Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, LLC is a nonpartisan team of policy and mental health experts who advance data-driven strategies to overcome Oklahoma’s most pressing mental health and substance use challenges.
Since its founding in 2019 by The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, 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’s policymakers and community leaders committed to improving the mental health of all Oklahomans.
About the role
The Senior Data Analyst and Program Evaluator uses population health data and qualitative community feedback to understand mental health needs and service gaps among populations in Oklahoma. The position works with Healthy Minds’ expert staff and consultants on projects that include community mental health system assessments, designing and conducting project evaluations, and supporting partner and staff understanding of findings for improvement.
This position reports to the Director of Community Initiatives and is full-time, exempt.
Duties and responsibilities
- Lead the design and implementation of programmatic evaluations and needs assessments
- Ensure accurate and timely data collection on planned outcome and process measures of community programs
- Develop logic models
- Participate on assigned organizational research
- Develop and manage databases
- Oversee and follow organizational data security protocols
- Draft findings and written reports about the needs, strengths, and gaps in services, systems, and populations
- Stay up to speed with evidence-based practices and trends in mental health and substance use and articulate them to Healthy Minds staff, partners, and clients
- Identify and analyze population-level mental health prevalence, determinant factors, and service data
- Collect and analyze qualitative data, including conducting interviews
- Prepare data requests and data sharing agreements
- Analyze program and client data
- Support the of federal grant-funded projects by evaluating programs, collecting data, and tracking project performance
- Provide trainings on data collection and other evaluation processes for Healthy Minds’ partners
- Track and fulfill project deadlines, milestones, and needs as necessary
- Contribute to grant applications, including by providing data, responding to evaluation requirements, and serving on a writing team
- Produce occasional written content for publication on Healthy Minds’ website
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements and qualifications
A successful candidate will have a foundational understanding or ability to quickly learn mental health best practices, as well as have direct experience as a data analyst and program evaluator. This position should have knowledge of health and human services, with experience in behavioral health being a distinct advantage.
Required education and experience
- Master’s degree or higher required in public health, program evaluation, behavioral health (e.g., social work, psychology), or another relevant discipline such as public administration
- Minimum five years’ experience analyzing population health data, performing program evaluation related to mental health and/or substance use or related field
Desired strengths and abilities
- Experience planning, monitoring, and implementing evaluation plans
- Experience working with large data sets, including population health and service/claims data
- Ability to analyze and translate data into meaningful findings and actionable recommendations for staff and partners
- Strong writing ability
- Able to effectively present information, facilitate group discussion and processes, and proactively source and communicate recommendations
- Able to work on projects collaboratively in a team setting, meet deadlines, actively anticipate needs and communicate, consult appropriate personnel, and document progress using team-based project tracking
- Work effectively with clients in translating data and using data to meet their needs, and to be flexible in applying evaluation methodologies
- Familiarity with federal grant requirements and program evaluation, especially those of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Outcome Measures (NOMs)
- Speak the language of public and behavioral health, know the challenges and current issues related to mental health needs and services, and approach them with optimism, integrity, and a passion for creating real change
Other skills and requirements
- Detail-oriented and organized
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Teams, and Outlook
- Ability to use R, QGIS, and ArcGIS
- Committed to achieving results, continuous learning, and growth
- Ability to work regularly from an established office in Tulsa or Oklahoma City during traditional work hours. Healthy Minds allows for occasional remote work and off-hours work as agreed upon by employee and supervisor
- Ability to work remotely with Internet access