Working Title: Senior Evaluation Scientist - Research Scientist 3
Job Class: Research Scientist 3
Agency: Health Department
Job ID : 94644
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes / Hybrid 50%
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 06/30/2026.
Date Posted : 06/24/2026
Closing Date : 07/07/2026
Hiring Agency : Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Division/Unit : Health Systems / Health Policy / Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $37.26 - $55.42 / hourly; $77,798 - $115,716 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional
Re-Posting : Yes
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
Join the Minnesota Department of Health as a Research Scientist 3 and play a key role in shaping the future of rural health care across Minnesota. This position leads high-impact research, evaluation, and performance measurement activities for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), helping state and federal leaders understand what works to improve access, quality, sustainability, and outcomes in rural communities.
In this role, you will design and lead complex mixed-methods research studies, develop statewide performance measurement frameworks, analyze large and complex datasets, and translate findings into actionable policy recommendations. You will collaborate with Tribal Nations, rural providers, policymakers, grantees, and national partners to inform health care transformation efforts and support data-driven decision making that directly impacts rural and underserved Minnesotans.
Primary responsibilities include:
Lead the design, implementation, and reporting of statewide performance measurement and evaluation frameworks for RHTP-funded initiatives.
Conduct advanced quantitative and qualitative research studies related to rural health systems, access to care, workforce, and service delivery innovation.
Analyze complex healthcare and program data using statistical software and develop dashboards, reports, and data visualizations for diverse audiences.
Develop policy recommendations and communicate research findings to executive leadership, legislators, CMS, providers, and community stakeholders.
Coordinate with internal and external partners to support data collection, quality assurance, federal reporting, and continuous quality improvement efforts.
Occasional travel to meetings across the state is required.
This vacancy announcement will be used to fill multiple Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) Senior Evaluation Scientist positions.
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 or in a bordering state within 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.
MDH relies heavily on grant funding, in addition to state appropriated dollars. As an agency, we continually monitor funding levels and navigate some degree of uncertainty related to grant cycles and the impact of the grant funding on program priorities.
This position is currently funded and approved to be filled. While the position is funded at this time, future funding is dependent on the continuation of our funding sources. The Minnesota Department of Health works proactively to sustain programs and maintain our workforce, to avoid reductions in force to the very best of our ability. In the event of a loss of funding resulting in a necessary workforce reduction, that process is governed by our collective bargaining agreements and compensation plans.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure your resume/application clearly describe your experience in the areas listed below and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held. Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of the minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.
Four (4) years of experience* in health-related qualitative and quantitative survey research, performance measurement, and program evaluation.
Experience using statistical analysis software such as SAS, Stata, R, SPSS, SQL, or similar tools
*A degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Health Services Research, Sociology, Economics, Data Science, Public Policy or a closely related field may count towards experience as follows:
Associates = 6 months.
Bachelors = 12 months.
Masters = 18 months.
PhD = 24 months.
Minimum qualifications to be assessed during the interview process:
Experience designing and conducting quantitative and/or qualitative research studies or program evaluations.
Experience with implementing and managing performance measurement frameworks for large-scale grant programs, healthcare initiatives, or system transformation efforts.
Experience with developing meaningful, actionable, and feasible metrics that align with program goals, federal reporting requirements, and operational realities.
Experience collecting, validating, cleaning, managing or interpreting quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources.
Strong written communication skills sufficient to prepare technical reports, briefing materials, or research summaries.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience conducting health services research, rural health research, or healthcare program evaluation.
Experience working with Medicaid, Medicare, CMS reporting requirements, or federal grant-funded programs.
Experience with rural hospital or clinic performance measurement.
Experience developing performance measures, logic models, or evaluation frameworks for large-scale initiatives, or designing and implementing mixed-methods evaluation studies.
Experience translating research findings into policy recommendations, legislative materials, or executive-level presentations.
Additional Requirements
This position requires successful completion of a background check and employment reference check.
This employment does not require a valid driver's license, but it does demand travel, which the candidate will be responsible for meeting.
MDH does not participate in the federal E-Verify program and is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions, and cannot complete Form I-9 or any other documentation requiring employer participation in E-Verify. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.
This agency is unable to offer H-1B sponsorship.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
