Research Scientist Saint Paul, MN

Job Summary

Research Scientist 2 supports and promotes health services research in the Health Economics Program (HEP) by administering the Minnesota All Payer Claims Database (MN APCD), Minnesota Hospital Discharge Database (MN HDD), and other administrative data collection and reporting activities. The incumbent ensures data submissions are timely and complete, develops data validation systems, descriptive statistics, and quality metrics, and creates reference information and presentation materials showcasing HEP’s data.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Lead and coordinate data management and compliance processes for the MN All Payer Claims Database, MN Hospital Discharge Database, and other administrative data maintained by HEP.
• Lead database capacity initiatives.
• Provide data and information project support.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two (2) year’s experience in data science, analytics, interoperability, data equity, informatics, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and data strategy, data modernization, governance and research including managing, cleaning, validating, and analyzing complex administrative or health care datasets.
• Experience performing quantitative or statistical analysis to support research, evaluation, or policy analysis.
• Experience using statistical or data analysis tools (SQL, SAS, Stata, R, Tableau, or similar).
• Experience applying data governance, privacy, or security standards when managing data or producing analytical outputs.

A bachelor’s degree may substitute for twelve (12) months of experience; an associate’s degree may substitute for six (6) months of experience.

• Ability to verbally explain and defend analytical approaches, including how data quality issues are identified, evaluated, and mitigated.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in applying data governance, privacy, and disclosure-avoidance principles.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and analytical findings clearly to non‑technical audiences, including describing how analyses or data products inform program, research, or policy decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with all-payer claims databases, hospital discharge data, or other large, multi‑source administrative health datasets.
• Experience developing or maintaining data quality frameworks, metadata, data dictionaries, or validation rules that support long‑term data usability and reproducibility for research or policy analysis.
• Experience supporting or collaborating with diverse data user communities (researchers, program staff, external partners, or policymakers), including providing technical consultation, training, or user documentation.

• Paid vacation and sick leave; 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low‑cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans; fertility care, diabetes care, dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan after working at least three years.
• Employer paid life insurance; short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
• Tax‑free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care; resources that promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well‑being.

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran‑friendly employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status, or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.