News

POLARIS HEALTH DIRECTIONS SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESEARCH SCIENTIST
October 27, 2008

Position:  Behavioral Health Research Scientist 

Location:  Fairless Hills PA (Easy commute from Philadelphia, Princeton, Trenton)

Company Background:  Polaris designs and develops software for supporting real time clinical decisions in treating mental health and addictions problems. Polaris software is also used to address these conditions in patients suffering from chronic medical illnesses.  The software identifies patients needing treatment, helps the clinician decide among treatment options, monitors patient progress, and documents outcomes. It provides rigorous, quantified measures of symptoms and functioning.  Providers and payors use aggregate Polaris data to help improve quality and reduce cost.

Polaris Health Directions was established in 1997, and is nationally recognized for its outstanding record of assisting treatment providers help their patients get well quicker and stay well longer.  Polaris’s clients include leading healthcare providers, such as Kaiser Permanente, managed care organizations such as Magellan Health Services, and government agencies, including counties in Pennsylvania and Iowa and the Canadian military.

The Polaris research team has received over 15 NIH grants for product development under the federal SBIR and STTR programs. Currently Polaris has four active NIH-funded projects and a backlog of more than $1,000,000 in approved awards.

Polaris currently has 10 employees and partners with a nationwide network of academic, research and business organizations involved in product development and service delivery. The company is privately held, debt free and offers a generous list of benefits and employment opportunities.

Position Summary:  The Behavioral Health Research Scientist will assume responsibility for managing Polaris research projects relating to behavioral health and integration of behavioral and medical treatment. 

Responsibilities: 

·    Project Management: Leadership of Polaris research staff to insure that federally funded and client-sponsored R&D projects achieve their objectives within time and budget

·    Writing proposals for submission to NIH under its SBIR and STTR programs; serve as Principal Investigator on federally funded grants

·    Establishing collaborations with academic and other external research partners

·    Presentation of Polaris R&D to clients, at conferences and through articles in academic and practitioner journals 

Requirements:

·    A proven track record of success in research project management for a minimum of 3 years, ideally involving experience as a Principal Investigator on projects relating to behavioral health

·    Education: Ph.D. in Psychology or other social science field 

·    Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills

·    Strong motivation to apply research skills to improve treatment in real-world clinics

Desirable:

·    Familiarity with and experience in the behavioral / mental health sector; understanding of psychological risk factors in medical conditions; behavioral health outcomes management

·    Experience as a Principal Investigator

·    Experience in implementation of assessment systems in clinical (non-research) settings

·    Interpersonal and leadership skills necessary to direct an effective research function within the organization, yet still relate to and be hands-on with client healthcare systems

·    Data analysis skills, facility with SPSS or other statistical analysis software

·    Experience making presentations at professional conferences

·    Publications in academic or practitioner journals

Compensation:  Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. There is a generous benefits package including 401 (K) and continuing education support.

Polaris products employ leading edge technology, developed by a multidisciplinary team in collaboration with external consultants and strategic partners.  The successful candidate will be team-oriented and motivated both to improve quality of health care and secure the commercial success of Polaris products. (S)he must be able to perform effectively within the Polaris culture. The work environment is stimulating and challenging, the staff committed, hands-on and professional. Most staff have been with the firm for over five years. Core values include teamwork, respect and results-orientation.

The position provides an opportunity to achieve professional and financial goals within a collaborative work environment, while making a difference in the lives of patients who suffer from behavioral disorders and chronic medical conditions.