MEL Qualitative Project Specialist

Career Stage: Specialist

Organizational Summary

Upstream USA is a fast-growing, national nonprofit working to expand opportunity by reducing unplanned pregnancy across the U.S. Upstream partners with states to provide training and technical assistance to health centers, increasing equitable access to the full range of contraceptive options. Our transformative approach empowers patients to decide when and if they want to become pregnant, a critical step towards improving outcomes for parents and children.

Upstream is growing rapidly and is on track to achieve nationwide impact. After launching our program in Delaware in 2014, we have partnered with health centers in Washington state, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, Mississippi and Missouri. By 2023, Upstream will have partnered with health centers that serve over one million women of reproductive age annually across these states and more.

Upstream is funded primarily through philanthropic individuals and foundations, and does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. Upstream’s budget has grown from $1.7 million just four years ago to approximately $42 million in 2022. Upstream’s work has also garnered attention from many leading publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, CNN, Vox, Forbes, and Marie Claire.

Position Summary

The MEL Qualitative Project Specialist, as part of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team, will support efforts to collect and analyze qualitative data, disseminate findings to agency partners and internal teams, and support internal training of Upstream’s interview team. Additionally, the MEL Qualitative Project Specialist will have supervisory responsibility of the part-time Patient Interview Contractor who both conducts qualitative interviews and supports administrative tasks related to the patient survey and patient interviews.

Upstream celebrates and fosters an inclusive work environment and encourages people of all identities, perspectives and backgrounds to apply.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative interviews with patients from Upstream partnered agencies
• Manages Patient Interview contractor position, overseeing the administrative aspects of the patient interview portfolio including outreach, scheduling, and planning interviews
• Supports the coordination of all aspects of the patient survey launch and implementation
• Contributes to “storytelling” through identifying interesting data stories that can be shared across Upstream
• Supports MEL work and projects focused on qualitative instrument design, protocol development, data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Conducts internal training on qualitative interviewing best practices, interview protocol, and mock interviews
• Contributes to development of study protocols e.g. interview guides, cognitive testing protocols, surveys
• Work in partnership with Practice Transformation teams to present agency level patient survey data, interpretation and lessons learned to agencies and internally to compare agency data/learning
• Contributes to improvements in learning through data feedback loops
• Provides administrative support including managing meetings, program management for special projects
• Serve as primary Institutional Review Board (IRB) contact who will facilitate necessary communications and reporting, including activities during the initial IRB application phase, continuing reviews/renewals, and amendments as needed
• Support ad hoc research projects and literature reviews
• Develop meeting agendas and materials, support facilitation and documentation of meetings, as needed
• Contribute to the MEL Team by sharing updates on your work and integrating new methods and ideas shared by other team members
• Scope, support and lead special projects as needed for the MEL team.

Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• A minimum of 4-6 years of experience post-undergraduate degree or 2-4 years of experience plus a graduate professional experience in public health, or health data-related field
• Superb communication skills, and demonstrated ability to function independently and professionally in a public-facing role
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Builds and maintains positive, productive relationships with colleagues, staff, consultants, and clients
• Qualitative interviewing, research, and analysis required
• Prior experience in health survey efforts preferred
• Knowledge and basic experience in participating in quality improvement or performance improvement initiatives in the health care setting
• Strong customer service orientation, combined with the flexibility and agility to respond to changing circumstances and the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Prior experience interfacing with patients in a clinical setting preferred
• Cultural sensitivity and comfort interacting with a wide range of social, racial and ethnic populations
• Excellent organizational, and project management skills, with outstanding attention to detail
• Solid organizational mission alignment and commitment to collaboration and teamwork
• Experience in or familiarity with qualitative software applications (preferably Dedoose)
• Familiarity with Google G-Suite including Mail, Calendar, Drive
• Able to attend work related in-person meetings and functions as needed (Upstream employees are required to be fully vaccinated to attend in-person work-related activities. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with a sincerely held religious belief or disability who are not vaccinated)
• In our hybrid work environments, there is a basic expectation that our Upstreamers will ensure that their work from home setups will have reliable access to phone and Internet to ensure connectivity to their teams.
• At Upstream we gather for moments that matter for training, teaming and connection. Our teams come together for occasional in person meetings and organizational retreats. As part of our hybrid work practices, this travel expectation will be applicable for all Upstreamers, even those based remotely.

Attributes

• Exhibit flexibility and agility in response to changing priorities
• Solid organizational mission alignment and commitment to collaboration and teamwork.
• Confident and proactive self-starter able to take initiative and work well independently
• Demonstrates a high degree of adaptability to work in a rapidly growing, post start-up organization
• Possesses excellent interpersonal skills. Builds and maintains positive, productive relationships with colleagues, staff, consultants, and contractors
• Strong work ethic and a team player attitude

Valued and Non-Essential Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability (Not required to apply)

• Master’s-level degree in public health MPH preferred

Travel Requirements

This role will require up to 5-10 % of business travel. All Upstreamers can expect a minimum of 8 days of business travel per year to attend two annual organizational retreats and two annual team/department meetings per year.

Upstream Benefits

Upstream USA offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short term disability, 401K with a match, generous vacation, personal, sick and holiday time off, parental leave, professional development and a fitness and cell phone allowance for all full time employees and part time employees who work a minimum of 24 hours per week.  

Hiring  Range

The hiring range for this role is $63,689.07 to $80,000. Final offers for this position will be based upon several factors including the scope of the role, market compensation analysis, position requirements, candidate’s experience level and capabilities, specific candidate geographic location, internal pay equity considerations and will be made within the parameters of Upstream USA's compensation framework and philosophy.

Upstream Careers

At Upstream, we embrace diversity. We nurture it and we thrive on it because it benefits our organization, our partners, and our community. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain exceptional people, and to create a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential.  Upstream is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Learn more  about working at Upstream, our values, and our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Upstream USA participates in E-Verify.

Upstream Headquarters:

2 Oliver Street, Suite 402, Boston, MA 02109

www.upstream.org

No phone calls please.

Be advised that we do not ever conduct hiring interviews via text or email. Please protect yourself by learning more about our hiring practices and common red flags to look out for.