Principal Researcher, Health

Overview:

AIR is seeking a Principal Researcher to join AIR’s Learning, Translation, and Quality Measurement Program within the Health Division. We work to advance equitable, high-quality, affordable, patient-centered care through rigorous research, evaluation, and technical assistance that focuses on what matters most to patients, families, clinicians, and the broader healthcare community.

We have a strong focus on quality measurement to ensure patients receive safe, equitable care. We also translate research evidence to promote understanding and adoption of best practices by patients, families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, insurers, health systems leaders, and policymakers. In addition, our expertise includes promoting evidence-based care for a range of clinical conditions; improving patient safety; and engaging patients and family members in the delivery of care.

Candidates hired for the position can work remotely within the United States (U.S.), with the ability to travel to in-person meetings with federal clients.  

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here.

The responsibilities for the position include:

• Manage or lead projects or tasks, including associated teams and budgets.
• Work with other project leaders to track and meet critical financial indicators to monitor project performance, including revenue, profit/fee, labor utilization, indirect costs, receivables, and unbilled receivables.
• Design and develop project work plan and serve as main point of contact between AIR and the client for the project.
• Track portfolio against project timelines, budget, objectives, and deliverables.
• Manage the selection, hiring, and development of new project staff and project management team members.
• Mentor junior staff, sharing approaches to solving concrete problems, and providing feedback on the work of others.
• Conduct strategic project planning.
• Assist in identifying risk and developing risk mitigation plans.
• Clearly communicate with clients, remote and site-based staff, and other stakeholders orally and in writing and represent AIR in a professional manner.
• Partner with a variety of key stakeholders such as federal project officers, hospital leadership, healthcare providers and related professional associations, public and private payers, patient safety and healthcare quality alliances, caregivers, and patients.
• Maintain excellent relationships, serves as the primary client contact, and actively pursue business development through client relationships, partnership development, and by staying abreast of the direction of the field.
• Assess federal and state policy changes and apply implications to current work.
• Form strong working relationships with federal and state policymakers.
• Manage and facilitate large working groups, provide solutions and techniques for consensus building, track decisions and outcomes, and outline next steps.
• Lead and oversee portfolio of written reports to summarize policies, articulate operational processes, and make recommendations to funders, stakeholders, and policymakers.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Master’s or equivalent degree with a minimum of 11 years related experience in health services research (health policy, management, health behavior), social science (psychology, sociology), evaluation research, or public health or Ph. D. degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience should include at least 5 years of experience in a leadership position, preferably related to health, healthcare, or health policy.
• Knowledge of current organ procurement and transplantation policy and regulations.
• Experience working with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) leadership and Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) stakeholders, including organ procurement organizations, transplant centers and surgeons, federal and state agencies, and patient advocates
• Understanding of health care regulatory and compliance landscape.
• Experience effectively leading and mentoring diverse teams of staff working within large/complex projects, including managing for work excellence, timeliness, and on-budget execution.
• Experience leading proposals, budgeting, and project management activities.
• History of leading complex, multi-million-dollar, national projects with high visibility.
• Experience in communicating about, advising on, managing, and evaluating health policy and operations.
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders, including federal project officers, hospital leadership, health care providers and professional associations, voluntary health associations, patient safety and ethics boards, caregivers, and patients.
• Experience developing communications with and a feedback process to gather and synthesize input from the general public.

 Skills:

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills including strong communication skills with the ability to produce concise, high-level summaries and briefings.
• Strong negotiator and communicator, with excellent client management skills.
• Strong presentation, professional development delivery, and facilitation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when writing.

Disclosures:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position. Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR’s Total Rewards Program, is designed to reward our staff competitively and motivate them to achieve our critical mission. This position offers an anticipated annual salary of $160,000 - $180,000. Salary offers are made based on internal equity within the institution and external equity with competitive markets. Please note this is the annual salary range for candidates that are based in the United States.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment.

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives. Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe@air.org is correct and jdoe@aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach out to recruitment@air.org.

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general. Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams.

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