Westat is an employee-owned corporation providing research services to agencies of the U.S. Government, as well as businesses, foundations, and state and local governments. Westat's research, technical, and administrative staff of more than 2,000 is located at our headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, near Washington, DC.

Westat is committed to building a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity, belonging and equity for all. We believe that our greatest strength draws on the different backgrounds, cultures, perspectives and experiences of our employees.

Job Summary

Westat has an immediate opening for a Research Associate to join our team of leading researchers supporting our continued work on behavioral health and health policy. You will be assisting on projects that address the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use conditions.

In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with project leadership and multi-disciplinary project teams to translate science into resources for a variety of audiences. 

Audiences could include federal and state policy makers, clinical service providers, and individuals affected by mental health and substance use conditions. Resources developed through Westat research include federal reports, clinical services implementation guides, policy analyses reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles. 

You will have opportunities to work on different behavioral health topics, which could include healthcare financing, behavioral health program evaluation, mental health and substance use services delivery, health equity, social determinants of health, and opioids.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support all stages of research from study design through data collection and management, analysis, and report writing.
• Conduct literature searches, synthesize research findings, and contribute to writing on health policy and behavioral health topics.
• Translate research findings into easy-to-understand products for diverse audiences.
• Participate in developing data collection plans, instruments, and data collection materials.
• Conduct and oversee data collection efforts, such as administering surveys, interviews, site visits, observation protocols, and acquiring administrative data.
• Assist with data analysis of qualitative or quantitative data.
• Participate in presentations at conferences and other meetings.
• Participate in business development with networks of internal and external staff on proposals and projects from a variety of federal agencies, states, and foundations.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in health policy, economics, or a social science discipline such as psychology, sociology, political science, or analytical methods.
• 1-3 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in behavioral health conditions and disabilities research.
• Experience with quantitative or qualitative research.
• Experience writing technical reports (such as literature reviews, study plans, methodology reports, summaries of research findings) or contributing to peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to produce visually appealing reports, tables, graphs, and presentation slides.
• Experience with data collection, developing analysis plans and overseeing analysis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated communication skills.
• Collaboration with teams, managers and/or clients.
• Organization skills, including time management ability.
• Detail- oriented.

Westat offers a well-rounded and comprehensive benefits program focused on wellness and work/life balance. Eligible employees may participate in:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Holiday Leave
• Professional Development
• Health Advocate
• Employee Assistance Program
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account

 

Westat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other protected status under applicable law.