Scientist, Qualitative Research, Patient-Centered Outcomes

Scientist, Qualitative Research, Patient-Centered Outcomes (PCO) - Remote, US-based position

Job Summary

Our Scientists in Patient-Centered Outcomes (PCO), lead and support the execution of research projects related to the collection and analysis of patient-centered data through qualitative interviews and surveys, the development and content validation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) and other clinical outcome assessment (COA) measures, and other qualitative and mixed methods approaches to support the evaluation of therapeutics within our growing Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consulting practice.

Our Scientists take responsibility for a wide range of scientific research and consulting activities, primarily focusing on qualitative research methods. The ideal candidate will be familiar with patient-focused drug development and participate in consultation on qualitative study design, COA instrument evaluation/selection, and measurement strategy advising.

Key research activities of the role include developing and performing targeted or systematic reviews of medical literature (most frequently focusing on patient-centered outcome endpoints), developing and reviewing study protocols/materials, qualitative interviewing, transcript coding, analysis, and reporting. Our Scientists also prepare, support, and participate in direct interactions with the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

The PCO team is passionate about conducting applied research that benefits patients and their families. We understand the relevance of measuring the right patient outcomes and patient experience and are committed to OPEN Health’s values when working on diverse PCO projects.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Drafting and participating in quality control of project deliverables or other assignments, including study proposals, protocols, interview guides, reports, and study slides
• Conducting research project management and site coordination for multi-center studies under the supervision of a project director
• Conducting qualitative interviews, including concept elicitation and cognitive debriefing in support of COA instrument development and evaluation 
• Using qualitative analysis software (such as ATLAS.ti) to code and categorize key themes captured within qualitative interview transcripts
• Undertaking structured literature reviews to identify and summarize COA instruments used in specific therapeutic areas/disease state
• Partnering with and supporting other members of our cross-functional PCO teams (e.g., psychometrics, survey, and preference research teams)

• Supporting COA-focused strategy for client interactions/ submissions with health authorities, including regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, EMA) and HTA bodies
• Interacting with federal regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA), along with occasional interaction with other international regulators
• With guidance from senior researchers, you will be participating in proposal development and project budgeting to support the team’s overall business development efforts
•  We anticipate the candidate’s role will include progressively increasing responsibility within our project teams. This will include initial task-oriented involvement within existing study teams under the guidance of the project director and is expected to expand with increasing experience to include leadership of project teams

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree in relevant area of study (such as Public Health, Health Services Research, Medical Anthropology/Sociology, Epidemiology, Social Work, or related social science fields) – or comparable combination of training/experience required
• A minimum of two years of direct experience in qualitative or PRO/COA research is required
• Prior client-facing experience in a research consulting setting preferred
• Strong attention to detail and superior communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Must be proactive, efficient, and responsive to shifting priorities in a team-based research consultancy setting to ensure expectations are exceeded
• Ability to adapt and learn quickly
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, including the ability to prepare and present relevant summaries of complex materials 
• Prior coursework, training, or experience with qualitative research approaches 
• Experience with qualitative interviewing and analysis software (such as ATLAS.ti, Dedoose, or NVivo) is required
• Advanced proficiency in MS365 including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, with a focus on strong Excel proficiency
• Experience with online questionnaire software (such as QuestionPro or SurveyMonkey) is a plus

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 5% Potential Global Travel

About OPEN Health

OPEN Health unites deep scientific knowledge with wide-ranging specialist expertise to unlock possibilities that improve health outcomes and patient wellbeing. Working in partnership with our clients, we embrace our different perspectives and strengths to deliver fresh thinking and solutions that make a difference. 

OPEN Health is a flexible global organization that solves complex healthcare challenges across HEOR and market access, medical communications and creative omnichannel campaigns. 

As a leading HEOR consulting firm, OPEN Health provides evidence-based insights that drive decision-making in the healthcare industry. Our multidisciplinary team of experts collaborates to deliver innovative solutions to clients worldwide.

What we offer:

As a global organization, OPEN Health is committed to supporting our employees and their families through a comprehensive benefits program

• Competitive pay, generous paid vacation and holidays, and more across all our locations
• Ongoing training and development opportunities which foster and shape your individual career path
• An active and growing commitment to bettering the communities our employees call home through our Corporate Social Responsibility program
• The opportunity to thrive in a global, collaborative environment while working every day to improve health outcomes and patient wellbeing
• Diverse, inclusive culture that encourages you to bring your whole self to work

 If we sound like the sort of business environment in which you would thrive, we would love to hear from you.