Managing Research Scientist

Job Description

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for a Managing Research Scientist to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to IHME Faculty, the Managing Research Scientist is responsible for the following: As a Managing Research Scientist, you will be a supervisor on your research team by contributing to research design and training and mentoring junior staff. IHME researchers analyze and produce key estimates for their assigned research team and will assess all available relevant quantitative data – including those on causes of death, epidemiology, and a range of determinants such as education and income – from surveys, vital registration, censuses, literature, registries, and administrative records. Managing Research Scientists play a critical role in supervising and managing research team staff. This position specifically will support a grant examining the burden related to, and sources of, lead exposure globally.

You will be integrally involved in producing, critiquing, improving, and disseminating results. You are someone who is capable of keeping your team on track to meet deadlines and research objectives. You have experience with the publication process, and at IHME, you will build out your portfolio with several peer-reviewed papers. You thrive in a collaborative work environment and are capable of working on multiple projects concurrently while meeting deadlines. You keep current of recent scientific, engineering, and technical advances and are able to translate these into your research.

This position is contingent on project funding.

Key Responsibilities

Supervision and Management 40%:

• Supervise employees to include hiring and training, leading workflow; priority setting; reviewing work and establishing quality standards; conducting regular performance assessments, providing mentorship and professional development for employees, and making recommendations for disciplinary action as needed.

• Identify training needs and opportunities for team members to grow their skills and advance their careers; Ensure that the team has the necessary resources to complete their tasks effectively.

• Promote positive morale and positive progress towards objectives across all teams; lead effective and efficient team meetings that are structured, inclusive of consultation and constructive feedback, and result in identifiable next steps for team members.

• Keep team members motivated and engaged, recognizing their achievements, and addressing any issues that may affect morale.

• Monitor individual and team performance, providing feedback, and helping to resolve any performance issues; assist the team in overcoming obstacles, making decisions, and resolving conflicts.

• Ensure that the team adheres to company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

• Attend required trainings about team leadership, management, and related topics as designated by ODT and the IHME Director.

Research Dissemination 60%

• Exhibit command of team research area, including the methodology, components, and how it intersects and intertwines with the larger Global Burden of Disease enterprise in order to effectively manage the work, engage partners in the research process, as well as lead trainings, give presentations, and conduct seminars on substantive research topics to internal and external partners.

• Independently carry out quantitative analyses and participate in reciprocal research projects. Interpret and vet results from staff, formulate conclusions, and inform team leaders.

• Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods. Create, test, and use relevant computer code (R preferred, Python acceptable).

• Contribute to research design.

• Draft presentations and manuscripts and contribute to funding proposals. Lead and co-author scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.

• Maintain scientific awareness and intellectual agility with data, methods, and analytic techniques.

• Growing peer network where sought out as having solid command with engineering/technical areas, a given disease, risk, key indicator, relevant methodological area, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

• Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences, or related discipline plus four years' related experience.

• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Additional Qualifications

• Previous supervisory experience with hiring, developing employees, priority setting, setting quality standards, and performance coaching.

• Excellent analytic, critical thinking, and quantitative skills.

• Results- and detail-oriented individual who can initiate and complete tasks under tight deadlines and changing priorities both independently and in a team environment. Flexibility with hours and workload is key.

• Experience devising and executing statistical modeling techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to quickly recognize problems in results and identify root causes in data, methods, and code.

• Ease in designing, executing, and troubleshooting code in one or more languages (R preferred, Python acceptable).

• Excellent written and oral communication skills required, including track record of success in co-authorship on multiple scientific papers, presenting results, and representing research at meetings.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and sustain collaborations with external research teams.

• Experience in working with large data sets, including devising strategies for reliable data management for large data sets, computationally efficient modeling techniques to use such data sets, and critical evaluation of highly multidimensional model outputs that result from such work.

• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a team.

• A long-term interest in a research scientist position contributing to the overall mission of our research.

Preferred Qualifications

• MD or PhD in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, or quantitative social sciences plus two years’ experience preferred.

• Experience with machine learning, data mining, and analytic techniques.

• Experience mentoring and developing junior employees on soft and technical skills.

• Experience with project management methods.

• Peer-reviewed publication record.

• Experience implementing hierarchical models, particularly small area estimation or geospatial models.

• Experience working with US survey, census, vital registration, and other data sources.

Working Conditions

• Weekend and evening work sometimes required.

• This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US.

• Working internationally is only allowed for IHME sponsored work that requires in-country participation.

• Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US; work schedule required to overlap 50% of IHME office hours, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Time as agreed upon between employee and supervisor.

This recruitment requires a cover letter. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be forwarded to the hiring department. 

Please address the following in your cover letter: 

• Please include three of your references including a current or past supervisor.

About the Team

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research organization at the University of Washington (UW). Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Shift:

Temporary or Regular?

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.