Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) protects and promotes the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for people who are disproportionately impacted by societal factors that limit their access to healthcare and other resources necessary for optimal health. The agency leads programs to prevent communicable diseases; prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy behaviors; prevent environmental health risks and injuries; investigate outbreaks of disease; respond to public health emergencies; and promote the health of women, children, and families. In addition, the department operates a series of primary care clinics. PDPH has been on the vanguard of public health, proposing policy solutions to issues like opioid and tobacco use, and intends to continue developing creative solutions to both long-standing urban health problems and new crises.

Job Description

The Health Commissioner’s Office (HCO) sets policy priorities and provides leadership for PDPH by working closely with internal divisions and external partners to advance the department’s mission. PDPH’s Epidemiology and Informatics Collaborative (EpIC), co-led by the Chief Epidemiologist, conducts priority analyses to advance the department’s policy goals. EpIC also supports and collaborates with data staff across the department by establishing data governance and security policies, standardizing research best practices, and facilitating training opportunities. The primary purpose of EpIC’s work is to inform and advise our programs, policymakers, and the public.

We are seeking a skilled and dynamic Research and Data Assistant with strong administrative skills and experience in public health data management to join EpIC. Candidates should be detail-oriented and have excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills. The Assistant will support the Chief Epidemiologist with administrative tasks and project management. The Assistant will also support EpIC by managing datasets, performing basic data analysis, and assisting with research and analysis projects. The Assistant should have an interest in topics like the social determinants of health; population health; health policy and advancing health equity through policy.

Essential Functions

The Research and Data Assistant is responsible for supporting the work of the Chief Epidemiologist through administrative tasks:

• Scheduling and preparing materials for meetings and events
• Managing shared inboxes and responding to inquiries
• Assisting in hiring and onboarding of new employees and interns
• Documenting datasets, data systems, and workflows
• Supporting administrative tasks related to internal research review processes
• Updating and maintaining data use agreements across the health department (letters of support, data use agreements, etc.)
• Taking and distributing meeting notes
• Working with internal and external partners to keep projects on track

The Research and Data Assistant is responsible for supporting the work of EpIC team through:

• Cleaning data, maintaining data dictionaries, creating longitudinal data files, pulling recent data, and other data management tasks for public health datasets (e.g., administrative, survey, hospitalization, and internal projects)
• Reviewing and synthesizing existing literature on topics related to population health and emergent concerns
• Creating survey instruments using programs such as REDCap, Qualtrics, etc.
• Participating in team and department-wide meetings
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including technical writing Ability to work with partners with varying levels of scientific and technical expertise
• Ability to independently prioritize and handle multiple tasks and deadlines
• Ability to anticipate the Chief Epidemiologist’s needs based on the upcoming calendar items, deadlines, events, etc.
• Ability to summarize analysis findings for various audiences 
• Ability to manage large datasets and conduct basic analysis (e.g., descriptive statistics)

Qualifications

Experience:

• One year of experience in public health, social science research, or project management in a health-related field. Experience can include summer internships or participation in undergraduate research labs.
• Familiarity with data analysis with statistical software such as R, Stata, or SAS and an interest in learning more

Education Requirement:

• A bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences, economics, data science, statistics, or a related field.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health that has included a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit the following:

1. A resume or CV
2. A cover letter that includes:
   1. Your experience with statistical software such as R, SAS or Stata,
   2. Your experience in or with Philadelphia, if any, and
   3. Your past or proposed contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
3. A writing, analysis, coding, or other work sample (optional but encouraged)

We are dedicated to building a staff that reflects the diversity of Philadelphia. We strongly encourage individuals who identify with one or more of the following groups to apply: 

1. People of color,
2. Individuals with disabilities,
3. LGBTQ ,
4. First-generation college students, and/or
5. Individuals from a family that has qualified for federal financial assistance.

Applicants who are originally from and live in the Philadelphia area are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx