Population Health Research Fellow

Location

Tulsa or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Employment status

Full time, exempt

Employment timeline

Two years

About Healthy Minds

Healthy Minds Policy Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan policy organization that publishes research and analysis on mental health and substance use issues in Oklahoma, advocates for policy solutions that increase Oklahomans’ access to care, and convenes community partners to build stronger local mental health systems. The organization was founded in 2019 by The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and has offices and staff members in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Since its inception, Healthy Minds has published dozens of pieces of original research and analysis, helped secure tens of millions of dollars in competitive funding for Oklahoma’s behavioral health care system, and initiated more than a dozen community-based partnerships committed to ending untreated mental illness and substance use. Healthy Minds provides data, consultation, and education on best practices to Oklahoma legislators and other leaders committed to improving the mental health of all Oklahomans.

Job purpose

Healthy Minds Policy Initiative’s fellows are at the forefront of advancing collaborative, data-driven solutions to transforming Oklahoma’s approach to mental health. Over the course of a two-year, full-time fellowship, fellows conduct extensive research, assist with project management, and work with internal partners to explore the mental health landscape in Oklahoma. The fellowship experience is diverse and professionally enriching, exposing fellows to the most pressing issues facing behavioral health and offering training and support for fellows’ own personal and career goals.

Using a public health approach, the fellow will be part of a team exploring essential population-level trends impacting behavioral health outcomes in Oklahoma. This work will allow for public health monitoring for timely identification of emerging trends in behavioral health experiences for Oklahoma. Projects may include comprehensive reports on specific conditions or topics including “State of” reports, and targeted ongoing monitoring of specific behavioral health topics.  As such, this work will assist in identifying gaps in systems, communities, and coordination to inform policy initiatives for improving behavioral health outcomes for all Oklahomans.  

This is a population-health and systems-level fellowship; it is not a clinical internship or supervised practice program of any sort, and fellows may not engage in any form of clinical service during the fellowship.

Responsibilities

The following duties may represent the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Project management for ongoing research projects including but not limited to organization of meetings, file management, and milestone tracking.
• Assist with the creation of research resources for internal teams.
• Contribute to the development of research ideas.
• Conduct literature reviews to inform research projects.
• Collaborate with research teams to develop research plans that are focused and achievable with timeline requirements.
• Assist with data collection activities as needed including the creation of surveys and/or databases, and key informant interviews.
• Provide support as needed with data cleaning.  
• Synthesize data and compelling talking points to create meaningful research reports and presentations.  
• Coordinate and assist with meetings for a Lived Experience Council.
• Assist with evaluation projects and community needs assessments as needed.
• Provide support with identifying public health data sources and monitoring.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, public administration, behavioral health, community health, or related discipline required.  Graduate degree preferred. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to the organization’s mission and values.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Essential strengths

• Passionate about improving mental health outcomes.
• Detail oriented and organized.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented.
• Thrives when collaborating with diverse groups of internal and external partners.
• Adapts quickly and calmly to urgent situations and changing circumstances.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development.

Work environment and physical requirements

• This is a hybrid position, with 2.5 days each week required at the Tulsa or Oklahoma City office.
• Reliable internet access is required for at-home workdays.
• Occasional travel between Tulsa and Oklahoma City offices is required. Statewide travel may be assigned for meetings or events outside of the two metro areas.
• Regular work hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
• Candidates must be able to work in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time.

Compensation and benefits

• Salary range is $55,000 to $65,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• Medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability insurance: 100% employer-paid for full-time employees; dependent coverage available with employee cost-sharing for health insurance (currently approximately 22% employee-paid).
• Automatic employer-funded 401K contributions with no vesting schedule.
• Three weeks PTO and two weeks paid sick leave.
• Paid company holidays and employee-directed floating holidays.
• Employer-paid AD&D and life insurance, with optional supplemental employee-paid life insurance.
• Opportunities for professional development.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Healthy Minds Policy Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply.

Please apply by sending your resume and cover letter to careers@healthymindspolicy.org with the subject line "Research Fellow Application." Applications will be accepted until Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m.