Managing Research Scientist, CVD

Job Description

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for a Managing Research Scientist to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to Faculty Team Leader, the Managing Research Scientist is responsible for the following: As a Managing Research Scientist, you will independently perform quantitative analyses, contribute to research design and dissemination, and supervise members on your research team. You will be responsible for managing the scope, timeline, and resources required to deliver high-quality study results, while coordinating with collaborating research sites and partners.

We are looking for someone to join a new initiative within the Program in Cardiovascular Health Metrics focused on heart disease in women. The project links gold-standard clinical registry data with large-scale administrative datasets to investigate the burden of coronary microvascular disease burden and its risk factors. This position is contingent on project funding

Key Responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities: 20%

• Supervise employees to include hiring and training, leading workflow; priority setting; reviewing work and establishing quality standards; conducting regular performance assessments, providing mentorship and professional development for employees, and making recommendations for disciplinary action as needed.
• Identify training needs and opportunities for team members to grow their skills and advance their careers; Ensure that the team has the necessary resources to complete their tasks effectively.
• Promote positive morale and positive progress towards objectives across the team; lead effective and efficient team meetings that are structured, inclusive of consultation and constructive feedback, and result in identifiable next steps for team members.
• Keep team members motivated and engaged, recognizing their achievements, and addressing any issues that may affect morale.
• Monitor individual and team performance, providing feedback, and helping to resolve any performance issues; assist the team in overcoming obstacles, making decisions, and resolving conflicts.
• Ensure that the team adheres to company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Attend required trainings about team leadership, management, and related topics as designated by team and organizational leaders.

Project Management: 20%

• Define, scope, and document the work for the assigned research project to deliver timely, high-quality results.
• Identify key priorities while balancing competing project objectives; propose work-plan adjustments, and proactively raise risks to delivery along with recommendations for mitigation.
• Set and meet deadlines for the project team and for direct reports; maintain central tracking mechanisms to communicate progress on research outputs to internal and external stakeholders.

Research Dissemination 60%

• Exhibit command of team research area, including the methodology, components, and how it intersects and intertwines with the larger IHME research enterprise in order to effectively manage the work, engage partners in the research process, as well as lead trainings, give presentations, and conduct seminars on substantive research topics to internal and external partners.
• Independently carry out quantitative analyses, including person-level longitudinal data analysis, interpret and vet results from your own results and from other team members, formulate conclusions, and inform team leaders.
• Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods. Write, test, and maintain code in R, the primary language for the team’s analytic pipelines; experience with Python as a second language is a plus. Maintain, modify, and execute analytic machinery that generates results.
• Contribute to research design and identify innovative solutions to issues.
• Draft presentations and manuscripts and contribute to funding proposals. Lead and co-author scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.
• Maintain scientific awareness and intellectual agility with data, methods, and analytic techniques; manage and anticipate change and guide others to adapt effectively in the iterative research process.
• Grow a peer network where sought out as having solid command of disease and risk factor modelling methods, key indicators, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences, or related discipline plus four years’ related experience.

Additional Qualifications

• Previous supervisory experience with hiring, developing employees, priority setting, setting quality standards, and performance coaching.
• Excellent analytic, critical thinking, and quantitative disease modelling skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of and experience with project management methods, including scoping work, setting deadlines, and tracking and reporting progress for self and supervisees.
• Results- and detail-oriented; initiate and complete tasks under tight deadlines and changing priorities both independently and in a team environment.
• Experience devising and executing statistical modeling techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly recognize problems in results, identify root causes in data, methods, and code, and implement solutions.
• Advanced proficiency in designing, executing, and troubleshooting code in R.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required, including track record of success in co-authorship on multiple scientific papers, presenting results, and representing research at meetings.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and sustain collaborations with external research teams, and to coordinate work across interdependent teams.
• Experience in working with large datasets, including devising strategies for reliable data management, computationally efficient modeling techniques, and critical evaluation of highly multidimensional model outputs.
• Experience with small-area or geospatial epidemiologic models.
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a team.
• Interest in a management-level research scientist position contributing to the overall mission of IHME’s research.

Preferred Qualifications

• MD or PhD in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, or quantitative social sciences plus two years’ experience preferred.
• Experience with cardiovascular disease and risk factor modelling using large datasets.
• Experience with Python as a second programming language.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior employees on soft and technical skills.
• Peer-reviewed publication record.
• Experience implementing hierarchical models, particularly small area estimation or geospatial models.
• Experience working with US survey, census, vital registration, and other data sources.

Working Conditions

• Weekend and evening work are sometimes required and communicated in advance.
• This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US.
• Working internationally is only allowed for IHME sponsored work that requires in-country participation.
• Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US; work schedule required to overlap with 50% of IHME office hours, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Time as agreed upon between employee and supervisor.

Application Requirement

This recruitment requires references and a cover letter. Applications that do not include this will not be forwarded to the hiring department.

Please attach a cover letter to your application:

• Please provide three references in your cover letter with at least one reference being a past or present supervisor.

About the Team

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research organization at the University of Washington (UW). Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Shift:

Temporary or Regular?

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About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.