Suicide Prevention Research Scientist, RTI International

RTI’s Mental Health, Risk, and Resilience Research Program has an immediate opening for a Suicide Prevention Research Scientist to develop our research and evaluation work in the area of suicide prevention and mental health promotion, including that in disadvantaged populations and school-based settings. This will align with our broader current research portfolio on violence prevention; the effects of trauma and exposure to violence; intervention development and implementation science; social and emotional learning; resilience in boys and men of color; and teen dating violence prevention. 

The position will include a broad range of responsibilities in project leadership, business development, and research/evaluation. The position requires background or training in clinical areas of mental health and substantial research experience in suicide prevention and mental health promotion, as well as attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to function both independently and in teams.

Responsibilities will include:

• Serving as Project Director or Principal investigator on medium to large-scale studies.
• Conduct and supervise research including overseeing study design, data collection, data analysis and reporting.
• Manage research budgets, contracts and subcontracts.
• Manage staff capacity and performance.
• Serve as the principal point of contact with clients.
• Lead proposals and grant applications; provide input on sections with high technical complexity requiring application of relevant implementation science theories, frameworks and methodologies.
• Increase scientific stature in the area of implementation science by publishing papers to peer-reviewed journals, participating in professional meetings and associations.
• Mentor junior scientists in suicide prevention and mental health research.
• Lead professional development activities to increase capacity for and understanding of prevention strategies for suicide and mental illness.
• Participate in cross-institute initiatives and external collaborations that require suicide prevention expertise.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in psychology, social work, public health, health services research, or related field and a minimum of 10 years of applied research experience in suicide prevention in community and/or school contexts.
• Demonstrated experience conducting prevention and treatment research including randomized controlled trials.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced research methods.
• Experience in the clinical fields of behavioral health (clinical psychology, clinical social work, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, human development, etc).
• Proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder initiatives and collaborations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise reports and presentations about data and complex issues and the ability to communicate with government officials and clients.
• Demonstrated scientific stature in peer-review publications and service to professional organizations.
• Proven ability to lead medium to large sized projects or study teams with six or more staff.
• Experience in mentoring trainees and other staff.
• Ability to meet frequent, multiple and tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to travel within the U.S.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require now, or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven success of securing contracts or grants funding from state or federal agencies (e.g. DHHS, AHRQ, NIH, CMS, CDC, SAMHSA, HRSA, VA, DOD, ED) or foundation is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in advanced mixed methods research.

For more information and to apply, view the job posting.