Social Medicine-424901

Research Professionals

11/22/2021

12/06/2021

No

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Research Program Manager

EHRA Non-Faculty

20041002

NF0005419

Full-Time Permanent

1

40

North Carolina, US

Dependent on Qualifications

01/03/2022

Abacus Consulting and Evaluation Services is a Research Service Center (RSC) at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Abacus is affiliated and integrated with the Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) which brings together collaborative, multidisciplinary teams of scholars and community members to improve health in underserved communities through a shared commitment to health equity, innovation, and translational research. Abacus specializes in evaluation, network analytics, and data science & analytics and is committed to amplifying impact and effectiveness of client and partner projects. Abacus’ leadership consists of experienced evaluators who maintain currency with state-of-the-art research and evaluation methodologies. Abacus uses a variety of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches to address the research and evaluation questions identified in our projects.

The UNC School of Medicine has a rich tradition of excellence and care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolinians, and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research. We strive to promote faculty, staff, and learner development in a diverse, respectful environment where our colleagues demonstrate professionalism, enhance learning, and create personal and professional sustainability. We optimize our partnership with the UNC Health System through close collaboration and commitment to service.

OUR VISION
Our vision is to be the nation’s leading public school of medicine. We are ranked 2nd in primary care education among all US schools of medicine and 5th among public peers in NIH research funding. Our Allied Health Department is home to five top-ranked divisions, and we are home to 18 top-ranked clinical and basic science departments in NIH research funding.

OUR MISSION
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education, and research.
Patient Care: We will promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We will prepare tomorrow’s health care professionals and biomedical researchers by facilitating learning within innovative curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education. We will cultivate outstanding teaching and research faculty, and we will recruit outstanding students and trainees from highly diverse backgrounds to create a socially responsible, highly skilled workforce.

Research: We will develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers, and resources. We will provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our University to support outstanding research. We will foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic, and population research.

Flexible work arrangements, including remote/hybrid work locations, are an integral part of the School of Medicine’s Working Forward initiative. As such, this position’s work location is designated as remote. Please note that the designated work location is subject to change based on the unit’s business needs.

This Research Program Manager will report to Abacus’ Director – Dr. Dave, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity Research. This position will lead the evaluation of a portfolio of evaluation projects within Abacus. Initially, this position will work specifically within Abacus as a key player in the evaluation of the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative and Coordination and Data Collection Center (CDCC). The CDCC is a collaboration between UNC and Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI). The CDCC supports the RADx-UP Program, rooted in a community-centered approach that engages communities involved in this program by providing a robust, flexible, participatory, transparent, and sustainable infrastructure to advance COVID-19 testing science according to the needs and interests of communities.

The Research Program Manager will be responsible for a broad range of duties related to planning, organizing, executing, and monitoring the implementation and ongoing operations of a portfolio of evaluation projects, with an initial focus on the RADx-UP project. Abacus is a collaborative, dynamic, and rapidly growing center. Even though most positions are assigned to specific projects, all members of Abacus show readiness and flexibility to support other projects as needed.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Independently managing all aspects of assigned evaluation project start-up, implementation, and close out; Training and supervising Abacus evaluation staff; Coordinating with leadership and staff within Abacus to support center projects, as needed; Monitoring and meeting research study milestones (such data collection, analysis and reporting); Organizing various communications, meetings, conference calls; Providing reports to the investigative team; Developing and updating study protocols and standard operating procedures; managing modification, maintenance, and renewal of IRB and other regulatory documentation; Interfacing with project statistician and research assistants to monitor data management, analysis, reporting, and dissemination; Providing quality control of data entry procedures and databases, ensuring accuracy and completeness; Leading and collaborating on study manuscript preparation and submission.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Candidates must have a minimum of three years of experience in project coordination related to research/evaluation/program management. Applicant must have full understanding of social/clinical research principles, study design, methods of data/information collection, and analysis used to manage projects and programs independently. Knowledge of statistics and related information technology to analyze and report data/information is needed. Experience on a research team with grant writing is preferred. Applicants must be able to prioritize competing demands and work independently and efficiently across a growing research team. The applicant should have an eye towards attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and working and collaborating with multiple stakeholders. The applicant should have strong organizational and management skills as well as interpersonal and communication skills. Applicant should possess the ability to plan work to meet objectives and deadlines; assess the needs of project(s)/program(s) and make changes in process, workflow, and assignments; lead multiple, concurrent assignments or a multi-faceted/moderately complex project(s)/program(s). The applicant should have experience critically reviewing and summarizing literature, interpreting research results, and drafting reports and scholarly products in educational or professional environments. The applicant must have flexibility in their work schedule. Minimal travel required (5%, once allowed).
-Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and internet browsers
-Ability to use project management software (Asana preferred)
-Ability to use survey software (REDCap and Qualtrics preferred)
-Excellent organizational and time management skills and the ability to consistently follow through and follow up with assignments of others.
-Ability to manage work and data flow between project team members and external stakeholders.
-Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
-Ability to identify needs and develop and implement improvements with evaluation expertise.
-Strong attention to detail with a focus on ensuring accuracy, validity, and integrity of data.
-Ability to clearly, concisely, professionally, and effectively communicate in writing and verbally with staff, faculty, and individuals in other organizations.

-Supervisory experience in managing team dynamics, performance, and timely completion of deliverables.
-Master of Public Health or equivalent degree preferred. PhD preferred. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
-Prefer candidates who have experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis programs, REDCap, and project management software (preferably Asana)
-Prefer candidates who have a research background/experience in social research and evaluation

Not Applicable.