Research Project Manager

Department: MED-Medical Social Sciences
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Target hiring range for this position will be between $63,080-$76,600 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:

Dr. Rinad Beidas' Ideas to Implementation team in the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine seeks an experienced full-time Research Project Manager to join our team. Our team conducts a diverse portfolio of research and quality improvement projects aimed at closing the "know-do gaps" in healthcare delivery, with a focus on improving high-quality healthcare through implementation science. Specifically, the successful candidate will oversee two projects: one is a pilot implementation study of universal type 1 diabetes autoantibody screening in pediatric primary care, while the other is an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial evaluating two patient-facing implementation strategies that aim to increase family cascade screening for familial hypercholesterolemia. Both projects involve close collaboration with transdisciplinary study teams as well as regular interactions with study participants.

Responsibilities include overseeing and managing the day-to-day execution of the research projects, as well as coordinating study activities, including:

• Ensuring adherence to timelines and regulatory requirements
• Managing IRB protocols
• Monitoring project progress, identifying and addressing potential issues, and implementing corrective actions as necessary
• Contributing to preliminary data analysis

The Research Project Manager will coordinate data collection and management of multiple data types, including quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and electronic health record (EHR) data. The Research Project Manager will also support recruitment and communication with research participants, clinicians, and topical experts.

The Research Project Manager will prepare and present regular updates on project status, findings, and outcomes to internal teams and project collaborators. We seek someone who can help design and implement standard processes across study components to ensure rigorous study conduct within regulatory parameters. The Research Project Manager must have prior research experience and be comfortable ensuring high standards of research integrity and compliance. The Research Project Manager will also work with colleagues across our team including faculty, trainees, and staff.

Required qualifications:

• Have impeccable organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
• Have extremely strong attention to detail
• Be able to work independently and exhibit good judgement
• Exhibit strong experience and skills related to communicating with and recruiting research study participants and interacting with transdisciplinary study teams
• Be able to demonstrate familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and web-based applications

This is a hybrid work position, and the Research Project Manager will be expected to work in the office at least three days per week consistent with current team and university expectations.

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives and deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective and deadlines and overall compliance with policy and procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, and/or far-reaching implications.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Provides complex scientific & technical leadership in determining research priorities & the plan, design & execution of research projects ensuring that programs of investigation meet specified objectives.
• Plans, develops & implements new processes & protocols to support research studies & maximize/extend study capabilities.
• Oversees completion of study activities per protocol.
• Ensures that study protocols are in compliance with appropriate rules & regulations & reviews study progress and recommends revisions, amendments, and/or other study changes as necessary to better meet needs of sponsors.
• Reviews scientific literature & evaluates & recommends applicable techniques & procedures.

Administrative

• Analyzes, evaluates & interprets data to determine relevance to research.
• Assists PI in developing statistical methods & models to analyze & report data based upon study requirements.
• Prepares results & may co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & disseminates information via seminars, lectures, etc.
• Creates data for use in grant submission & develop new proposals for research including obtaining financial support.
• Acts as liaison between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Finance

• May create &/or manage research study budget which may include deciding on & approving expenditures of funds based on budget.
• Monitors accounts.
• Negotiates prices & specifications with vendors.
• Purchases supplies, materials, equipment & services.
• Ensures appropriate allocation & compliance.
• Invoices study sponsors for study tests/procedures.
• Coordinates & participates in budgetary negotiations with industry sponsors.

Supervision

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & may supervise lab EEs, 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 5 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 3 years' 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 organizational, written, verbal, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Impeccable attention to detail

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills and experience working with teams of interdisciplinary collaborators

• Expertise with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and web-based applications

• Experience running randomized control trials (RCTs) and/or large externally funded projects with support from PI and other senior staff on team

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of REDCap or Qualtrics
• Working knowledge of analytic software such as SPSS, SAS, R, and/or NVivo
• Experience with mixed-methods research, qualitative data collection and analysis, EHR data, and/or implementation science
• Experience contacting, recruiting, and working with research participants
• This position would be ideal for individuals with an MPH or other relevant degree. Individuals with a bachelor's degree will be considered if they have appropriate experience and expertise.
• Familiarity with implementation science, applied translational research, and/or related disciplines
• Extensive experience communicating with and recruiting patients and other research participants

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of rapid qualitative analysis approaches

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, 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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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