Job Details

Working Title: Community Evaluator - SHIP/CSUP
Job Class: Research Scientist 3
Agency: Health Department

• Job ID: 95911
• Location: St. Paul
• Telework Eligible: Yes / Hybrid 50%
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers simultaneously
• Date Posted: 07/30/2026
• Closing Date: 08/05/2026
• Hiring Agency: MN Health Department
• Division/Unit: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease / Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift / 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: Yes - Up to 25% of the time
• Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Professional
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities : Yes

Job Summary

This position serves as a senior evaluation and research scientist for the Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII), provided scientific leadership for evaluation, surveillance, applied research, and continuous quality improvement across multiple statewide public health initiatives., including the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), Cannabis and Substance Use Prevention (CSUP) efforts, food systems initiatives, and federally funded programs.

Working at the intersection of research, epidemiology, and public health practice, this position develops innovative evaluation methods, guides data collection and reporting systems, and translates complex findings into actionable insights that improve programs and inform policy. This role serves to design and oversee evaluation and implementation science approaches that assess effectiveness, fidelity, reach, adoption, implementation, maintenance, and sustainability or community-based interventions. As the organization's subject matter expert in research methodology and evaluation, this role provides consultation to OSHII leadership, MDH staff, community partners, and external researchers to ensure rigorous study design, statistical analysis, and meaningful interpretation of results.

This position also partners with community grantees to strengthen local evaluation capacity and assess the effectiveness, equity, and sustainability of community health improvement strategies in improving population health and reducing health inequities. Through collaboration with researchers, epidemiologists, evaluators, and other public health professionals, the incumbent uses culturally responsive and community-engaged evaluation approaches to lead the dissemination of research findings through reports, publications, and presentations that influence decision-making and improve the health of Minnesotans.

Primary responsibilities include;

• Plan, design, implement and continuously improve assessment, evaluation, surveillance, and applied research activities for the Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII).
• Serve as the organization's subject matter expert nd provide consultation, expertise and direction on evaluation and research methodology, implementation science, data analysis and interpretation, and applied public health research to OSHII evaluation and content staff, MDH staff, and researchers external to MDH.
• Lead preparation of peer-reviewed journal article research publications, data dashboards, policy briefs, and conference presentations that summarize the impact and outcomes of community health improvement efforts of the Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII).
• Participate in strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation activities related to community health improvement initiatives and statewide prevention efforts. Maintain knowledge of the science base, evaluation methodologies, implementation science, research and analytic approaches to evaluate community-based health improvement interventions.

In accordance with HR/LR Policy #1422 Telework, this position is eligible for up to 50% telework for applicants who live in Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location. Candidates residing outside of Minnesota further than 50 miles of the assigned work location at the time of application must be able to relocate to Minnesota within 30 days of their start date. The telework policy may exempt employees who live more than 50 miles from their primary work location from the 50% in-office requirement, depending on job requirements, helping the State of Minnesota access top talent across the state.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Four (4) years' experience conducting public health research, program evaluation, surveillance, epidemiology, implementation science, or applied research. Experience must include each of the following:

• Experience planning, designing, and implementing research, program evaluation, surveillance, or applied research projects, including developing evaluation methodologies and data collection processes.
• Experience collecting, managing, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods data to evaluate programs and translating findings to support decision-making for program improvement.
• Experience providing consultation or technical expertise on research methods, evaluation design, data analysis, or program monitoring to internal or external stakeholders.
• Experience preparing and presenting technical reports, publications, dashboards, or presentations that communicate research or evaluation findings to professional and non-technical audiences.

A related degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, data science, health services research, social or behavioral sciences, psychology, sociology, evaluation, or another closely related field will substitute for experience as follows:

• Doctorate may substitute for two (2) years of experience.
• Master's degree may substitute for 18 months of experience.
• Bachelor's degree may substitute for one (1) year of experience.
• Associate's degree may substitute for six months of experience.

Minimum qualifications to be assessed at interview:

• Demonstrated ability to develop, conduct, and communicate complex research, evaluation, and data findings to technical and non-technical audiences through written and verbal presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships and provide consultation or technical expertise to multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple complex projects, prioritize competing deadlines, and apply sound professional judgment to solve complex problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced experience designing and leading public health program evaluations, surveillance activities, or applied research initiatives.
• Experience evaluating policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies or community-based health improvement initiatives to improve population health outcomes.
• Experience developing evaluation plans, performance measures, logic models, theories of change, or continuous quality improvement approaches for complex public health initiatives.
• Experience managing, analyzing, and reporting complex public health data using statistical software, databases, or electronic data collection systems (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, REDCap, Qualtrics, SQL, or similar tools).
• Experience conducting participatory, culturally responsive, or community-engaged evaluations with local public health agencies, Tribal Nations, or community organizations.

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successful completion of a background check and employment reference check.

Application Details

How to Apply

Select "Apply for Job" at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email [email protected] . For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers .

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Kaitlyn Crowley at [email protected] or 651-201-5984 .

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Kaitlyn Crowley at [email protected] .

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation for an interview, you may contact the Department of Health ADA Coordinator at [email protected].