Public Health Lead Researcher III or Senior (Hybrid) - National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

Join the HJF Team! 

HJF is seeking a Public Health Lead Researcher III or Senior to support the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH) located at the Rockledge Office in Bethesda, MD. HJF provides scientific, technical, and programmatic support services to NCDMPH of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, MD.

The incumbent will serve as the scientific research lead for the National Center’s NDMSresearch activities. The incumbent reports to the Research Director of the National Center and is responsible for overseeing a team of researchers and leading research activities from inception to closeout. This individual is also responsible for seeking funding, writing proposals, developing research plans, ensuring scientific integrity throughout program execution, and producing high quality scientific papers and presentations.

NOTE:  All HJF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or an approved religious or medical accommodation will be required.

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Responsibilities: 

1. Conducts scientific research in alignment with the National Center’s research strategy and serves as the HJF scientific lead for NCDMPH research projects to include the NDMS pilot program and others. Design and implement studies to include leading methodological design and data collection and analysis. Requires direct- hands-on related work to include developing analytic plans and interpreting and communicating results to varied audiences. Leads the research team and ensures efforts and outcomes are driven by comprehensive and detailed long-range and mid-range research team objectives, plans, processes, and associated metrics (process and outcome). (60%)
2. Strategizes, develops proposals, and seeks funding for the National Center’s research program in disaster medicine, public health and healthcare system emergency management, with an emphasis on the practical application of scientific theories and processes in accordance with scientific integrity. Develop research plans and oversees implementation efforts to include leading and co-authoring methodology and substantive reports. (20%)
3. Supervises and mentors’ researchers and USU students as needed. (10%)
4. Coordinates annual center wide research budget, assures correct research funding administration, and identifies and pursues future research funding. (5%)
5. Contributes to the USU education, research, and service mission. (5%)
6. May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training for role.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to create a strategic research agenda with comprehensive long-range and mid-range disaster health and public health research plans, processes, objectives, and associated metrics for the National Center.
• Has direct experience seeking and obtaining funding (direct Federal and grants), conducting and guiding research execution, and producing high quality scientific papers and presentations.
• Clearly communicate objectives, plans, processes, and metrics with research teams, National Center leadership, and external partners and sponsors.
• Expertise in leading and serving as a principal investigator for epidemiological, quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods research methods in disaster medicine, public health, healthcare disaster preparedness education, or healthcare emergency management.
• Experience with IRBs, preparation of research proposals, reports, journal articles and presentations.
• Record of disaster healthcare, management, or preparedness scholarly contributions (peer-reviewed publications and national or international academic presentations) preferred. 
• Leads and mentors others via collaborative approaches. Highly detail-oriented, self-motivated, and organized; demonstrates exemplary individual initiative; deadline driven; excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite, spreadsheet, database, and statistical software.
• Professional experience working in the Federal government and/or U.S. military preferred.
• Professional experience conducting research in or with academic, private sector and/or non-profit entities preferred.
• Experience managing research projects and teams. Professional experience working in healthcare or public health preparedness or disaster epidemiology as well as demonstrated experience with leading quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research in those areas.

Minimum Education: Doctoral degree in public health, sociology, or emergency management with research training required.

Minimum Experience/ Training Requirements: Open to multiple levels.

• Level III - 8 -10 years of experience required.
• Senior - More than 10 years of experience required. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct authority to make decisions on the following: employee hiring, disciplinary action, starting salaries and merit increases; conduct employee performance evaluations and directs work activities.

Work Environment: This job takes place in a typical office setting.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid work environment with flexibility to telework a few days per week.

Background/Security: Eligibility to obtain and maintain a Tier I investigation/Public Trust and a Common Access Card (CAC). 

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, addresses, education, and credentials, a criminal background check, drug screening, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check.   

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer. 

National Center Overview

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH or “National Center”) was established under the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD 21) to be “…an academic center of excellence in disaster medicine and public health….” The National Center is a unique organization in two important ways- It was founded as a collaboration by five Federal agencies: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It is also a unique entity that is both a Federal organization and an academic center, located within the Uniformed Services University (USU). 

The overarching strategic theme of NCDMPH is medical and public health READINESS—preparing the Nation from disasters and catastrophic events. Leveraging scholarship to advance the education and research agenda for disaster readiness in the United States are the missions; collaboration and leadership are the tools to achieve the preparedness mission.

NDMS Pilot Program Background

The Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (FY20 NDAA) authorized the Secretary of Defense to conduct an NDMS Pilot Program (Pilot). The Pilot was reauthorized in the FY21 NDAA; it will be carried out over five years, in three phases, at five sites. The Pilot will address the potential national security threat of limited capacity to care for casualties returning from an overseas wartime contingency. This position supports the Pilot at the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health.

About HJF

HJF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.

Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.