• Prepare timely data to be shared with the public and other stakeholder groups in support of promoting health equity in COVID-19 response and recovery.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversee and contribute to special projects related to COVID-19 and equity as identified by leadership.
• Perform other duties as directed by the Section Leader or Branch Manager.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to maintain consistent and regular attendance.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English and in a culturally sensitive manner, both orally and in writing, with public health and healthcare professionals and other partners.
• Ability to develop and maintain knowledge and skill related to specific tasks, methodologies, materials, tools, and equipment.
• Ability to complete assignments in a timely and efficient manner; and adhere to departmental policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and experience applying the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements and protection of health information.
• Demonstrated ability to interact constructively with colleagues from a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of epidemiology and ability to interpret disparities and trends in data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing and interpreting data from very large data sets (millions of records).

Education/Experience

• Master's degree in public health or related field, required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of full-time, professional work experience with statistical analysis, epidemiologic modeling, and applying data to help reduce health inequities, required.
• Extensive understanding of social determinants of health as drivers of health inequities and racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes, preferred
• Proficiency in use of data analytics and visualization software (e.g., SAS, ArcGIS, SPSS, SQL, STATA, R, Tableau) as well as Microsoft Office, preferred
• Proficiency in impact evaluation methods, including econometric evaluation methods, preferred.
• Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in navigating database systems; ability to learn new data systems quickly and to comply with data integrity and health-data-related security to safeguard all personal identifiable information
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and in a culturally sensitive manner, both orally and in writing, with public health and healthcare professionals and other partners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and respond to questions from leadership and other stakeholders in a timely manner.

Other Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of and skilled in the use of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and Power Point.
Certificates/Licenses/Clearances
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Stand: Frequently
Walk: FrequentlySit: FrequentlyHandling / Fingering: OccasionallyReach Outward: OccasionallyReach Above Shoulder: OccasionallyClimb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: OccasionallyLift / Carry: Occasionally - Up to 25lbs
Push/Pull: Occasionally - Up to 25lbsSee: ConstantlyTaste/ Smell: Not Applicable
Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions
Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)
Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)
Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Remote. Must be available during Pacific time zone working hours. There is an option for hybrid work locations remote and at the Richmond, CA or Sacramento, CA campuses.
Must have Internet access at the remote location.
EEOC STATEMENT
It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)