The Program Research Specialist II will be part of the Bureau of Chronic Disease Evaluation and Research. The incumbent will support research, evaluation, and performance measurement activities carried out for the statewide Tobacco Control Program, as follows: 1) The incumbent will provide technical assistance to community-level grantees for their local data collection activities to ensure the projects are of high quality and produce results of high impact; and, 2) The incumbent will contribute to developing and maintain databases to track key performance measurement and evaluation indicators for required reporting and data sharing activities.

The Program Research Specialist II will be a part of a dynamic team of researchers, evaluators, and program staff members who work collaboratively to assess the impact of the Tobacco Control Program. The Program Research Specialist II will also be responsible for helping funded grantees in implementing local data collection activities, which is a required element of the work they do to educate communities and decision-makers about solutions that create and sustain tobacco- and vape-free norms. This involves reviewing local data collection project proposals and contributing to developing and delivering guidance and training on data collection. The role also involves creating and maintaining tracking systems to support required reporting activities, using, indicators associated with short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes, coming from various sources such as the program’s performance measurement system, the statewide Youth and Adult Tobacco Surveys, and the NY Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The incumbent will perform other appropriate related duties, as assigned.

The aim of NY’s comprehensive statewide Tobacco Control Program is to reduce illness, disability, and death related to commercial tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, and to improve health disparities and social and economic inequities caused by tobacco use. Health disparities are the result of structural racism and the historical and unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources to rural, LGBTQ, disability, tribal nations and communities of color.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Public Health or a related field and two years of research experience in the collection and analysis of data; OR an Associate's degree in a related field and four years of such experience; OR six years of such experience. A Master's degree in a related field may substitute for one year of such experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Public Health or a related field. Experience in public health research, program evaluation, or epidemiology. Experience creating databases and managing data using MS Excel, SAS, SPSS, R, or other software. Experience working with local public health entities (community-based organizations, local health departments). Proficiency in project coordination. Familiarity with principles of community health, health equity, tobacco prevention and control, and chronic disease prevention. Demonstrated excellent organizational skills. Demonstrated strong communication skills.