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Research Project Manager, CLEARS/CEASE/ACCESS

Job Summary:

Manages all activities associated with biomedical &/or social-behavioral research studies considered very complex by the inclusion of several of the following: multiple investigators, teams, sites, sub-contracts, participants, longitudinal assessments/ interventions; &/or multi-million-dollar budgets. Ensures completion of contract requirements & client specifications. Oversees day-to-day operations including identifying & securing needed resources; creating, implementing, monitoring, & updating project plans; facilitating meetings with appropriate parties; tracking tasks/deliverables to ensure timelines, milestones &/or goals are attained; monitoring & reporting progress as appropriate; & resolving or escalating issues in a timely manner. 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).

Project Description: Implementation Science to Enhance Models of Care for HIV/AIDS

Linkage, retention, and reengagement programs are critical strategies for facilitating and keeping people with HIV (PWH) in treatment, helping them achieve viral suppression, and ending the HIV epidemic in the US, but there are gaps in their implementation and reach. In collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local HIV service agencies, Northwestern investigators Dennis Li and Nanette Benbow lead a collection of related projects focused on improving care engagement for PWH:

(1) “Configurations of Linkage, Engagement, and Retention Strategies for HIV” (CLEARS-HIV) aims to survey the landscape of care engagement activities happening in Chicago and identify empirically supported best practices that can be tailored and scaled out to different populations and contexts. Data collection is complete; we are focused on analyzing data and disseminating results.

(2) “Collaborative to Enhance Access for Suppression to End HIV” (CEASE-HIV) aims to implement and evaluate an evidence-based model of low-barrier care (LBC) for PWH with complex needs across a network of CDPH-funded HIV clinical agencies. After facilitating adaptation and adoption of LBC among clinics through a learning collaborative, we will study LBC implementation and assess its impact on citywide care engagement and viral suppression rates. We are completing the learning collaborative phase and preparing for implementation.

(3) “Assessing a Centralized Care Engagement and Syndemics Strategy for HIV” (ACCESS-HIV) focuses on the HIV Resource HUB, a CDPH-funded citywide service navigation program. This project aims to improve implementation and sustainability of the program in Chicago as well as identify strategies for scaling out the HUB to other jurisdictions.

(4) Additional project(s) pending funding.

Program Description: Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing

This subset of projects is housed within the Northwestern University Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH; http://www.isgmh.northwestern.edu), a university-wide institute dedicated to fostering research that improves the health and wellbeing of the sexual and gender minority communities. ISGMH currently has multiple NIH- and foundation-funded studies and actively collaborates with community-based organizations to conduct research and translate findings into interventions. It is directed by Dr. Brian Mustanski.

This is a term position ending on May 31, 2025. Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.

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.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

  • 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 project coordination skills and the ability to prioritize tasks.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to adhere to instructions/procedures.
  • Good communication skills; demonstrated effective spoken and written communication, including willingness to ask questions when clarification or amplification is required.
  • Good time management skills; efficient and resourceful in problem-solving.
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of the work, possessing initiative, good follow-through; ability to work without supervision.
  • Ability to receive and benefit from feedback; willingness to expand skill set and improve.
  • Flexibility in adapting to new procedures and environments.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Knowledge of basic computer skills, familiarity with Windows environment.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

  • Experience working in public health, implementation, quality improvement, and/or program evaluation research.
  • Experience with qualitative research and/or interviewing.
  • Experiencing supervising research assistants and interns.
  • Experience with HIV/AIDS and related issues.
  • Experience working with LGBTQ and/or marginalized populations.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

  • Ability to write scientifically for dissemination of findings.
  • Familiarity with data management software, including REDCap.
  • Knowledge of LGBTQ issues.
  • Knowledge of racial disparities in health and related issues.

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.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $61,242 - 86,121/yr.  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.

To Apply: To apply for this position, navigate to careers.northwestern.edu, search for job ID 49753, and click Apply for Job.

ISGMH Diversity Statement: ISGMH’s commitment to diversity is critical to our mission of advancing access to excellence in academic programs, world-class research, and health programs. Engagement in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military service, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression will not be tolerated. Through its work, ISGMH advances the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals. Staff and trainees should expect to find a diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities among ISGMH staff, trainees, research participants, and in outreach experiences. We highlight the importance of respecting and valuing this aspect of diversity among staff and trainees.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

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.