Principal Biostatistician

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a highly skilled and mission-driven Biostatistician to help advance the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), an innovative $900 million investment focused on strengthening healthcare access, improving health outcomes, and promoting long-term sustainability in rural communities across Massachusetts. This is a unique opportunity to apply advanced statistical, epidemiologic, and analytical expertise to some of the Commonwealth's most important public health challenges. Working within the Office of Health Data, Strategy, and Innovation (OHDSI), the selected candidate will play a key role in shaping data-informed strategies that address health disparities, improve population health, and support equitable access to care for rural residents. Through collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and community partners, this position will help translate complex data into meaningful actions that improve lives across the state.

This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact research, surveillance, and evaluation initiatives that influence public health policy, program development, and healthcare transformation efforts. The Principal Biostatistician will guide sophisticated analyses using a variety of data sources and methodologies, strengthen surveillance systems, support emergency response and epidemiologic investigations, and provide strategic insight to inform statewide decision-making. Candidates who enjoy solving complex problems, working across disciplines, and leveraging data to drive meaningful change will find this position both rewarding and impactful. In addition to contributing to innovative rural health initiatives, the selected candidate will help advance DPH's commitment to health equity, racial equity, and evidence-based public health practice while supporting sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery throughout the Commonwealth.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provide strategic statistical and epidemiologic leadership to support the Rural Health Transformation Program through data-driven planning, policy development, program evaluation, and public health decision-making.
• Design, direct, and oversee complex analytic studies, surveillance activities, and research initiatives focused on rural health disparities, healthcare access, population health outcomes, environmental risks, and emerging public health challenges.
• Analyze, interpret, and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources to develop actionable recommendations that advance health equity, improve health outcomes, and strengthen public health programs.
• Lead the enhancement, implementation, and quality assurance of surveillance systems, data infrastructure, and reporting processes to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and usability of public health data.
• Develop and disseminate reports, publications, dashboards, presentations, and data visualizations that effectively communicate findings to policymakers, community partners, healthcare providers, researchers, and public health stakeholders.
• Identify, evaluate, and utilize innovative data sources, analytic methodologies, and mixed-method approaches to address critical public health questions, health-related social needs, and rural health priorities.
• Coordinate epidemiologic investigations and analytic responses related to disease outbreaks, environmental hazards, public health emergencies, workforce challenges, and other emerging health threats.
• Collaborate with DPH bureaus, EOHHS agencies, academic institutions, community organizations, healthcare providers, and government partners to advance surveillance, research, evaluation, and health equity initiatives.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership for research protocols, compliance reporting, program evaluation, data governance activities, and the integration of racial equity principles into analytic and public health practices.
• Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of grants, contracts, funding opportunities, work plans, and strategic initiatives to maximize the impact and sustainability of rural health transformation investments.
• Build organizational analytic capacity by developing tools, systems, training resources, and best practices that strengthen data collection, evaluation, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making across programs.
• Oversee multiple complex projects and competing priorities while ensuring compliance with confidentiality, data security, and regulatory requirements and providing analytic guidance to support policy and program decisions.

Required Qualifications :

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology including biology and disease processes.
• Familiarity with the methods of statistical and scientific report writing.
• Ability to prepare and use charts and diagrams.
• Capacity to serve as a scientific consultant and expert at the state and federal levels.
• Skilled in providing senior technical assistance to communities and outside partners including scientific, administrative, and/or programmatic leadership and direction.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Demonstrated experience conducting advanced statistical analyses, epidemiologic research, or public health surveillance using large and complex datasets.
• Experience with statistical software packages such as SAS, R, Stata, SPSS, Python, or other advanced analytic tools.
• Knowledge of public health surveillance systems, population health indicators, and data quality assurance methodologies.
• Proven ability to translate complex data and analytic findings into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse audiences, including executive leadership and policymakers.
• Experience with developing dashboards, data visualizations, reports, publications, and presentations that communicate key public health insights.
• Familiarity with health equity frameworks, social determinants of health, and strategies to address racial and geographic disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
• Capacity to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced and evolving public health environment.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships with governmental agencies, healthcare providers, academic institutions, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Knowledge of federal and state public health regulations, research protocols, data governance practices, and confidentiality requirements related to health data management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.

DPH Mission and Vision:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to promote and protect health and wellness and prevent injury and illness for all people, prioritizing racial equity in health by improving equitable access to quality public health and health care services and partnering with communities most impacted by health inequities and structural racism.

We envision a Commonwealth with an equitable and just public health system that supports optimal well-being for all people in Massachusetts, centering those with systemically and culturally oppressed identities and circumstances.

Learn more:

Learn more: Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at [click to reveal phone number]View phone number on us.fitly.work Ext. #4

Qualifications:
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Applicants must have at least (A) eight (8) years of professional experience in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology or microbiology, or specific discipline related to the particular epidemiologic role (e.g., research statistics, research methods, population health, environmental health, toxicology, ecology, international health, etc.) and (B) of which at least five (5) years must have been in a supervisory capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A Master's degree in in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, microbiology, statistics or other health-related field may be substituted for a maximum of three (3) years of the required (A) experience and one (1) year of required (B) experience.
II. A Doctoral degree (MD, PhD, ScD, DrPH, DVM) in epidemiology, biology, biostatistics, toxicology, environmental science, environmental health, ecology, public health, chemistry, virology, immunology, bacteriology, or microbiology, or specific discipline related to the particular epidemiologic role (e.g., research statistics, research methods, population health, environmental health, toxicology, ecology, international health, etc.) may be substituted for a maximum of four (4) years of the required (A) experience and two (2) years of required (B) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.