Data Analyst (Temporary)

Job Description

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.

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for a temporary Data Analyst to join our Health Systems team. The Health Systems Team positions IHME as the global resource for comprehensive health systems data and estimates (including human resources, physical resources, facility capacity, effective service coverage, and broad measures of health system performance) by creating and expanding databases, producing country-specific assessments, and generating other novel research that improves understanding of the resources, functioning and performance of health systems. This position will support research on reproductive and maternal healthcare coverage globally. The Health Systems Data Analyst will support the generation of evidence on historical trends and future scenarios in family planning indicators, research aimed at informing global tracking processes and investment decisions. This position will also support analyses related to maternal healthcare, which include indicators capturing in-facility delivery or receipt of a c-section for example. This research will focus on estimating trends in basic maternal care around the world and assessing the impact of policies and programs on receipt of maternal healthcare. While the main focus of the Data Analyst's work will be on reproductive and maternal healthcare, the role will also be expected to support from time to time the wide array of other topics the Health Systems Team covers.

Data Analysts play an important role in turning complex health data into actionable insights. This position supports key research projects by managing and shaping large datasets, ensuring data quality, providing computational support, extracting and formatting dates, and providing key inputs for publications for multidisciplinary research projects. To succeed, Data Analysts must develop a strong understanding of diverse research priorities and analytic approaches across multiple projects, enabling them to adapt solutions that meet each project's unique needs. They independently translate requests into actionable results, working with research databases, creating clear visualizations, and writing complex code to analyze quantitative data, so that findings can drive meaningful decisis.

Success in this role requires agility with complex databases and fluency in the coding languages of R and Python. Beyond technical expertise, you'll ensure accuracy through rigorous quality checks and collaborate closely with other analysts to solve problems and share knowledge. As part of IHME's commitment to innovation, you'll also use emerging AI and tools to streamline workflows and create efficiencies. Overall, the Data Analyst will be a critical member of an agile, dynamic team. IHME is a grant funded organization, and this position is contingent on project funding availability.

Responsibilities:
Research command

• Become familiar with family planning and maternal healthcare concepts and indicators to understand the dimensions and uses of health data and the analytic underpinnings of the assigned research projects.
• Work directly with researchers to identify the source of data used in models and results, understand the context of the data, and ensure that they are relevant to the analyses themselves.

Data management and analytics

• Create and document efficient, effective, and replicable methods for extracting data, developing code, organizing data sources, managing data quality, and explaining complex analytic processes.
• Use protocols to identify problems with datasets and routine computational processes, rectify issues, and systematize data for future analyses.
• Transform and format datasets for use in ongoing analyses. Perform quality checks.
• Transform and standardize datasets from a wide range of inputs such as surveys, vital registration systems, administrative records, and scientific literature.
• Problem-solve computational and analytic challenges by investigating the data, understanding the root questions, and coming up with alternative measurement strategies.
• Execute code solutions in order to answer analytic questions, perform diagnostics on results, and test and assess new methods.
• Maintain, update, and carry out routine but complex computational processes and statistical modeling that are central to generating estimates of key indicators.
• Resolve intricate questions in order to respond to the needs of senior researchers and external requests from collaborators, media, policymakers, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Use AI to optimize data workflows, enhance analysis and visualization, and implement diagnostic capabilities for anomaly detection, performance monitoring, and proactive issue resolution.

General

• Create tables, figures, and charts for concept notes, presentations, publications, and proposals.
• Provide referencing and other support for publications and presentations.
• Communicate clearly and effectively while contributing as a member of the Institute.
• Work closely with other team members to assist with relevant tasks, facilitate learning new skills, and help resolve emerging problems on different projects.
• Other duties as assigned that fall within reasonable scope of research team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, engineering, computer science, or related field plus two 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:

• Other duties as assigned that fall within reasonable scope of research team.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies into data workflows to improve scalability, accuracy, and reproducibility of analyses.
• Interest in global health, population health, and/or ways in which quantitative research and data science can be used to create valuable global public goods.
• Demonstrated self-motivation, ability to absorb detailed information, flexibility, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, energetic, highly creative, and entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to learn new information quickly and apply analytic skills to better understand complex information in a systematic way.
• Strong quantitative aptitude.
• Flexible attitude and interest in moving around to a variety of different research teams, getting a broader range of experience, rather than focusing on a particular research area or team.

Conditions of Employment:

• 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.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:
$78,324.00 annual
Pay Range Maximum:
$90,072.00 annual
Other Compensation:

Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit ;br>Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Temporary or Regular?
This is a temporary position
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%
Union/Bargaining Unit:
SEIU Local 925 - IHME

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 or

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.