Research Project Coordinator

Department: MED-Medical Social Sciences
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Target hiring range for this position will be between $51,346-$64,473 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

Overview: MSS

The Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS) is a leader in advancing and applying outcomes/effectiveness research to improve patient care and influence policy. Our strong academic ties across the university and the medical school encourage comprehensive collaboration in disease management, prevention, and control. We intend to meet a growing need for expanded interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, to promote discovery of multidimensional mechanisms of health and disease, to improve adult and pediatric health status and outcome assessment, and to collaborate with partners in genetic, epidemiologic, biologic and behavioral translational research paradigms. While part of our work serves to reduce health disparities of groups that are traditionally underrepresented in research, we acknowledge that there is always room to grow. MSS is committed to creating a world of inclusion, health, and well-being for all. We hire the best people from a wide variety of backgrounds because drawing on their diverse perspectives and experiences will be the foundation of our department's future success.

Overview: The EDIT Program

The Evaluation, Data Integration, and Technical Assistance (EDIT) Program at Northwestern University operates as the primary quality improvement and technical assistance provider to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Syndemic Infectious Disease Bureau. The project coordinator manages technical assistance initiatives delivered to CDPH-funded social service agencies to maximize their capacity to deliver high-impact HIV elimination services and identify research opportunities.

Job Description

Under the supervision of the senior project manager, the research project coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Chicago Ryan White Part A Clinical Quality Management Learning Collaborative, focused quality improvement, to increase the capacity of CDPH Healthcare Access programs to achieve regional outcome objectives. In addition, this position will coordinate adaptive planning sessions, facilitated peer mentorship, process consultation, and coaching with faculty team members. The research project coordinator will partner internally to draw on emerging research on HIV elimination best practices.

Job Expectation

Delivers clinically focused quality improvement trainings through quarterly learning collaborative sessions and monthly technical assistance activities. Maintains conceptual framework for quality measurement and improvement activities, using PDSA framework to guide projects. Plans, implements, and evaluates training programs for local professional and non-professional public health staff and health care providers involved in HIV elimination. Leads and facilitates project meetings, employing basic facilitation skills. Collaborates with data teams to ensure analytics needs of assigned projects are satisfied. Identifies data collection and analysis needs as appropriate when relevant data does not exist electronically.

Manages daily operations of a biomedical &/or social-behavioral research study involving multidisciplinary teams of colleagues, sponsors & other external project stakeholders. Monitors study performance, analyzes & review results, & supervises development & implementation of new protocols. Assigns work & supervises study staff & reviews technical operations ensuring that all processes, protocols & procedures are quality controlled & functioning up to standards. Develops implements & administers budgets, grant & administrative procedures. May co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & coordinates writing, submission & administration of grants. Ensures that all study activities are completed by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives, deadlines and specific instructions only for new, difficult, and/or unusual work. Work is reviewed upon completion and only occasionally to verify technical accuracy and compliance with practice, policy, and procedures. EE informs supervisor of on-going progress and/or potentially controversial matters.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Coordinates processing & analysis of data, conduct of experimental tests & procedures

Administration

• Oversees & manages collection, maintenance, analysis & evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations & publications.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
• Assists PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, & preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress & final reports, etc.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.

Finance

• Negotiates with vendors, obtain quotes & arrange for demos of large equipment.

Supervision

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & supervises research staff, students, residents &/or fellows.
• Acts as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 1 year research study or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong Interpersonal skills and comfort facilitating communication between various stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated familiarity with quality management and quality improvement, including common techniques and methodologies.
• Ability to manage, interpret, and present data.
• Broad knowledge of the US health care system and familiarity with academic medicine.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Effective time management skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to adhere to instructions/procedures.
• Efficient and resourceful in problem-solving.
• Good communication skills; demonstrated effective spoken and written communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 - 4 years of experience in quality management and quality improvement.
• Minimum of 3 - 4 years of experience in project management.
• Minimum of 2 - 3 years in related research areas.
• Strong experience conducting program evaluation.
• Participation in public health research.
• Demonstrated experience working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.
• Demonstrated experience working with Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC).
• Working knowledge of HIV service delivery.
• Experience with community-based participatory research or other community-centric research models.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and guidance.
• Willingness to expand skill set and improve.
• Ability to write scientifically for dissemination activities.
• Familiarity with data collection and management software, such as REDCap.
• Familiarity with HIV epidemiology and HIV-related services.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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