RESEARCH COORDINATOR

University of Washington   Seattle, WA   Full-time
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Req #: 177325
Department: PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Job Location: Seattle Campus
Posting Date: 03/02/2020 
Closing Info: Open Until Filled 
Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and education 
Shift: First Shift 

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. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years. 

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine is the third largest clinical department within the School of Medicine with 285 full-time faculty members, 280 clinical faculty members, and over 200 staff. Department faculty provide clinical services in 5 hospitals, 14 primary care locations, and several outpatient sites in addition to telepsychiatry consultations to more than 150 clinics in Washington and beyond. As the only academic psychiatry department serving the five state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), the Department’s highly competitive residency training program is largely responsible for developing the mental health workforce in the Pacific Northwest. The Department’s robust research portfolio totals $35 million in grants and contracts per year for projects ranging from clinical neurosciences to treatment development to health policy and population health. The Department is recognized as an international leader in developing, testing, and implementing Collaborative Care, an integrated care model increasingly seen as a solution for population-based mental health care. Other areas of excellence include Addictions, Autism, High Risk Youth, Neurosciences, and Trauma, and the Department is developing innovative new programs in Technology and Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Maternal and Child Mental Health, and Targeted Intervention Development.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is recruiting for a Research Coordinator.

Position Purpose: In primary care settings, PTSD frequently goes undetected and untreated. When PTSD is diagnosed in primary care, treatment is usually inadequate and outcomes are poor. This is highly problematic because many patients with PTSD prefer receiving care in primary care settings, and less than half are successfully referred to the specialty mental health setting. This is especially a concern for safety net primary settings such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and VA Medical Centers, which serve at-risk populations where the prevalence of both past trauma exposure and PTSD are particularly high. However, there are effective pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments for PTSD that are feasible to deliver in primary care.

Position Complexities: This 3 and 1/2 year, multi-site pragmatic clinic trial funded (~$7 million in direct costs) by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will enroll 1,500 patients meeting clinical criteria for PTSD from 6 Federally Qualified Health Centers and 6 VA Medical Centers.  Because there are no head-to-head comparisons of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for PTSD among primary care patients, we propose to 1) compare outcomes among patients randomized to initially receive pharmacotherapy or brief psychotherapy, 2) compare outcomes among patients randomized to treatment sequences (i.e., switching and augmenting) for patients not responding to the initial treatment and 3) examine variation in treatment outcomes among different subgroups of patients.

The clinical trial is a complex multi-site trial that requires a full-time project manager dedicated to this effort. This person will have at least 2-3 years’ experience as a research project manager in a large academic or research setting. 

The Project Manager will work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) at Stanford University and the RAND Corporation to ensure the timely and effective completion of all study activities according to the milestones and according to the approved budget. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating and maintaining IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval at the University of Washington and the VA and will also work closely with the FQHCs to obtain Federal wide Assurances to designate the University of Washington IRB as the overseer of human subjects protection for activities that occur in the clinics (recruitment and consent). The incumbent will establish and monitor the statements of work for all subcontracted organizations and will also coordinate with all research investigators and staff to ensure completion of the CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) Human Subjects Protection Training. The position will also be responsible for developing procedures and materials for the PI to use in training FQHC and  VA staff for recruiting and consenting study participants and will monitor all survey data collection activities conducted by Washington State University and serve as their primary liaison.
This position will work closely with the participating FQHCs and the VA to implement the study, develop resources and materials, maintain the timeline, schedule meetings and ensure compliance with human subjects and HIPAA requirements. S/he will coordinate the Stakeholder Advisory Board that includes individuals with lived experience and policy leaders with clinical expertise in PTSD.  The Project Manager will coordinate among the project stakeholders, subcontractors, consultants, co-investigators, and participating clinics to ensure effective communications. S/he will also supervise a Research Study Coordinator 1 and facilitate all leadership and stakeholder team meetings to translate research plan into action.

Position Dimensions and Impact to the University: Research funding from PCORI, an independent, nonprofit institute authorized by Congress in 2010, is widely sought after and highly valued.  PCORI funded only two applications that responded to their request for proposals focused on PTSD.  This PCORI funding will contribute to a growing portfolio of projects focused on improving access to highly quality mental health services in primary care settings.  The Research Coordinator will join an experienced staff supporting multiple PCORI- and NIH-funded research projects.  Because there are no head-to-head comparisons of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for PTSD among primary care patients, medical directors are unsure about which treatment (if any) to offer in their clinics. This major project will provide important information about how to improve the health of low-income Americans and veterans with PTSD and inform policy-makers of the best practices to achieve optimal outcomes for PTSD in primary care practices.

Responsibilities:

Direct Research Activities

  • Provide the overall management for the project
  • Provide periodic status reports to Sponsor, PI and other key personnel re: progress toward project timelines, milestones, deliverables and any obstacles to achieving them.
  • Liaise between the UW project team, research project partners, community partners and funding agency.
  • Monitor research budget to insure expenditures are allowable and allocable. Create and maintain spending projections to insure that research activities will be completed within funding provided. Proactively identify budget issues, develop resolution plan with PI and implement plan.
  • Independently implement procedures, protocols, designs, methods, tools, materials, etc. for the research project. Identify problems, propose solutions and implement those solutions following consultation with the PI.
  • Coordinate and maintain IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval at each of the participating organizations and work closely with the to obtain Federal wide Assurances to designate the university in their state as the overseer of human subjects protection for activities that occur in the clinics (recruitment and consent)
  • Coordinate roles and responsibilities of 4 subcontract organizations to achieve the proposed outcomes on the contracted timeline.
  • Coordinate with all research investigators and staff to ensure completion of the CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) Human Subjects Protection Training.
  • Hire, train and supervise research staff to ensure ongoing compliance with all rules and regulations regarding the conduct of research.
  • Supervise creation and maintenance of study files, ensure audit readiness and ensure files are maintained and stored in a manner and for a timeframe that meets regulatory requirements.
  • Supervise tracking database development and maintenance, space allocation,  and equipment procurement, when necessary.

    Research Study Design

  • Participate in developing research designs, data collection methods, and strategies for data management.
  • Developing procedures and materials for the PI to use in training community health center staff for recruiting and consenting study participants.
  • Monitor all data collection activities conducted by Washington State University and serve as their primary liaison.
  • Work closely with the participating clinics to modify their workflows and recruit and engage study patients

    Preparation of manuscripts, reports and grants

  • Participate in the analysis, interpretation and reporting of study findings in diverse settings/formats, including posters, presentations and publications
  • In Year 4, the project manager will commit 50% time for 3 months to the development of documentation for the PCORI Peer Review process that includes reporting of results in ClinicalTrials.gov, drafting the final research report, writing a 500 word abstract and preparation of other ancillary information.

    Team Management and Leadership Involvement

  • Supervise the Research Study Coordinator 1, including but not limited to training, routinely overseeing taks completion, monitor date collection, coaching, and evaluation.
  • Responsible to provide the overall coordination of the research team.  Ensure effective and efficient team functioning.
  • Manage team communication, provide regular study updates.  Establish an agenda, lead and summarize the weekly team meetings.
  • Act as a change agent in developing and implementing process change within the research team.

    Lead Responsibilities:

  • Direct the activities for all faculty and staff involved in the execution of this project including task assignment, follow up, meeting development and facilitation and event planning and execution.

    Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • This position will supervise a 100% time Research Study Coordinator 1 for the project.

    As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs.  For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

    REQUIREMENTS:

  • Bachelor's degree in related fields plus 4-5 years work related experience

    Additional Requirements:
  • Experience in managing at least one prior large complex project.
  • Experience with scientific research methodologies
  • Must be self-directed and able to work independently, and under limited supervision, to complete assigned projects
  • Effective interpersonal and leadership skills
  • Excellent communication skills, in written and verbal English
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze complex and non-routine issues requiring innovative solutions.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a dynamic organizational and technological environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop project plans/schedules and motivate team to meet  deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex policies and regulations.
  • Demonstrated financial analysis skills, including preparing and presenting financial and quantitative analyses, financial projections and budgets.
  • Significant project and clinical trial management experience or progressively responsible experience in a related position including regulatory and compliance responsibilities.
  • Experience with tracking database software, such as MS Access, REDCap, SQL, MS Excel and similar.

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

    DESIRED

  • Masters Degree in relevant field, e.g. Public Health, Health Administration, Psychology, Business Administration
  • Experience managing a research project of the complexity of this PTSD PCORI trial.
  • Fluency in spreadsheet software; ability to develop and maintain complex spreadsheets independently.
  • Experience in risk management and audit regarding study subjects, federal and non-federal sponsors and regulating bodies.
  • Experience with grant application procedures, personnel documentation, contract generation and subcontracting, preferably at UW.

    CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

    Application Process:
    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 Workforce 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.
  • Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

    The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.

    The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.

    This job is no longer available.

    University of Washington

    Seattle, WA