Careers | Center for Health Research

The Center for Health Research (CHR) offers the intellectual caliber of an academic institution in a small-organization setting that fosters collegiality and support for scientific inquiry.

Funded primarily by federal grants, CHR maintains research independence that encourages our investigators to pursue research for the public good. At the same time, CHR enjoys an affiliation with Kaiser Permanente, home to the nation’s second largest electronic medical record system with 12 million members—representing a wealth of epidemiological data.

CHR always welcomes professional inquiries from highly qualified experienced and mid-career researchers.

To access a job posting go to kaiserpermanentejobs.org and search for the job number.

INVESTIGATOR OPENINGS

One of the oldest embedded research centers in the U.S., the Center for Health Research (CHR) at Kaiser Permanente Northwest is recruiting qualified candidates eager to produce impactful results using real-world data in a health system setting. Investigators at the entry, senior, and distinguished levels are encouraged to apply. For more information on current investigator openings, links to apply, and working at CHR, go to the Investigator Careers page.

View Current Investigator Openings And Career Information

There are currently no investigator openings.

POSITION OPENINGS

Director of Research Administration

Schedule: Full-Time
Job Number: 1391509

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Kaiser Permanente Northwest is seeking a new Director of Research Administration to oversee the Center for Health Research’s (CHR) Finance, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA), and Facilities teams. The position serves on the Center’s Leadership Team and reports to the Vice President for Health Research.

View detailed description and qualification requirements

Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst IV - Research

Schedule: Full-Time
Job Number: 1403587

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This position is responsible for conducting extensive research regarding the impact of potential changes to accounting rules, standards, or regulations on financial statements and advising management and stakeholders on the business implications of these changes. This includes responsibility for developing, implementing, and communicating new policies and processes to comply with newly issued accounting or financial reporting standards; and providing accounting guidance to stakeholders to ensure conformity of proposed transactions with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and company policies and procedures. This position is also responsible for ensuring that relevant accounting standards are appropriately and consistently applied across the organization.

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Accounting Analyst V - Grants

Schedule: Full-Time
Job Number: 1403455

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This senior level employee is primarily responsible for conducting and reviewing complex financial transactions and analyses, conducting internal and external audits, and communicating financial results while ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.

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Position openings list updated 1/30/2026

Located in Portland, Oregon, CHR is one of eight regional research centers within Kaiser Permanente and the only one in Oregon/Southwestern Washington. Our mission is to advance knowledge to improve health. We do this through a robust portfolio of extramurally-funded research and evaluation projects. 2025 annual revenues exceeded $48 M. Learn more about us at: https://research.kpchr.org/.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader and people manager with deep knowledge about research finance and accounting, pre- and post-award grant and contract administration (federal, industry, and non-profit funding), and the general administration of a not-for-profit research center. They will share our commitment to improving health and healthcare through public health and biomedical research. They will embrace a spirit of continuous process improvement and know how to effectively lead others to drive for results. This is a flexible position. Regular on-site work is required.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree plus 10 years of relevant experience in award management, research, academia or health care; 3 years of experience in a leadership role, and 2 years of experience managing operational or project budgets. Preference will be given to candidates with 5 years of experience: reviewing, negotiating, and/or determining the feasibility of clinical trials contracts and budgets; knowledge of organizational finance and accounting; and one or more of the following certifications: Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA), or other certification from the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC).

Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and direction-setting for departmental goals and operational plans. Assisting in overall leadership of the Center. Leading development and oversight of operational budget.
Regulatory compliance: ensuring all financial oversight and grant/contract management is compliant and consistent with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
Administration and management: providing oversight of accounting and finance staff, pre- and post-award grant administration staff, and facilities staff.
Communication and relationship building with internal partners (e.g., regional and national finance and research colleagues within Kaiser Permanente) and external stakeholders (e.g., funders, contractors).

For more detailed information about this position or to apply, go to: https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/portland/director-research-administration/641/90269392784 or contact Laura Cardoza (laura.cardoza@kp.org)

Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair, respectful, and inclusive workplaces. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status. External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, including but not limited to the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances.

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is responsible for conducting extensive research regarding the impact of potential changes to accounting rules, standards, or regulations on financial statements and advising management and stakeholders on the business implications of these changes. This includes responsibility for developing, implementing, and communicating new policies and processes to comply with newly issued accounting or financial reporting standards; and providing accounting guidance to stakeholders to ensure conformity of proposed transactions with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and company policies and procedures. This position is also responsible for ensuring that relevant accounting standards are appropriately and consistently applied across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum three (3) years accounting, bookkeeping, or directly related experience.
Bachelors degree in finance, business, or related field and Minimum six (6) years Financial Planning & Analysis experience, or directly related business experience. Additional equivalent work experience in a directly related field may be substituted for the degree requirement.

Essential responsibilities:

Practices self-development and promotes learning in others by proactively providing information, resources, advice, and expertise with coworkers and customers; building relationships with cross-functional stakeholders; influencing others through technical explanations and examples; adapting to competing demands and new responsibilities; listening and responding to, seeking, and addressing performance feedback; providing feedback to others; creating and executing plans to capitalize on strengths and develop weaknesses; supporting team collaboration; and adapting to and learning from change, difficulties, and feedback.
Completes work assignments and supports business-specific projects by applying expertise in subject area; supporting the development of work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; ensuring team follows all procedures and policies; coordinating resources to accomplish priorities and deadlines; collaborating cross-functionally to make effective business decisions; solving complex problems; escalating high priority issues or risks as appropriate; and recognizing and capitalizing on improvement opportunities.
Evaluates complex business environment by conducting financial assessments (e.g., Situational, Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats, Opportunity-Based Strategic Planning, system value chain analysis); and interpreting reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data.
Leads internal audit process, reviews audit results, and may engage with auditors to resolve material weaknesses, implement changes to internal controls and proactively assess high risk areas.
Creates budgets and/or forecasts in accordance with business strategic initiatives by analyzing and interpreting budgeting trends; reviewing results of budget and forecasting; coordinating with others to develop department/regional budgets; and making recommendations.
Advises region/business unit leaders on strategic fiscal matters by reviewing regular and special reports for both financial and statistical matters in order to facilitate financial management throughout the organization; participating in regular meetings with leadership to review financial results for their areas; and acting as an internal consultant to Kaiser Management team on reading and interpreting financial results, analyzing variances, and improving performance.
Conducts financial modeling by developing best-practice and complex models; analyzing and optimizing risk alternatives; and developing, reviewing, and recommending what-if scenarios and forecasts using in-house models or software.
Assesses the business vision, objectives, and strategic initiatives by conducting and/or reviewing research provided by others to assess financial impact of strategies and initiatives.
Completes costing activities by identifying and suggesting cost avoidance and cost recovery opportunities.
Evaluates performance/operations/financial state by using and implementing templates (e.g., cash flow, RFA process, weekly unit case report) and computer applications; reviewing and conducting complex financial analyses (e.g., operating cash flow analyses, pro forma P&L, line item walk forwards, volume building blocks, NPV, IRR, Discounted Cash Flow, statistical analyses, economic analyses); and reviewing and completing complex variance analysis (e.g., volume, P&L line item, cost of goods, rate).
Reports region/business unit financial information by evaluating and communicating financial trends, findings in data analysis reports, and forecasts of income and expense; reviewing and communicating assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses; and using data/inputs from region/business unit systems to support analyses (e.g., membership and utilization reports, volume reporting, day sales inventory, analysis spreadsheets, investment schedules).
Supports field operations by analyzing and interpreting their operational/financial performance; and determining areas of improvement.
Conducts Financial Statement Analysis of business partners (e.g., suppliers, customers, co-packers, acquisition targets) by reviewing information reported from software systems (Internet, Bloomberg, and D&B), annual reports, and/or interviews; making recommendations regarding the financial status (viability) of business partners; and assessing risk implications.
Improves financial performance by analyzing financial trends; and in partnership with the business leaders, uses results of analysis and understanding of operations to identify actions that address operational performance issues.
Informs strategic financial planning by performing and evaluating complex financial, utilization, and benchmark analytics.
Assists with strategic financial planning by preparing recommendations for financial plans, acquisition activity, financial requirements, and operating forecasts; and developing and interpreting financial concepts for financial planning and control.

For more detailed information about this position or to apply, go to: https://www.kaiserpermanentejobs.org/job/portland/financial-planning-and-analysis-analyst-iv-research/641/90944789280