Senior Epidemiologist, Research and Evaluation

Equal Opportunity Employer
The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP) works to reduce the burden of chronic disease (e.g., heart disease, stroke, asthma) and injury (including gun violence) for Philadelphians across the life course. We take a people-centered, data-driven approach to programming and policy design. We look to solutions grounded in research and build evidence with our own data. This process drives policy and environmental changes to improve health for all people.

We believe:

  • All people should live to their fullest potential in environments that allow them to grow and thrive.
  • Progress only happens when we treat all people and communities with dignity, care, and respect.
  • Good government works in full partnership with community.
  • Knowledge comes in many forms and from many places in our society.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Epidemiologist will support CDIP programs by overseeing surveillance activities, data management, analysis, evaluation, reporting, and interpretation of data trends to inform decision-making and improve public health outcomes in Philadelphia. This role requires strong analytical skills, the ability to synthesize and clearly communicate findings, and close collaboration with program staff, division leadership, and external partners to ensure accurate and consistent data reporting. The position will work closely with two program areas within the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP): the Injury Prevention Program and the Health Partnerships Program.

The Injury Prevention Program works to create a safer environment for all Philadelphia residents, with a current focus on reducing and preventing gun violence. The program convenes cross-sector coalitions, operates a Violence Reduction Council to conduct in-depth fatality case reviews, and promotes strategies such as youth engagement and safe firearm storage.

For this program, the Senior Epidemiologist will partner with community leaders, law enforcement, healthcare, and academic institutions to evaluate violence prevention strategies; analyze injury and mortality data to identify trends and inform interventions; and examine the social and structural factors contributing to violence and injury.

The Health Partnerships Program leverages the power of partnerships in public health to address risk factors for chronic diseases through innovative clinical care and population health initiatives.  The program leads the CDC-funded Philadelphia Innovative Cardiovascular Health Program, working to improve health outcomes for Philadelphians with hypertension, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, while addressing the social drivers of chronic disease. The program also promotes access to primary care, addresses asthma and its risk factors, and strengthens cross-sector referral networks.

For this program, the Senior Epidemiologist will oversee grant-related performance measurement and evaluation; monitor trends in childhood asthma and chronic disease; and generate data to inform strategies that improve access to care and strengthen community-clinical linkages.

This position reports to the Director of Research and Evaluation and works closely with program managers across both program areas. The role requires collaboration across City agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and academic partners to ensure that research and evaluation efforts inform effective public health action. This role offers the opportunity to shape citywide strategies to reduce violence and improve chronic disease outcomes. This role may also support analytic activities across additional CDIP program areas and cross-cutting initiatives, contributing to division-wide priorities and emerging public health needs.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

  • In collaboration with program leadership and the Director of Research and Evaluation, develop, design, and lead analytic activities, research, and evaluation projects across CDIP program areas.
  •  Plan, design, and conduct epidemiologic and applied research studies, including developing research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and constructing data collection instruments.
  • Provide supervision, mentorship, and technical guidance to research and evaluation staff, including supporting project management, analytic skill development, and professional growth.
  • Manage, clean, and analyze complex datasets (e.g., administrative, survey, hospitalization, electronic health records, and census data) to monitor trends, evaluate programs, and inform policy and practice.
  • Interpret and synthesize quantitative and qualitative findings to generate actionable insights for program, policy, and strategic decision-making.
  • Develop and maintain surveillance systems and core metrics to track population health outcomes, risk factors, and program effectiveness; identify gaps in data and lead efforts to address them.
  • Lead evaluation of public health and violence prevention initiatives in collaboration with program leadership and the Director of Research and Evaluation, including tracking implementation, coordinating with internal and external partners, and reporting progress and outcomes to stakeholders and funders.
  • Produce and communicate findings through reports, data briefs, dashboards, presentations, and peer-reviewed manuscripts for a range of audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and the public.
  • Lead or contribute to grant-related performance measurement, reporting, and proposal development.
  • Manage data requests and conduct rapid analyses to support emerging research questions, policy priorities, and program needs.
  • Guide projects through Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes and ensure adherence to data governance and ethical standards.
  • Collaborate with City agencies, academic partners, healthcare providers, and community organizations to expand data access, integrate data sources, and strengthen analytic capacity.
  • Provide methodological and analytic guidance to program staff and junior analysts; contribute to team-based projects and division-wide data initiatives.
  • Review and synthesize scientific literature to inform research, evaluation, and policy development.
  • Contribute to the development of new research and evaluation priorities aligned with division and departmental goals.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Strong knowledge of epidemiologic and social science research methods, including study design, statistical analysis, and evaluation methodology.
  • Advanced analytic skills using statistical software such as R (preferred), Stata, or SAS.
  • Experience working with complex, multi-source datasets (e.g., administrative data, EHR, survey data).
  • Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects and translate data into policy- and program-relevant insights.
  • Experience communicating technical findings to diverse audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and the public.
  • Experience developing evaluation frameworks, performance measures, and data collection tools (e.g., surveys, REDCap).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing reports and manuscripts.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, work collaboratively, and lead projects to completion.

Preferred / Additional Skills

  • Experience with geospatial analysis (e.g., ArcGIS) and/or data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Shiny).
  • Experience with qualitative research methods.
  • Experience with grant reporting and/or proposal development.
  • Experience conducting research activities with underserved communities
  • Subject matter expertise in injury prevention, violence prevention, or chronic disease epidemiology.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master’s or doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH) in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, demography, economics, data science, or a related field.
  • Master’s degree with at least 3–5 years of relevant experience, or doctoral degree with at least 1–3 years of relevant experience in public health or social science research and evaluation.

OR

  • Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health, including a bachelor’s degree as a minimum

Work Environment:  Standard office setting with extended periods at work station and periodic use of office equipment. Offices are located at 1101 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.Position Type and Work Schedule:  Full-time, in-office position, typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.Travel:  Occasional local travel to community-based sites across Philadelphia.Physical Demands:  Limited physical demands. The position will work primarily in an office setting.Salary and Benefits:  Commensurate with experience and qualifications, $80,000-$100,000 per year, plus benefits.  Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

  • Medical with vision benefits
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Life and AD&D insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution
  • Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
  • Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

DISCLAIMER

The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.