Overview
Title: Research Team Manager or Study Coordinator (Health Science Specialist; GS-9 / GS-11)
Expected starting salary: $65,846 (GS-9) to $79,667 (GS-11)] + Benefits
FTE: 1.0
Position Summary
We are looking for a motivated Research Team Manager (Lab Manager) or Study Coordinator for a full-time position to assist a Principal Investigator (PI) in the Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC) at the VA Portland Health Care System with multiple research projects intended to advance the prevention and treatment of common and important mental health issues and conditions that affect military veterans. Studies are led out of the VA Portland Health Care System but also involve collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), as well as other VA and non-VA healthcare systems and academic partners.
Specific research projects topics are related to interventions for suicide prevention, loneliness and social isolation, and mental health outreach via social media. These research projects employ a health services research framework and typically include used of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The ideal candidate will have experience with project management for multisite research projects and/or clinical trials.
This position is full time, in-person and will be located at VA Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care in Portland, Oregon (CIVIC – https://www.portlandcoin.research.va.gov/). (Current VA employees with an approved telework agreement are also encouraged to apply and briefly describe circumstances in their cover letter.)
CIVIC was established in 2013 as a Center of Innovation in health systems research center at the VA Portland Health Care System. CIVIC’s mission is to conduct research that empowers veterans to improve their health through engagement in self-care, engagement with VA and non-VA healthcare systems, and engagement in the research process. The CIVIC community is committed to sustaining a workforce that supports the professional growth of all people regardless of identities or expressions.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibility is to provide day-to-day management of a small portfolio of studies, working in close collaboration with the PI. Specific responsibilities may include:
· Supervising research assistants
· Creating and tracking annual research project budgets
· Assisting with grant preparation and submissions
· Communication and coordination with other study staff and collaborators, including co-investigators, data analysts, biostatisticians, and operational partners
· Developing study standard operating procedures and ensuring study activities are being conducted with fidelity to research protocols
· Supporting project management for multisite research projects and/or clinical trials, including tasks such as maintaining a research study database, overseeing recruitment of research participants, preparation of study approval documents, coordinating between study sites and research staff, and liaising with study partners and stakeholders
· Contributing to the writing and preparation of scholarly manuscripts for scientific journals and presentations of study findings at professional meetings.
· Maintaining Institutional Review Board and other regulatory compliance
Experience
Minimum Requirements:
· One year of specialized experience or a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., M.P.H., M.S., M.A.)
Experience working in human subjects or health systems research
Experience developing budget and personnel forecasts within a research setting
Experience working on multiple prior research studies as a research associate or similar position
· Ability to multitask and prioritize projects
· Rigorous attention to detail and record keeping
Demonstrated experience writing reports that summarize projects and effectively present findings
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with subject-matter specialists and stakeholders in a variety of fields
· Strong conceptual and analytic skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to work independently
· Commitment to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
Preferred:
· Knowledge of VA policies, procedures, and guidelines that govern projects, including those specific to research-based projects (e.g., IRB)
· Experience using data management programs/software such as REDCap, Qualtrics, and Access
· Experience with quantitative data analysis using statistical software (e.g., Stata), or qualitative research experience (e.g., conducting qualitative interviews, analyzing qualitative data)
Candidates must be US citizens in order to be eligible for VA employment. The United States government does not discriminate in employment and follows federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and a resume/CV to Rachel Culp (Rachel.Culp@va.gov) with the subject line ‘Research Team Manager.’
