Behavioral Health Evaluation Specialist

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The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, improve lives. The School's curriculum supports the mission and recognizes the uniqueness of the region served, including concerns for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families and communities. Classes provide rigorous and evidence-based content, and give students the opportunity to explore theory, learn intervention skills and engage in challenging dialogue with colleagues.

Dr. Paul Lanier is the principal investigator of a research team called the Administrative data Network for Child Health Outcomes Research ( ANCHOR) Project. While the position's primary focus will be supporting the ANCHOR project, the Behavioral Health Evaluation Specialist may also contribute to other research and evaluation initiatives on behalf of Dr. Lanier. This project partners with a national nonprofit agency to examine outcomes of youth who have received evidence-based programs (EBPs) using linked administrative data. The EBPs include 1) an intensive in-home parenting program for youth at risk of foster care entry, and 2) a community-based program for transition age youth exiting the foster care system. The project is currently planning to expand to a multi-state research network to better understand service effectiveness across settings and populations. The current project team includes faculty in the School of Social Work and other departments on campus and data science activities are organized through a team at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research. The Behavioral Health Evaluation Specialist will work with the multidisciplinary ANCHOR team, including the PI and the Sheps data science team, to track and coordinate activities required to produce research deliverables (e.g., research briefs, data presentations, journal articles, conference presentations, and summary evaluation reports).

The Behavioral Health Evaluation Specialist will track timelines, coordinate meeting schedules with multiple study sites, and support the data science team activities for the successful development, implementation, and monitoring of data analysis activities. This includes conducting literature reviews, measure development, defining study populations, developing research questions as well as tracking decision points and resolving gaps that occur during the planning and analysis process.

This position involves collaboration with university faculty, research staff, and identified internal and external subject matter experts. This position will support behavioral health evaluation analytic activities through regularly attending team meetings, developing agendas, taking notes, optimizing workflows, and tracking milestones using identified project management tools. This hybrid position requires in-person engagement at UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work and the Sheps Center. This position will report to the ANCHOR Project PI (Dr. Lanier).

Master's or Bachelor's and 0-2 years' experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Professional experience working in behavioral health services research or program evaluation
Experience coordinating projects using health services research and implementation science tools and strategies
Experience coordinating teams focused on research design and using data to evaluate program effectiveness
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively without immediate direct supervision
Strong communication and organization skills and experience with process development and improvement

Master's degree in social work, human services, public administration, psychology, public health, education or related field of study
Experience working on teams using administrative data and electronic health records for health services research
Knowledge and experience working with behavioral health systems of care, Medicaid, and child welfare systems
Experiencing coordinating large multi-site research teams
Ability to manage conflict and communicate effectively with a variety of workforce populations and settings

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.