Chief Science Officer

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, PHI is at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally. PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

About the role

The fundamental data that informs how we safeguard health is under threat. This historic moment requires innovation, agility, and determination to meet this challenge. The Public Health Alliance is seeking a visionary Chief Science Officer to join our team and champion these efforts. This position calls for strong data chops, deep community experience, and a keen understanding of complex systems change. The goal is to envision what is possible; looking beyond the constraints of what currently exists.

Our flagship asset is the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), the state’s most widely used health equity tool. Public agencies, health plans, and community organizations use the HPI to direct resources where they are needed most. Its strength comes from a broad range of social determinants of health indicators (economic opportunities, housing, transportation, education, air quality etc.) which are validated against life expectancy at birth. As our political landscape shifts, our HPI must also adapt, improve and evolve. Our Chief Science Officer will lead our collective efforts to protect the progress so many have worked so hard to achieve, while pioneering a shared path toward something better altogether.

About The Public Health Alliance

The Public Health Alliance is an innovative lab driven by this powerful question, “What will it take to make health and community flourishing inevitable?” We research and design data, climate and equity projects that address barriers to unlock positive change. We created and facilitate a coalition of the executive leadership of eleven local health departments in Southern California. Our members serve 60% of the state’s population. We believe that California should be a place where everyone has the opportunities and resources necessary to live a healthy and productive life. To learn more about the Alliance’s meaningful work visit https://www.thepublichealthalliance.org/.

The Alliance is fiscally administered by the Public Health Institute.

Responsibilities

• Leads bold ideation and strategic visioning in support of a secure, equitable data future
• Ongoing assessment and rigorous research identifying HPI enhancements, operational efficiencies and advocacy opportunities
• Oversight of transformative organizational data initiatives
• Strategic design, implementation, and rigorous evaluation of organizational programs and initiatives to ensure they meet the highest standards of quality and impact
• Manages, coaches, and empowers a high-performing program team, including program manager(s) and director(s)
• Identifies and develops compelling funding proposals in alignment with Alliance priorities
• Monitors program performance against grant requirements, ensuring all deliverables and reporting are met on time and to a high standard
• Establishes, cultivates, and sustains dynamic strategic partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs), government agencies, healthcare organizations, philanthropy and other key stakeholders
• Leads sustainability and expansion efforts for data projects in close collaboration with the Alliance’s leadership team and Strategic Advisory Council
• Contributes to the cultivation of a vibrant, positive and collaborative organizational culture
• Establishes and oversees robust systems to monitor program performance, track key metrics, and use data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate value to funders and partners

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Qualifications

• 7 years of progressive, impactful experience implementing and directing complex data projects
• 5 years of experience with program management within the non-profit or public sector, including significant leadership experience in public health
• 3 years of direct supervisory experience with a proven track record of successfully leading, managing, and developing staff. Knowledge/experience related to leadership can substitute
• Doctoral degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Policy, Data Science or related field; or substitute with master’s degree in a related field and two additional years of relevant work experience

Skills

• Experience and applied knowledge in biostatistics and social epidemiology
• Working knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methodology
• Fluency in R (or similar statistical software), regression, survival analysis, data visualization
• Fluency and applied knowledge in health equity, social justice, and data justice frameworks
• Experience with strategic program planning including high-level of comfort with facilitating future-focused visioning exercises
• Ability to think conceptually and act strategically at a high level
• Demonstrated success in the full lifecycle of program management, from concept development and design to implementation and evaluation
• Strong fund development skills, including deep experience ensuring grant compliance
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong, collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations, institutional partners, and other external stakeholders
• Excellent relational leadership and interpersonal skills—ability to inspire and lead a team, build consensus, and establish productive working relationships at all levels within the organization
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; adept at connecting day-to-day program activities to the overarching organizational vision
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate program goals and impact to diverse audiences
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment, drive simultaneous progress on multiple complex projects, and reliably meet deadlines
• Teamwork skills: ability to balance team and individual responsibilities while actively supporting others’ efforts to succeed
• Ability to exercise initiative, be creative, and be resourceful in achieving goals

Organizational Relationships

This position reports to the Alliance’s Director of Strategic Development and Equity Impact, and works collaboratively with the Alliance Executive Director, staff, local health department members, State agencies, healthcare organizations, community-based organizations, vendors, and other partners to advance health equity. This position also works closely with the Director of Programs to align data projects with broader Alliance projects, supporting broader organizational program visioning implementation, and team development.

Pay

Full salary range for this position: $123,149 to $188,879 per year. The typical hiring range for this position is from $123,149 (minimum) to $156,014 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

Schedule

This is a remote, full-time position and the incumbent works primarily from their home office. The Alliance maintains a 4-day work week with a work schedule of 10 hours/day. This position requires travel in the Southern California area roughly quarterly and may require travel to other areas in California on an infrequent basis. California residency is strongly preferred.