Behavioral Health Social Research Scientist

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. Are you an early-career researcher or post-doc with a commitment to behavioral health and social justice and a focus on generating research that can inform public sector services? Do you enjoy working collaboratively to define research questions and analysis that will improve practice? Are you interested in putting your skills to work to make a difference in your community? If so, King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is looking for you! DCHS manages a wide range of programs and services to assist the county's most vulnerable residents. The department maintains a pro-equity focus aimed at developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all county residents, regardless of race, gender identity or income. Within DCHS, the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) provides high-quality behavioral health services to help ensure people with mental health and substance use disorders receive the services they need. This position will support BHRD’s crisis services, primarily focused on the nine-year Crisis Care Centers Levy (CCC-L), and may include programs or services designed to provide intervention, outreach, or prevention all along the crisis continuum. King County voters approved a nine-year property tax Crisis Care Centers Levy (CCC-L) in April 2023 to fund the Crisis Care Centers Initiative from 2024 to 2032. The initiative will create a countywide network of five crisis care centers, restore, and expand mental health residential treatment beds in the region, and invest in the recruitment and retention of the community behavioral health workforce. Crisis care centers are a type of behavioral health facility that will have three core components: a 24/7 Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic, a 23-hour Crisis Observation Unit, and a Crisis Stabilization Unit. Crisis care centers will use a “no-wrong door approach” and will endeavor to accept, at least for initial screening and triage, any person who seeks behavioral health crisis care. Crisis care centers will also be expected to coordinate with post-crisis follow-up services to ensure ongoing stabilization and supports for people who receive services at crisis care centers. King County BHRD is seeking a part-time, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) Social Research Scientist to conduct a research project and inform BHRD’s approach to engaging in public‑academic partnerships. This role requires experience in health services research and subject matter expertise in mental health and/or substance use services. This position will lead the design of a study in partnership with DCHS based on the following priority research areas: Unmet need : The need for crisis services among King County residents; variation in crisis service needs and access amongst sub-populations. Health inequities : How crisis services address health inequities, including responsiveness to variable community needs; variations in outcomes and contributing factors. Service match : Client experience of crisis services; service delivery alignment with needs; relationship between crisis service access and utilization of other behavioral health services. Pathways through care : Sequences of clinical services among those using crisis services; variations in outcomes based on contributing clinical and demographic factors; diversion from hospitals and jails; differences between voluntary and involuntary care pathways. Post-crisis follow-up : How services delivered after receiving a crisis service are associated with utilization of care; variations in outcomes among recipients of dedicated post-crisis follow-up program services. This position is centrally located within the Performance Measurement and Evaluation (PME) unit of the DCHS Director's Office and will work closely with crisis program staff in BHRD. This position will work with a team of extremely talented data scientists and evaluators and behavioral health subject matter experts. This recruitment is to fill a part-time (16 hours a week), Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position that is anticipated to 16 months in duration. If filled by a King County employee who has passed their initial probation, the TLT will be as a Special Duty Assignment (SDA). Develop scientific questions and methods Collaborate with DCHS to refine research agenda and develop evidence to support CCC-L practice and implementation strategies. Design and develop methodology for health study aligned with CCC-L research priorities, including study protocol and associated documentation. Develop additional data collection methods and tools that are acceptable to crisis service providers and patient populations using a variety of methods; pilot and refine tools in collaboration with providers. Ensure compliance with research ethics requirements, including developing consenting processes and leading IRB submission as needed. Conduct analysis and disseminate results Collaborate with PME, BHRD staff, crisis service program managers, and other King County staff to conduct analyses that leverage and expand upon existing efforts. Manage and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical methods and data cleaning and validation tools. Disseminate results to technical and lay audiences, including service recipients, program staff, policymakers, program managers, researchers, and funders. Prepare reports, presentations and scientific papers; participate in conferences, and meetings. Pilot implementation of public‑academic partnership model Identify potential funding sources and pursue planning steps towards preparing major grant proposals, alone or in collaboration with other researchers and/or agencies. Collaborate with PME and BHRD to align research with existing performance measurement and evaluation efforts and plan how research findings can be used to inform practice. Develop recommendations to pursue further research opportunities and strategies in partnership with academic partners, County leadership, staff from provider agencies, community members, and/or external consultants. Demonstrated experience with health services research (typically 5+ years) or combination of work experience and education; specific expertise in behavioral health research preferred. At least 2 years of experience with practice-focused methods of research, such as community-based participatory research, implementation science, translational science, or similar team science strategies. At least 1 year of experience designing research studies and drafting associated materials such as study protocols, grant proposals, evaluation plans, implementation plans, or other similar products. Experience implementing studies in public health settings in compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocols. Experience with data collection tools, such as clinical tools that are useful for both practice and research, surveys, interviews, narrative reporting, focus groups, or reporting spreadsheets. Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative or qualitative analysis software, such as: SQL, R, Python, SAS, or similar quantitative analysis software Nvivo, Atlas-ti, Dedoose, or similar qualitative analysis software Strong technical writing and documentation skills; record of prior scientific publication preferred. Demonstrated ability to facilitate conversations among individuals with diverse perspectives to develop shared understanding and/or common goals and approaches. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and data management concepts for non-technical stakeholders and build consensus. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage projects and meet deadlines, including the ability to do so independently. Demonstrated knowledge of equity, racial and social justice principles and practices and ability to apply this knowledge to all areas of the work, including methods, analysis, results interpretation, and dissemination.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD in social or health science (e.g. public health, psychology, psychiatry, social work, anthropology, sociology, or a closely related public health field) Experience working with publicly funded behavioral health services; experience working within the behavioral health delivery system as a provider / clinician; or, lived experience with behavioral health system services. Lived experience includes, but is not limited to, managing one’s own behavioral health needs or supporting someone’s behavioral health needs, including navigating access to care, advocating for needed supports, interacting with social service systems and coordinating care, and managing the impacts of behavioral health needs.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency. The PME unit works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The onsite location is Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individuals selected for these opportunities will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. This position is scheduled to work 16 hours per week, with a schedule that will be determined by the employee and manager. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval. Classification: Social Research Scientist

WHO MAY APPLY:

This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place the week of October 5, 2026. King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. #J-18808-Ljbffr King County