Data and Quality Improvement Associate

Brief Overview:

We are seeking a Data and Quality Improvement Associate for our Helplines to use data analysis and quality improvement expertise to enhance substance use and problem gambling treatment access in multiple states, while gaining a deeper understanding of substance use, problem gambling and related systems in all states.

Position Description:

Health Resources in Action, Inc. (HRiA) is a non-profit organization working to improve and reimagine public health. We connect, consult, and collaborate to solve complex challenges of access and equity in our health and social systems. Together with our partners, clients, and collaborators, we create actionable solutions so that all people can thrive.

In 1957, The Medical Foundation (TMF) was created to primarily fund biomedical research in Massachusetts. Since then, we’ve been on a journey of evolution. We changed our name to Health Resources in Action (HRiA) to reflect our impact in the field of public health. Today, HRiA works with individuals, organizations, and communities to drive a policy and systems change approach to advance health and racial equity.
HRiA seeks sustainable solutions for complex problems using an anti-racist approach. We aim to be adaptable and flexible in meeting clients and partners where they are, offering our decades of knowledge and resources to collectively realize our dream of equitable, sustainable health for all. The foundation of this work is centered on our values:
  • Health and racial equity by identifying and addressing the root causes of health inequities, intentionally working to shift narratives and power imbalances and disrupt all systems of oppression.
  • Leading with heart by demonstrating our passionate commitment to our work, continuously challenging ourselves with humility and vulnerability while pursuing and holding ourselves accountable to our mission.
  • Collaboration by intentionally and respectfully leading, partnering, and following to strengthen relationships, uplift different voices and build trust.
  • Innovation by driving toward new strategies, questioning norms, and continuously learning and evolving to support the needs of our clients and communities.

HRiA offers exciting, engaging, and challenging employment opportunities for facilitators, trainers, researchers, analysts, policy specialists, grant managers, and more. People come to HRiA because of our commitment to advancing health equity and inspiring work; they stay for our wonderful clients, partners, and dedicated and dynamic staff. With our growing portfolio of high-impact work, person-centered policies, and generous benefits, our team continually invests in making HRiA a great place to work. Our diverse staff of over 270 people hail from 30+ states, with a homebase in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood.

HRiA’s core services comprise five clusters: (1) public health services, (2) capacity building assistance (CBA), (3) grantmaking for biomedical research and community health initiatives, (4) research and evaluation, including community health improvement services, and (5) health and racial equity.

As part of our Public Health Services, HRiA manages an extensive portfolio of behavioral health initiatives, including statewide substance use helplines in Vermont and Oregon and substance use and problem gambling helplines in Massachusetts and Illinois. The Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances (Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery) was launched in 2017, building upon our experience operating the MA Substance Use Helpline (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services) for over 23 years. HRiA launched the Vermont Helplink (Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs) in 2019. HRiA began operating the MA Problem Gambling Helpline (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling Services) in 2020 and the Illinois Problem Gambling Helpline (Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery) in 2022. HRiA is currently contracting with the Oregon Health Authority to launch a substance use helpline for Oregon in Fall 2023.

The helplines comprise state-specific websites and online portals, as well as a single, centralized contact center that manages calls, chats, and texts from residents of all our Helpline states. The helplines connect consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about and referrals to treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and recovery services available in their states.

To learn more about HRiA and our helplines, visit the following:

Opportunity

We are searching for a full-time Data and Quality Improvement Associate for our Helplines.  This is an exciting opportunity to use data analysis and quality improvement expertise to enhance substance use and problem gambling treatment access in multiple states, while gaining a deeper understanding of substance use, problem gambling and related systems in all states. There will also be significant opportunities to contribute to project development for all Helplines.

Position Description

The Data and Quality Improvement Associate will be part of the Helpline Data Team, who are responsible for collaboratively managing the Helplines’ databases of substance use, problem gambling, and related service providers. They will work with other Helpline team members and our technology partners to develop and implement database update processes and will be responsible for ensuring data accuracy. This includes collaborating with Helpline staff, providers, and other stakeholders. The Data and Quality Improvement Associate will primarily be managing the content of the databases; technical components are maintained by an external technology partner. The Helplines each offer separate Provider Portals for service providers listed in their respective databases. Providers use the Provider Portal to view, make changes, or request changes to their programs’ data in the Helpline system. The Data and Quality Improvement Associate will be responsible for responding to provider requests and messages.

The Data and Quality Improvement Associate will also be a part of the team responsible for Helpline data reporting, contributing to quantitative and qualitative reports as scheduled and upon request. The Helpline reports may include data such as caller and chat visitor demographics, consumer feedback, phone and web statistics, and individual and project performance measures. The Data and Quality Improvement Associate will support work with Helpline management and other stakeholders to develop engaging and meaningful reports and data representations.

This is an exempt, full-time position that either can be based in our Boston office or fully remote anywhere in the US. The salary range for this position is $56,000-$66,000, depending on skills and experience

Benefits

HRiA offers strong benefits to its employees, including:

  • Competitive salaries
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement plan
  • flexible summer hours
  • Vacation starting at 4 weeks
  • 13 paid holidays, plus office closure time during the last week of December.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Work

  • Monitor and support database accuracy and proactively suggest improvement projects and processes.
  • Make updates to Helpline provider databases.
  • Respond to Provider Portal requests and monitor outcomes as needed.
  • Prepare data reports as scheduled and as needed.
  • Track Helpline data to identify trends and changes.
  • Implement CQI and QA processes, in collaboration with other Helpline staff and management.

Management and Supervision

  • Oversee and provide project supervision for staff or interns assisting with database and reporting needs as needed.
  • Provide in-service training for Helpline staff as appropriate, on topics such as Helpline operations and data trends.

Thought Leadership

  • Build and develop database management, data analysis, and quality improvement expertise.
  • Provide web content to promote Helplines.
  • Assist with preparing and presenting reports and results.

New Business Development

  • Assist with proposal writing, documentation, and/or submission as needed.
  • Write or contribute to technical components of proposals, as needed.

Candidate Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline with a focus in public health, biostatistics, epidemiology, social sciences, economics, or health care management and minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
  • Strong computer skills and experience and/or ability to use online systems and databases.
  • Demonstrated experience with database (e.g., Excel or Access), data analysis (e.g., SAS, SPSS, NVivo) and data visualization (e.g., Tableau) software and platforms.
  • Experience with Azure is a plus.
  • Certified Community Resource Specialist or Certified Community Resource Specialist-Database Curator (through Inform USA) preferred or willingness to obtain within one year of hire.
  • Experience performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
  • Familiarity and experience with QA and CQI processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
  • Customer/client focused with excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Openness to information that may be different from personal views.
  • Respectful of cultural differences, and values diversity of thought, backgrounds, and perspectives.
  • High ethical standard and a willingness to comply with professional expectations.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
  • Demonstrated history of dependability.
  • Two years of sobriety requested for people in recovery.
  • Telephone service delivery experience preferred.
  • Professional experience or knowledge of addiction and addiction treatment preferred

Training in addiction, information & referral, treatment services, and resources is available.

Hours for this position are 9am-5pm ET and may be flexible.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of work duties that will be required in this position.  It is not intended to limit, or in any way modify, the rights of any supervisor to assign, direct, and contract work of staff under his/her supervision.  The use of a particular illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties, not mentioned, that are of a similar level or difficulty.

How to Apply:

To apply, submit your resume and cover letter online.

HRiA is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

For more information about the organization visit http://www.hria.org.



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