Scientist, Senior

Acentra Health exists to empower better health outcomes through technology, services, and clinical expertise. Our mission is to innovate health solutions that deliver maximum value and impact.

Lead the Way is our rallying cry at Acentra Health. Think of it as an open invitation to embrace the mission of the company; to actively engage in problem-solving; and to take ownership of your work every day. Acentra Health offers you unparalleled opportunities. In fact, you have all you need to take charge of your career and accelerate better outcomes - making this a great time to join our team of passionate individuals dedicated to being a vital partner for health solutions in the public sector.

Acentra Health is looking for a Senior Scientist- Health Informatics to join our growing team.

This is a Hybrid Role that will require working onsite at our McLean, VA Office a few days per week

Job Summary:

Acentra Health is seeking a Senior Scientist - Health Informatics to support enterprise-level data science and informatics initiatives. This position plays a key role in advancing our enterprise data strategy, conducting operational and outcomes research, and applying data science best practices to generate actionable insights that drive healthcare improvement.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with a wide range of health-related data, including but not limited to:

• Medical claims and pharmacy claims data
• Eligibility and enrollment data
• HIPAA-standard files such as 837 and 835 transaction sets
• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data - both community-level and individual-level
• Self-reported and survey data (e.g., CAHPS, HRA, custom member surveys)

Responsibilities:

• Design and support cooperative research and analytic projects in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Identify areas for exploration using healthcare data to evaluate outcomes and inform interventions.
• Support investigative analysis of claims, eligibility, SDOH, and survey data to identify trends, outliers, and insights.
• Contribute to development and refinement of data transformation logic and analytical frameworks.
• Author research summaries, white papers, and internal/external reports that translate complex findings into meaningful insights.
• Assist in designing evaluation mechanisms and metrics to assess the effectiveness of interventions.
• Stay current on relevant literature and methodologies to support the creation of effective interventions and tools.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Acentra Health to enhance competitiveness in RFP/RFI opportunities through research-backed insights.
• Read, understand, and adhere to all corporate policies including policies related to HIPAA and its Privacy and Security Rules."

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Health Services Research, Informatics, or a related field (Equivalent experience in a data-centric healthcare or research setting may be considered in lieu of a degree)
• 3+ years of experience working with healthcare data, analytics, or data science projects.
• Experience working with one or more of the following data types: claims (medical/pharmacy), eligibility, SDOH, HIPAA 837/835, or survey/self-reported data.
• Proficiency in data analysis programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
• Working knowledge of cloud analytics platforms such as AWS or Azure.
• Familiarity with ETL processes, data validation, and data transformation.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey findings through visuals, presentations, and written reports.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, cross-functional environment with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Must be able to work onsite at our McLean, VA office a few days a week.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Health Informatics, Data Science, Public Health).
• Prior experience in a health policy, Medicaid/Medicare, or public sector healthcare environment.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Familiarity with privacy and compliance standards, including HIPAA and data use agreements.

Why us?

We are a team of experienced and caring leaders, clinicians, pioneering technologists, and industry professionals who come together to redefine expectations for the healthcare industry. State and federal healthcare agencies, providers, and employers turn to us as their vital partner to ensure better healthcare and improve health outcomes.

We do this through our people.

You will have meaningful work that genuinely improves people's lives across the country. We are a company that cares about our employees, and we give you the tools and encouragement you need to achieve the finest work of your career.

Benefits

Benefits are a key component of your rewards package. Our benefits are designed to provide you with additional protection, security, and support for both your career and your life away from work. Our benefits include comprehensive health plans, paid time off, retirement savings, corporate wellness, educational assistance, corporate discounts, and more.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is listed below.

"Based on our compensation philosophy, an applicant's position placement in the pay range will depend on various considerations, such as years of applicable experience and skill level."

Thank You!

We know your time is valuable and we thank you for applying for this position. Due to the high volume of applicants, only those who are chosen to advance in our interview process will be contacted. We sincerely appreciate your interest in Acentra Health and invite you to apply to future openings that may be of interest. Best of luck in your search!

~ The Acentra Health Talent Acquisition Team

Visit us at Acentra.com/careers/

EEO AA M/F/Vet/Disability

Acentra Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable Federal, State or Local law.