The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. For more than 70 years, we have focused on serving the public, invigorating civic life, conducting nonpartisan research, advancing effective public policies and practices, and achieving tangible results. Through rigorous inquiry and knowledge sharing, we inform and engage public-spirited citizens and organizations, linking diverse interests to pursue common cause. We are a dedicated team of researchers, communicators, advocates, subject matter experts, and professionals working on some of today’s big challenges – and we know we are more effective and creative collectively than we are individually. With Philadelphia as our hometown and the majority of our staff located in Washington, D.C., our U.S. and international staff find working at Pew personally and professionally rewarding.
Wise stewardship of resources allows Pew employees to pursue work that strategically furthers our mission in significant and measurable ways. We collaborate with a diverse range of philanthropic partners, public and private organizations, and concerned citizens who share our interest in fact-based solutions and goal-driven initiatives to improve society. Pew attracts top talent, people of integrity who are service-oriented and willing to take on challenging assignments. We provide competitive pay and benefits, a healthy work-life balance, and a respectful and inclusive workplace. Pew employees are proud of their colleagues, proud of where they work, and proud of the institution’s reputation.
The Government Performance Portfolio within Program
Pew’s government performance work identifies and advances effective approaches to help solve complex challenges at all levels of government in the United States.
The portfolio’s work can be traced back to our founders’ early efforts to improve the lives of Americans by supporting efforts that promoted health, civic engagement, and democratic ideals. Today, we conduct research on emerging topics, develop data-driven reports, and highlight innovative, non-partisan approaches in addressing complex problems at the federal, state, and local levels as well as the interplay that can occur between jurisdictions. Current initiatives focus on health, fiscal and economic policy, and safety and justice, and take into account significant trends such as evolving technologies, and the increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States population.
Our teams explore and advance effective, evidence-based policies using credible, timely, and accessible research, assessing public support for change, identifying approaches that have proved successful elsewhere, and bringing together diverse perspectives to find common ground. We work in collaboration with organizations that share our commitment to rigorous research, measurable results, and public service, and we focus on developing durable policy change. In addition, our teams use strategic outreach and dissemination to ensure that good information is widely communicated to decision-makers, media, influential stakeholders, and the public.
Health Information Technology
Pew’s Health IT project advances solutions that improve the safety of health information technology systems and their ability to exchange health data. The project's work of enabling better data sharing among health care providers can be built upon to address the issues highlighted during COVID – challenges with data sharing between health care providers and public health agencies.
Position Overview
The officer provides thought leadership and supports the project’s efforts to conduct research and advance state policies to support a more robust public health data infrastructure—particularly around case reporting, lab reporting, syndromic surveillance and vaccination reporting. The officer prepares initial drafts of letters, fact sheets, issue briefs, and reports outlining current problems with the public health data infrastructure, and revises according to feedback from project leadership.
The officer designs and implements research projects focused on state policy deficiencies that may inhibit data exchange from health care facilities to public health agencies. In select states, the officer tracks legislative and regulatory proposals, assesses their relevance for the team, and drafts comments for the project to submit. He or she reviews the public health and health policy landscape—including newly published peer review articles, statements by leading organizations, and other public health developments—and synthesizes relevant findings for the team.
Finally, the officer leads the planning and administration of meetings with external stakeholders, including identifying and conducting outreach to participants, drafting and disseminating meeting materials, and interfacing with other Pew departments. The position involves significant writing, especially to communicate complex topics to state policymakers and educated lay readers.
The ideal candidate has a strong background in public health research and policy, with experience working on state public health issues, ideally related to health data, health information technology or related fields. The candidate should be knowledgeable about state policy and political landscape and have the proven ability to facilitate policy conversations and discussions of research with key stakeholders. In addition, the successful candidate can communicate and work effectively with diverse individuals and organizations in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. The candidate should be able to work with relevant research and policy teams throughout Pew, to synthesize data and existing research, and to participate in conceiving and drafting original materials for both internal and external audiences.
The position, based in Pew’s Washington, D.C., office, reports to the project director, health information technology. The position has a set time frame that could be extended based on the success of the program, funding sources, and board decisions on continued support.
