Summary:
The Health Equity Across the Lifespan in Virginia Lab (HEAL-VA Lab) in the VCU Department of African American Studies seeks an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual to join our team as a Senior Research Program Coordinator. The Senior Research Program Coordinator will be pivotal in managing and coordinating all research and research development activities within the HEAL-VA lab, ensuring alignment with the overarching goals of each project. This position is comprised primarily of coordinating Lab Research Activities and coordinating Research Training Program Activities. This remote/hybrid position is grant-funded and offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research initiatives aimed at advancing health equity and social justice.
Responsibilities will include coordinating activities that span across various stages of several research projects, from pre-proposal development to dissemination of findings. The Senior Research Program Coordinator will play a crucial role in research support staff training and supervision. This position will provide support to the Director of HEAL-VA by coordinating a program aimed at enhancing the career development, skills, and competency of health equity investigators. This position will act as a liaison between senior investigators and program applicants by assisting with the development of and coordinating mentoring and training for pilot award applicants and grantees, guiding them towards successful grant submissions and subsequent project implementation and publication. This position will liaise with the senior investigators to refine applicant’s research proposals aligning with the program goals, contribute to the development of project-related websites, and assist in developing recruitment materials and refining training resources. The Senior Research Program Coordinator will provide support to applicants in order to assist in skill development and competency building that ultimately enhances their competitiveness for grant funding. This position establishes methods and procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives and receives guidance in terms of broad goals. The successful candidate demonstrates:
- the ability to guide research project implementation;
- strong organizational skills with attention to detail;
- the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously;
- the adaptability and flexibility in a dynamic research environment;
- strong interpersonal skills;
- excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to communicate with a wide variety of stakeholders;
- a willingness to learn and apply new skills;
- a commitment to excellence;
- the ability to work independently and in a team;
- is highly motivated, creative, critical thinking, resourceful, responsible, has a high level of integrity, collaborative, exhibits problem-solving skills; and
- is familiar with health equity and social justice concepts.
NOTE: The successful candidate understands that this is a restricted position and ongoing employment depends on continued funding.
The VCU job series is Research Administrator in the Research and Innovation job family for these positions. For more information, please see the VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges site at https://insidehr.vcu.edu/guidelines/compensation/job-families-and-salary-ranges/.
VCU combines learning, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to inclusive excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the 30 “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here your success is supported, and your career can thrive. VCU offers a robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, generous tuition benefit, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here, https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/.
VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will add your military years of service to our leave plan. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!
Job-Specific Duties
Coordinate Lab Research Activities. Coordinate all research and research development activities within the HEAL-VA Lab. Coordinate research proposal development activities to include reviewing RFAs, coordinating research team meetings, assisting in drafting and refining research proposals, facilitating budget development and final submission. Coordinate and participate in activities to include research team and community partner meetings, assisting in the development of study protocols, obtaining human subjects approvals, recruitment, participant remuneration, data collection, cleaning, coding, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. Track study progress and ensuring adherence to research protocols and ethical guidelines. Work with study team to develop and implement secure systems for assuring the quality, confidentiality, and safety of the data and maintain appropriate study-related documentation, records, and databases. Assist in providing training and supervision to support staff involved in research projects. Ensure staff competency in research activities and protocols. Supervise student research assistants. Assist in developing periodic reports for funding agencies that provide updates on the progress and outcomes of research projects and the development of presentations delivered via seminars, professional meetings and conferences and scientific manuscripts.
Coordinate Research Training Program Activities. Coordinate grant training for pre- and post-award grant training activities. Maintain grant training and update curricula in learning management system. Work with Arkansas and Virginia pilot grant-eligible institutions to build capacity for their faculty to apply and successfully compete for research grant awards. Monitor program-related communication channels and respond in a timely manner. Work with IDC PIs to problem-solve issues, develop appropriate solutions, and assist PIs and/or research staff when needed. Assist in developing, adapting and updating web-based training modules, schedule grant coaching and follow up sessions, and connect applicants with appropriate mentors. Coordinate the submission of pilot grants; coordinate diverse recruitment of eligible postdocs and faculty to the pilot study program; coordinate and schedule training and follow up grants development sessions virtually to reach broad audience of candidates; assure that candidates receive and complete pre-application assessments and post-tests; track applicant data using online systems; manage performance outcomes and remediation plans with pilot applicants. Work with Director and pre-award grants management to schedule and facilitate pilot grant review sessions as well as compile post review session reports. Schedule weekly meetings with MPIs to provide updates on IDC progress and facilitate deadlines within the Core. Coordinate meetings with MPIs and financial team to problem solve budget issues. Work with MPIs and Evaluation Manager to develop and implement evaluation tools. Provide evaluation data regularly to the evaluation manager, MPIs and/or Center staff to assess progress and challenges. Work with the Evaluation Manager to implement a system for regular collection of data for evaluation. Provide regular updates to MPIs about the status of evaluation of the Core and problem solve evaluation issues. Assist in developing periodic reports for funding agencies that provide updates on the progress and outcomes of the program.
Other duties may be assigned to this position.
Job-Specific Education and Experience
Minimum Hiring Standards
The successful candidate will possess the following qualities:
- Master’s degree in health sciences, public health, social sciences or related field of study.
- Proficiency in qualitative research methods, procedures, and protocol development.
- Knowledge of human subjects research regulations.
- Experience in using project management software programs.
- Experience in research program development.
- Grant writing experience.
- Experience in developing curricula and training programs.
- Experience in developing PowerPoint and other scientific presentations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, RedCap, ATLAS.ti/Dedoose/NVivo or other qualitative data analysis program, Covidence, Excel, RISE and Articulate 360.
Job-Specific Physical and Cognitive Requirements
Physical Demands
Light lifting (<20 lbs.): essential
Moderate lifting (20-50 lbs.) marginal
Pushing/pulling: marginal
Standing: essential
Sitting: essential
Repetitive motion: marginal
Walking: essential
Reaching: marginal
Bending: marginal
Emotional Demands
Fast pace: essential
Average pace: essential
Multiple Stimuli: essential
Intense customer interaction: marginal
Frequent change: essential
Mental/Sensory Demands
Memory: essential
Reasoning: essential
Hearing: essential
Reading: essential
Analyzing: essential
Logic: essential
Verbal communication: essential
Written communication: essential
Salary Range: $55,000 to $65,000
Position Details:
Department: Department of African American Studies
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 100
Exemption Status: Exempt
Eligible for Alternative Work Arrangements: Yes, as established under the current VCU FWA guidelines
Eligible for Optional Retirement Plan (ORP): No
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Mignonne C. Guy, PhD
Contact Email: mguy@vcu.edu
