Research Project Manager - Center for Advancing Health Equity for Rural and Underserved Communities

$68,200 - $102,300/Yr

Pennsylvania State University - Hershey, PA

Full-time

Hershey, PA

Educational Services

About the position

The Penn State College of Medicine, located in Hershey, PA, is seeking a Research Project Manager for the Center for Advancing Health Equity for Rural and Underserved Communities (CAHE-RUC). This center is dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation and implementation of evidence-based strategies aimed at improving health outcomes for rural and underserved communities. With operations in both Chicago and Hershey, CAHE-RUC addresses complex public health and health system issues through multidisciplinary and methodological approaches that benefit individuals and communities alike. The Research Project Manager will be based in Chicago, IL, and will provide program leadership and senior management for the CAHE-RUC Cancer Prevention Team. This team is responsible for overseeing multiple research projects funded by various state, federal, and foundation sources. The successful candidate will report to center leadership and will lead critical cancer prevention initiatives, including cancer screening and early detection programs, with the goal of improving statewide screening outcomes. The role involves developing, coordinating, and collaborating with both internal and external partners to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of key cancer screening and early detection programs. The ideal candidate will possess strong competencies in research and implementation science, creativity, and leadership skills necessary to implement effective systems and optimize the collaborative capacity of a diverse team. This position is a limited-term role funded for one year from the date of hire, with the possibility of renewal based on funding availability.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with Cancer Prevention Director and leadership on key local state and national initiatives and research projects.
• Work directly with health system leadership and staff to implement evidence-based interventions within their health systems.
• Supervise and provide guidance to one to two program staff including hiring, development, and performance management.
• Oversee and advise on research projects and investigative studies from study initiation to conclusion including study design, data collection and management plans, technical approaches budget management, and funding opportunities.
• Design research project work-flow processes and project infrastructure; delegate, prioritize, and review research tasks in order to achieve research project goals and improve results.
• Plan and administer project budgets in collaboration with Cancer Prevention Director and Center leadership.
• Enhance usage and build portfolio of online, cloud-based, linkage-to-care tool known as the Illinois Care Continuum Portal (ICC Portal).
• Interface with external collaborators to direct and facilitate multi-site and collaborative research.
• Participate in established and future research projects and assist with developing or amending study protocols, developing data collection tools, and building databases.
• Assist in the development and writing of grant proposals, manuscripts, and publications.
• Participate in the dissemination of program data, outcomes, and impact.
• Provide training and guidance to program staff and interns.
• Oversee data collection, data management and reporting methods; interpret and present complex data findings to department executives, external organizations, sponsors, and the larger research community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master's degree
• 3+ years related experience
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of cancer prevention, general public health, quality improvement, project management, adult learning methods and understanding of issues related to social determinants of health and access to care.
• Ability to function as part of a collaborative team while demonstrating initiative to achieve project's goals and advance the Center's mission.
• Strategic thinking skills including effective planning, setting goals, monitoring progress, tracking results, and making appropriate adjustments to plans based on circumstances.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work simultaneously on multiple initiatives, and meet deadlines.
• Effective organizational and time management skills with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Excellent written communications skills for grant proposals, reports, manuscripts, publications, and community education and communication materials.
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills to facilitate multicultural, multi-generational community meetings, committee meetings, and programming, as well as one-on-one conversations with community leaders, funders, and decision-makers.
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving ability.
• Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic differences and ability to adapt mental health interventions to the Asian, African, and other immigrant communities.
• Fundamental working knowledge of research techniques or methods.
• Familiar with and prior experience using Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

Nice-to-haves

• 3+ years of professional experience in public health.
• 3+ years of experience in research project management.
• Experience working with minority populations preferred.

Benefits

• Salary range: $68,200.00 - $102,300.00
• Possibility of refunding after the initial one-year term.