Senior Researcher - Research Scientist 3

Senior Researcher
- Research Scientist 3

Working Title:
Senior Researcher
- Research Scientist 3
Job Class:
Research Scientist 3
Agency:
Health Department

• Job : 94808
• Location
  :
  St. Paul
• Full/Part Time
  :
  Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary
  :
  Unlimited
• Who May Apply
  :
  This vacancy is open for all qualified job seekers.
• Date Posted
  : 07/31/2026
• Closing Date
  : 08/14/2026
• Hiring Agency
  :
  Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
• Division/Unit
  :
  Health Systems / Health Policy / Health Economics Program
• Work Shift/Work Hours
  :
  Day Shift / 8:00 a.m.
  
  - 4:30 p.m.
• Days of Work
  :
  Monday - Friday
• Travel Required
  :
  No
• Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
• Job Class Option
  :
  Economics
• Classified Status
  :
  Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union
  : 214 – MN Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)

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’s Health Economics Program as a Senior Researcher leading high-impact economic and policy research that informs statewide health care decisions. This position serves as a subject matter expert on health care provider markets, financing, capacity, and access, while providing critical analysis and oversight related to Minnesota’s hospital bed moratorium and major provider expenditures. The role requires advanced research expertise, independent judgment, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable policy recommendations for agency leadership, legislators, and stakeholders.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Lead complex economic, statistical, and health services research projects examining health care provider markets, financing, access, capacity, and the impact of policy initiatives.
• Manage and oversee Minnesota’s hospital bed moratorium review process, including evaluating proposals, conducting public interest analyses, assessing compliance, and preparing recommendations for agency leadership.
• Analyze health care provider financial performance, expenditure trends, and market dynamics to support policy development and decision-making.
• Design, conduct, and communicate research related to provider capacity, workforce and service access challenges, and emerging health care market issues affecting Minnesotans.
• Prepare reports, legislative briefings, presentations, and policy analyses while serving as a technical expert and resource for internal and external stakeholders.

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.

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 conducting health-related empirical research, policy analysis, health services or economic research, or public policy analysis that includes all of the following:
  • Experience designing and conducting quantitative research, statistical analyses, or applied policy analysis;
  • Experience analyzing health care administrative, claims, encounter, discharge, or financial data, to assess healthcare rates, utilization patterns, costs, or market trends;
  • Experience preparing reports, issue briefs, dashboards, or other products that communicate analytic findings.
• Experience using statistical, econometric, or data analysis software such as SQL, SAS, R, Stata, Python, or similar tools.

A degree in Economics, Public Health, Statistics, Epidemiology, Public Policy, Health Administration, Data Science, Public Administration, or a closely related field may count towards professional experience as follows:

• Associates = 6 months.
• Masters = 18 months.
• PhD = 24 months.

Minimum qualifications that will be assessed during the interview process:

• Experience communicating analytic findings to technical and non-technical audiences in a concise, logical, and objective way.
• Experience weighing organizational, operational, or business…