What are the responsibilities and job description for the DSHS BHHA WSH Research Investigator 2 position at Washington State Department of Social and Health Services?
Description
DSHS BHHA WSH – Research Investigator 2 Join the Research, Evaluation, and Data Analysis (REDA) Office at Western State Hospital as a Research Investigator 2. REDA is a collaborative analytics team that partners with clinical, operational, and executive leaders across the hospital. In this role, you will develop dashboards, conduct research studies, analyze complex healthcare and operational data, and support hospital leadership to make informed decisions that improve patient and staff outcomes.
This flexible hybrid position offers a four-day workweek and is ideal for candidates who enjoy combining analytics, visualization, research, and problem-solving in a mission-driven healthcare environment. As WSH transitions enterprise reporting from Tableau to Power BI, you will also have the opportunity to help shape and modernize hospital-wide analytics and dashboard infrastructure.
Why Join REDA?
Located in Lakewood, Washington, Western State Hospital is the state’s largest psychiatric hospital, providing inpatient behavioral healthcare services for adults with serious mental health conditions. As part of the Department of Social and Health Services, WSH partners with multidisciplinary teams to support patient recovery, safety, and quality improvement through evidence-based care and operational excellence.
Learn more about Western State Hospital
Explore careers with DSHS
Ready to start a rewarding career? Apply today!
Along With Your Fully Completed Application, Please Include
Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Ricky Luna at ricky.luna@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number #04368.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
This position has been designated as emergent under the DSHS Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The incumbent in this position is directly responsible for delivery of DSHS Vital Services and for understanding the written local emergency management plan, which describes how Vital Services will be delivered during an emergency or disaster. During a recognized emergency, the duties may be different from normal duties, and will be temporary in nature, lasting only as long as necessary to resume normal operations. The incumbent may be required to perform the following during a recognized emergency/disaster: Report for duty on short notice for a specified timeframe; Report for duty outside of normally scheduled work hours and workdays; Report to a duty station that is different from the official duty station; Perform work task outside the normal scope of duties reflected in the Position Description Form.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
DSHS BHHA WSH – Research Investigator 2 Join the Research, Evaluation, and Data Analysis (REDA) Office at Western State Hospital as a Research Investigator 2. REDA is a collaborative analytics team that partners with clinical, operational, and executive leaders across the hospital. In this role, you will develop dashboards, conduct research studies, analyze complex healthcare and operational data, and support hospital leadership to make informed decisions that improve patient and staff outcomes.
This flexible hybrid position offers a four-day workweek and is ideal for candidates who enjoy combining analytics, visualization, research, and problem-solving in a mission-driven healthcare environment. As WSH transitions enterprise reporting from Tableau to Power BI, you will also have the opportunity to help shape and modernize hospital-wide analytics and dashboard infrastructure.
Why Join REDA?
- Work directly with executive leadership and clinical teams.
- Lead projects that influence hospital operations and patient outcomes.
- Build enterprise dashboards used across the hospital.
- Conduct applied research in behavioral health and healthcare operations.
- Work in a collaborative environment with opportunities to improve data systems and reporting processes.
- Flexible hybrid schedule with four-day workweek.
- This position offers substantial independence and opportunities to lead analytical projects from development through implementation and presentation.
- Design and maintain dashboards, reports, databases, and data collection systems using Power BI, SQL Server, MySQL, Excel, and related tools.
- Analyze healthcare, operational, and safety data to identify trends, measure outcomes, and support decision-making.
- Conduct research and program evaluation studies related to patient care, safety, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Collaborate with clinical, operational, and executive stakeholders to develop reporting and analytical solutions.
- Translate complex statistical and operational findings into clear reports, presentations, and recommendations.
- Support data governance, reporting standardization, and continuous improvement of REDA processes and systems.
- Provide technical assistance and training related to dashboards, reporting tools, and data systems.
- Projects may include patient safety analytics, staffing and operational reporting, program evaluation, regulatory reporting, and executive dashboards.
- Experience analyzing, interpreting, and presenting complex data.
- Experience writing SQL queries and working with relational databases.
- Experience developing dashboards or data visualizations using Power BI or similar tools.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including communicating technical information to non-technical audiences.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience in healthcare, behavioral health, or government settings.
- Experience with SPSS, R, Python, or other statistical software.
- Experience conducting program evaluations or applied research studies.
- Experience working with large relational databases.
- Experience presenting findings to leadership or non-technical audiences.
- Experience authoring technical reports, research papers, or published articles.
- Ability to translate complex analytical findings into actionable recommendations for operational or clinical stakeholders.
- A PhD degree in a relevant specialty, technical, or qualitative field, and one year of experience conducting experimental, analytical, or theoretical research in the applicable specialty area. OR
- A Master’s degree in a relevant specialty, technical, or qualitative field, and three years of experience conducting experimental, analytical, or theoretical research in the applicable specialty area. OR
- An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience totaling seven or more years.
- Work schedule: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Monday through Thursday.
- Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
- Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
Located in Lakewood, Washington, Western State Hospital is the state’s largest psychiatric hospital, providing inpatient behavioral healthcare services for adults with serious mental health conditions. As part of the Department of Social and Health Services, WSH partners with multidisciplinary teams to support patient recovery, safety, and quality improvement through evidence-based care and operational excellence.
Learn more about Western State Hospital
Explore careers with DSHS
Ready to start a rewarding career? Apply today!
Along With Your Fully Completed Application, Please Include
- A cover letter
- An updated resume
- Three professional references with contact information
- Applicants are encouraged to submit one work sample, such as a dashboard, report, presentation, or analytical product.
Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Ricky Luna at ricky.luna@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number #04368.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
This position has been designated as emergent under the DSHS Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The incumbent in this position is directly responsible for delivery of DSHS Vital Services and for understanding the written local emergency management plan, which describes how Vital Services will be delivered during an emergency or disaster. During a recognized emergency, the duties may be different from normal duties, and will be temporary in nature, lasting only as long as necessary to resume normal operations. The incumbent may be required to perform the following during a recognized emergency/disaster: Report for duty on short notice for a specified timeframe; Report for duty outside of normally scheduled work hours and workdays; Report to a duty station that is different from the official duty station; Perform work task outside the normal scope of duties reflected in the Position Description Form.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.