Research And Evaluation Analyst, Senior (Bwell)

We are also establishing one employment list to fill future full-time, part-time, and extra-help (temporary) vacancies.

THE POSITION:
The candidate selected for this position will, under general direction, plan, initiate, and conduct Research and Evaluation projects and studies; analyze and interpret behavioral health data; serve as a technical expert to Behavioral Wellness management and the community; design survey instruments and data collection systems; make recommendations regarding allocation of resources and program design based upon evidence; and perform other related duties as required.
This position will work collaboratively with clinical providers and program and administrative staff to design data collection strategies and perform analyses to drive departmental data-based decision-making. The Research and Evaluation Analyst, Senior will specialize in particular areas or populations within the department such as Outpatient Services, clients with Criminal Justice Involvement, Crisis Services, Full Service Partnerships, Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Services, Housing/Residential Services, or Substance Use Services.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This classification is distinguished by its responsibility for administrative and supervisory tasks associated with the Research and Evaluation team. It is further distinguished from the Epidemiologist by its role in planning more complex and sophisticated projects and interventions.
THE DEPARTMENT:
The Department of Behavioral Wellness was founded in 1962 and it is our mission to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers.
The IDEAL CANDIDATE will have:

• Professional experience as an analyst in a healthcare setting including lead worker responsibilities
• Demonstrable ability to lead others and work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams on process improvement and problem-solving assignments
• The ability to independently extract, clean and manage data from administrative, clinical, program and population sources, with limited supervision
• Demonstrable ability to effectively and efficiently interpret findings to assist technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Comprehensive understanding of health equity and cultural humility while having the ability to examine and address own biases and beliefs
• Demonstrated ability to work with people and groups from a wide variety of backgrounds and across differences in race, culture, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, values, beliefs, learning styles, and literacy levels.
• Have proven experience in applying, conducting, and evaluating research/evaluation projects over a broad array of behavioral health program areas
• Proficiency in statistical software packages such as IBM SPSS or SAS, familiarity with data visualization techniques and/or software, such as Power BI or Tableau, a demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SmartSheet, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, and basic website content software
• Skills to be detail-oriented while handling multiple projects with competing priorities
• Possession of clinical licensure and/or experience delivering direct behavioral health services or working closely with programs that have delivered behavioral health services
• An understanding of Federal and/or State behavioral health policies and legislation that has shaped public behavioral health service delivery

1. Plans, designs and conducts original epidemiologic studies; coordinates epidemiological research studies within the department and with other agencies; analyzes and interprets findings; makes recommendations to departmental management regarding impact of studies on current programs and evaluates impact current programs are having on community health indicators.
2. Serves as the departmental technical expert on communicable, chronic, and environmental disease hazards or mental health and substance abuse issues; provides consultation to independent and departmental investigators on epidemiologic research methodology, design, and results; leads an evaluation team consisting of staff from various departmental programs to respond to public and departmental requests for epidemiologic Research and analysis.
3. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with health professionals in the community such as physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, veterinarians, nurses, practitioners, laboratory personnel, and representatives of other appropriate agencies in order to facilitate the reporting of communicable diseases and other reportable events; makes technical and informational presentations to professionals and the public.
4. Develops and writes project proposals for state, federal, and private funding; participates in the review of applications for financial assistance related to conducting epidemiological studies; prepares reports, and technical and scientific papers for publication; prepares information for publication in an annual Health Status Report for Public Health and various reports for Behavioral Wellness including the Behavioral Wellness Commission Report, System Evaluation Report and Grant Outcomes tracking reports.
5. Supervises and directs the efforts of professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged in the collection, monitoring, and analysis of epidemiological data; evaluates the performance of staff assigned to the Epidemiology unit; hires and trains new staff.

1. Possession of a Ph.D. in Clinical or Community Psychology, Epidemiology or related field AND one (1) year of experience in behavioral epidemiologic research experience; OR,
2. Possession of a Master's degree in Clinical or Community Psychology, Epidemiology or related field AND two (2) years of behavioral epidemiologic research experience; OR,
3. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Knowledge of: detailed analytic and descriptive epidemiology; various approaches to epidemiological research; current methods and techniques of diseases control and prevention; behavioral health practices and principles used in psychological research; theory, practice, and application of epidemiologic methodologies, including design and Evaluation of epidemiologic research; scientific and technical report writing techniques and methods; etiology and natural history of infectious and chronic diseases, including vector control, host defenses, and resistance; disease patterns and stages of health and prevention; computer applications used to generate, organize, and display statistical charts, graphs, geographical, and other research data; current developments in epidemiology and general medicine.
Ability to: plan, implement, and coordinate various research studies; work independently; conduct and direct epidemiologic investigations; describe the distribution and magnitude of health and disease problems in human populations; identify risk factors for diseases; establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, other agencies, and community organizations; prepare and write a variety of documents, such as project proposals, and technical and scientific papers; effectively communicate highly complex information to people with varying levels of technical knowledge; learn the principles and practices of supervision; collect and analyze complex statistical data; draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations; make public presentations to various community organizations, boards, commissions and legislative bodies.

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking: Candidates' response to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than eleven (11) qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule 6. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the examination, rank on the employment list, and duration of the employment list.
CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.
• The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.
BENEFITS: For more information on County of Santa Barbara benefits click HERE or visit the Benefits Tab above. Additionally, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization. The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems. The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.
We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and/or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future." Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: MONDAY JANUARY 8, 2023 at 4:59 PM PST; POST MARKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
Amaris Tang, Recruitment Analyst, Department of Behavioral Wellness, atang@sbcbwell.orgEmployment Type: Full-time