[Jobs] UCSF: Healthy Community Data and Research Specialist

[Leora Lawton]

Healthy Community Data and Research Specialist

Institute for Health & Aging

University of California San Francisco

The Institute for Health & Aging announces a search for non-faculty
position.  Appointment will be at the Associate or Full Specialist
rank, depending upon the finalists’ level of experience.  Position
located in San Francisco, California.

The Institute for Health & Aging (IHA) is an organized research unit
at UCSF.  The work of the Institute includes extensive and successful
research, training and public service in the areas of aging, health,
and health policy.  IHA, in collaboration with the California
Department of Public Health (CDPH), conducts research and analyses to
frame public health policy related to chronic disease in the State of
California! .

The goal of this project is to enhance public health and health equity
in land use planning and policy making. This will be accomplished
through providing data, a standardized set of statistical measures,
and tools for planning healthy communities and evaluating the impact
of land-use, policy, and environmental changes on health. A set of
healthy community metrics provides a common framework for linking
health to the community environment, including that impacted by
land-use decisions. The framework and indicator set can thus help
cities/counties and regional partners develop plans and programs that
meet the broader sustainability and equity goals and objectives of the
Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The framework and indicators will help
to better inform local and state policy makers regarding the potential
positive or adverse health impacts of policy and planning decisions,
to facilita! te more informed decision-making and better plans and
programs, and facilitate local health department engagement in
planning for healthy communities.

As part of an analysis team, the incumbent will assume responsibility
for reviewing the literature on indicator projects, individual
indicators, data sources, evidence that links the indicator to health
outcomes and health inequity, and research new indicators; synthesize
literature and criteria for selecting indicators. Will contribute to
the design of a project meta-database; manage the data base including
writing queries to generate lists and reports on the status of
indicators; and document the database in a written technical document
describing its structure and contents (i.e. data dictionaries). Will
also be responsible for acquiring data in machine readable format;
dow! nloading data from websites and media; organizing and documenting
file organization; aggregating data using SAS, Excel, MS Access
according to specifications in the meta-database; documenting steps in
aggregation in a how-to manual; visualizing data using tools in MS
Office suite and ArcGIS; researching and applying statistical
principles for estimation of confidence intervals, standard errors and
their stability consistent with confidentiality and appropriate use of
data; assisting with administrative arrangements to acquire non-public
data via commercial vendors, non-profit organizations, and government
agencies via MOUs, contracts, or other agreements; documenting project
activities in technical reports, including how-to manuals and
illustrative reports for users of indicators. Assisting and
coordinating with Regional Progress Report indicators project and
other Strategic Growth Council data-related groups; develop project
work plans; arrange webinar to present indicators and how-to do manual
and illustrative document. Arrange follow-up and! provide technical
assistance at up to 6 locations, document how indicators will be used
by stakeholders, and document process and findings of outreach
efforts.

Duties:
Assist CDPH Project lead in maintenance of the project meta-database,
including EndNotes bibliography; key enter data on indicators into the
meta-database; manage data in data base including writing queries to
generate lists and reports on status of indicators; document the da!
tabase in a written technical document describing its structure and
contents (i.e. data dictionaries).

Data Acquisition, Management, and Analysis

Acquire indicator data in machine readable format; download data from
websites and media; organize and document file organization; aggregate
data using SAS, Excel, MS Access according to specifications in the
meta-database; documents steps in aggregation in  how-to manual;
visualize data using tools in MS Office suite and ArcGIS; research and
apply statistical principles for estimation of confidence intervals,
standard errors and their stability consistent with confidentiality
and appropriate use of data; assist RSIII with administrative
arrangements to acquire non-public data via commercial vend! ors,
non-profit organizations, and government agencies via MOUs, contracts,
or other agreements; document project activities in technical reports,
including how-to manuals and illustrative reports for users of
indicators.


Community Engagement

Assist RSIII coordinate with other indicators projects and SGC
data-related groups; coordinate meeting scheduling, documentation of
meetings; arrange webinar to present indicators and how-to do manual
and illustrative document. Arrange follow-up and provide technical
assistance to local stakeholders locations and document how indicators
will be used by stakeholders; document process and findings of
outreach.


Required:

1)      Bachelor’s degree in appropriate field such as epidemiology,
biostatistics, public health, medical sociology, or health economics,
(master’s degree preferred)

2)      3 years of experience in quantitative analysis and/or
population-based research, or an equivalent combination of education
and experience; under! standing of statistical methods (e.g.
epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, public policy analysis,
medical sociology, health economics); experience using statistical
software for data analysis and management (e.g. SAS, STATA, SPSS, GIS)

3)       the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in
writing to a variety of audiences is essential, as is the ability to
make public presentations.


UCSF seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or
community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to
div! ersity and excellence.  UCSF is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Employer. The University undertakes affirmative action to
assure equal employment opportunity for underutilized minorities and
women, for persons with disabilities, and for covered veterans.  All
qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including minorities and
women.


Submit Applications to:

Sarah Enloe
University of California San Francisco
Institute for Health & Aging
3333 California St., Ste. 340
San Francisco, Ca  94118
Phone:  415-514-3151
Email:  sarah.enloe at ucsf.edu


A complete application will include a cover letter, curriculum vitae,
copies of key publications and most recent syllabi, if any.


-- 
Leora Lawton PhD
Executive Director
Berkeley Population Center
350K Barrows Hall
(of) 510-643-1270
(m) 510-928-7572
www.popcenter.berkeley.edu