SENIOR RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGER

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

The Department of Ophthalmology has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Research Project Manager.

The purpose of this position is to provide research project management for a large, multidisciplinary research project related to creating inclusive multimodal datasets allowing machine learning approaches to provide critical insights into understanding type 2 diabetes mellitus. The project will involve collaborations between multiple subspecialty departments within the University of Washington, Stanford University, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU), and Johns Hopkins University.

The senior research project manager (SRPM) will provide professional and administrative level lead support for multi-funded and multi-site research studies with a focus on collaboration of data collection efforts and research participant recruitment. The SRPM will be responsible for the coordination and administration of these research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator. The SRPM will develop, implement, and coordinate research and administrative procedures for the successful management of the research projects. The SRPM will perform diverse duties that include overall administrative and research support for the PI and co- investigators, writing and editing reports, developing and monitoring reports, submitting/maintaining IRB applications, processing/maintaining the budget, working with collaborating institutions and other national and international project collaborators, and training/directing the work of assigned staff in related areas as needed.

The Department of Ophthalmology is a medium-sized clinical department within the School of Medicine with 51 regular faculty, 5 approved fellowships, 15 residents, more than 28 clinical/affiliate/adjunct faculty and approximately 35 FTE staff.  In the last year, the department generated $5 million in direct research costs, $26 million in clinical cash, and holds $15 million in endowed principle. The Department is spread over multiple campuses with a strong presence at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

Duties & Responsibilities: (Identify the percent time spent on each major duty, listed in decreasing order of importance. The total job duties must equal 100% regardless of position’s % FTE. )

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research Project Administration and Management (50%)

Research Study Planning:
• Collaborate with PI and Investigators in the strategic planning of data reporting and presentations and future external funding grants
• Participate in research planning with PI and Investigators
• Provide sophisticated literature reviews and summaries of evidence-based research
• Provide written material and content for developing protocols and applications
• Lead hiring efforts of various study personnel with PI and Investigators
• Monitor the research planning process, set task timelines, and coordinate time sensitive efforts across Investigators and staff.

Research Milestone Planning and Oversight:
• Understand research project aims, timelines and milestones goals and ensure that projects are executed successfully and completed within time frames; Independently and effectively conceptualize then translate milestones/timeline into a day-to-day work plan; Provide direction to staff in terms of work product assignments; Track milestone completion and/or develop contingency plans, as necessary.
• Understand the complexity of multi-site and multi project management and navigate through timelines and milestones goals.
• Assist with collaborating institution researchers and study personnel with personnel hiring/training, subject recruitment, execution of study procedures/visits, and extraction/delivery of study data between sites.
Management of Investigative Team:
• Effectively liaise between and across Investigators, study staff, participant sites, and funders as necessary to communicate research objectives, priorities, and/or changes; Independently establish and maintain positive relationships with multiple Investigators; Effectively coordinate and participate in meetings as the primary investigative team liaison; Communicate with accuracy, timeliness and effectiveness to PI and senior investigators about project status, milestones, work-in-progress, timelines, challenges and barriers.

Study Operations Reporting:
• Proactively and independently design, develop and implement routine study operations reports including, but not limited to: monthly progress reports, recruitment reports, interim data reports for investigators, data quality and management reports; Per study milestones and timeline or Investigator/PI request, design and develop summary procedure/data reports on recruitment, retention, or other study protocol procedure effectiveness.

Management of Sponsor Reports:
• Accurately track reports per sponsor (funding agency) guidelines; independently initiate and compile necessary documents and progress report materials; draft sponsor reports and managing to final; and provide oversight to junior staff in these duties.
Management of External Sites:
• Collaborate with site investigators and site research teams. Develop training plans, monitor enrollment and provide regular communication. Travel for training and monitoring visits as needed.
• Funding proposal development: Coordinate the development, writing, and submission of funding proposals, including editing proposal narratives and writing supporting documentation. Conduct background research and literature reviews as needed.
• Improve the efficiency and communications between study sites; contribute to efforts by leading task forces or specific efforts; adopt and implement revised practices into projects; and champion research process improvement across the organization.
Funding proposal development:
• With Department of Ophthalmology Grants Manager & Research Administrator, coordinate the development, writing, and submission of funding proposals, including editing proposal narratives and writing supporting documentation.

Human Subjects Research Coordination (30%)

Regulatory Management:
• Complete and manage all human subjects regulatory applications or data use applications for assigned studies; prepare all subject recruitment and consent materials in collaboration with collaborating institution project managers and staff; maintain all study regulatory or data use applications and correspondence with Human Subjects Division or other entities.

Participant Activities:
• Conduct research that involves human subjects as necessary to ensure timely completion of research objectives; i.e., personally screening, recruiting, consenting, surveying enrolled participants, accurately collecting data, and coordinating multiple data collection efforts across institutions.
• Able to build an excellent rapport with participating subjects and their significant others.
Data Collection and Management:
• Effectively coordinate and evaluate the collection of research tools; Develop research designs, data collection methods, and strategies for data management; Oversee and manage data collection processes; Responsible for quality control on data collection and management on assigned projects.

Data Analysis and Reporting:
• Participate in the formulation of research data analysis plans, data graphics, or other reports; Lead Investigator concept forms and writing committees for research project reporting; Conduct literature reviews, write, and/or edit technical reports and manuscripts for publication or presentation; Assist Investigators or staff in developing presentation or materials for external dissemination.
Compliance Oversight:
• Follow all study standards for best practices in human subjects research coordination; Responsible for compliance with Department, University or Federal Regulations, and directing the team in meeting compliance objectives successfully.
• Design and deliver research training and conduct quality assurance monitoring both remotely and in- person for UW and external study sites (nationwide).

Research Personnel and Resource Management (20%)

Research Fiscal Management:
• Demonstrates understanding in research fiscal management policies and practices; Effectively manages project budget; Coordinates purchasing and documentation as necessary (contracts, services, requisitions).

Team Management:
• Create strong morale and spirit on teams; share wins and successes; define success in terms of the whole team; create a feeling of belonging on the team.
• Clearly assign responsibility for tasks and decisions; set clear objectives and measures; monitor process, progress, and results; design feedback loops into work.
• Develop and participate in the training program of study personnel and staff.
• Develop efficient reporting and communicating methods and guidelines between investigators, research staff, and project managers at different sites.
• Lead team to easily flex to changing and often ambiguous priorities, act quickly on its decisions, and routinely meet its deadlines.
• Relate well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside of the organization; build appropriate rapport; build constructive and effective relationships; use diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
• Clearly and comfortably delegate both routine and important tasks and decisions; broadly share responsibility and accountability.

Leadership:
• Foster collaboration among researchers in various departments of University of Washington and collaborating institutions and establish a cohesive environment in which we can all share ideas, feelings, and needs in an open, trusting manner.

Lead Responsibilities:

The Senior Research Project Manager will help lead the overall growth and development of the Lee Computational Ophthalmology Research Lab.
Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Senior Research Project Manager will directly supervise research coordinators, research assistants and research volunteers in the Lee Computational Ophthalmology Research Lab.

Other Duties as Assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Biological/Social Sciences, Social Work, or related fields.
• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications.
• 4-5 (minimum 4) years of experience with human subjects research management preferably in an academic or healthcare-related setting, and preferably in health services and outcomes projects;
• Relevant education may substitute for some experience requirement. Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Candidates of non-traditional educational or experiential backgrounds are encouraged to apply – please address applicability of education/experience in cover letter

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Progressive responsibility in project management, team management, and leadership.
• Demonstrated expertise managing large and/or multiple research projects.
• Thorough knowledge of HIPAA, IRB and related institutional requirements for the conduct of research.
• Knowledge and ability to interpret, teach, and comply with varying requirements by funding agencies, Institutional Review Boards (IRB), FDA regulations, and other regulatory and oversight bodies.
• Strong work ethic and demonstrates ability in leading multiple protocols and meeting deadlines while being flexible and adaptable to diverse needs of complex projects.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.
• Ability to learn new software programs. Ability to create and use multiple complex tracking systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, strong detail orientation and ability to adeptly manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Exceptional verbal and written skills; public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently with limited day-to-day oversight.
• Ability to manage teams and ability to meet deadlines under tight time constraints; Exceptional customer service skills.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• MPH, MS Epi, MEOH, PhD or related graduate degree
• 5+ years of experience with human subjects research coordination
• Research administration experience (e.g., post-award fiscal experience, sponsor management)
• Multi-site project management experience
• Multi-investigator team management experience
• Prior experience in research grant and scientific writing
• Familiarity in statistical methods and analysis software
• Familiarity with electronic medical data and imaging research
• Broad understanding of hospital systems, inpatient and outpatient healthcare patient care, and how to embed research projects within these settings.

Working Environmental Conditions
This is a full-time position that may require work outside of standard operating hours to meet programmatic deadlines. This position requires the ability to function independently, establishing priorities as needed with autonomy while reporting to the Principal Investigators, and collaborating with the Department of Ophthalmology’s Research Administration Team. This position requires flexibility in number of hours and days, based on the needs of the job and associated stringent timelines with each project, occasionally working into the evening or weekends. Ability required managing work at multiple different campuses, in a virtual office environment.

Application Process:

Although open until filled, priority application date is January 20, 2023.

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Please note that this position has been re-posted.  If you have already submitted your application, you need not submit it again, as it has already been received.