Research Operations Manager

Job Description

RESEARCH OPERATIONS MANAGER

Req #: 240544 Department: REHABILITATION MEDICINE Job Location: Seattle - Other Job Location Detail: Seattle non-campus - Ninth Jefferson Building/Harborview Medical Center - hybrid Posting Date: 11/07/2024 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $7,834 - $9,167 per month Other Compensation: Shift: First Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. 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 Rehabilitation Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Operations Manager to join their team.
US News & World Report consistently ranks the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine among the top programs in the country. We are among the nation’s leading recipients of research and training funding from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, including the TBI and Burn Model Systems grants. We have a long history of innovative clinical and research programs, strong research infrastructure, active mentoring of junior faculty and a rich network of potential clinical and research collaborators among faculty within and outside our department.
The department offers four graduate degree programs, including master's degrees in Occupational Therapy and Prosthetics & Orthotics, as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a PhD in Rehabilitation Science.
The Research Operations Manager (ROM) is an administrative leader in the department responsible for the planning, development, and maintenance of the research operations and administration infrastructure. This position is central to further developing our world class research programs, improving our ability to attract new opportunities and collaborations, and enhancing our research portfolio and national/international reputation.
The ROM will oversee research operations for the department, ensuring strategic plans are in place for growth, capacity building, adaptability, and compliance. This role will report to the Director of Grants and Contracts, with dotted line reporting to the Department’s Vice Chair for Research (VCR). The role will also work closely with the Department Vice Chair for Finance and Administration (VCFA). The Manager is responsible for designing and maintaining information systems, maintaining physical research infrastructure, identifying research opportunities, providing general grants support, optimizing human resources, and developing communications and relationships. The ROM will direct and monitor progress of key milestones and outcomes of the departments Strategic Plan for Advancing Research and foster research collaboration across the department. In addition, the ROM will build cohesion across multiple overlapping yet distinct administrative components within the department that relate to research administration (e.g. grants management team, HR, finance, communications, academic programs, etc.).
The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine received more than $15M in research funding in FY24 across a wide variety of focus areas including basic science, clinical trials, translational research, health services research, and industry studies. In addition, the department research faculty are also actively involved in clinical care (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Psychology), teaching programs in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD) and service with national organizations. The ROM will utilize the facilities, human resources, IT and communication systems needed to support the diverse portfolios and initiatives across the department.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Research Program and Project Management

Planning, development, and maintenance of research operations infrastructure to include designing and maintaining information systems, research facility and space management, optimizing human resources, and maintaining faculty and staff research communications.

In collaboration with and under the purview of the Vice Chair for Research, support (and in certain cases lead) implementation of tactics/strategies to advance research across department.

Tracks implementation of tactics and metrics including communicating with tactic leads.

Supports large center grant applications and provides assistance in grant writing and application review.

Interface regularly with finance, grants management, academic and staff HR, and communications manager.

Identify resource and other needs to support research.

Maximize visibility internally and externally of department research successes.

Provide consultation and guidance to both faculty and staff on conducting research at the University of Washington across a wide spectrum of topics including IRB, identifying recruitment opportunities, etc.

Manage research related department funding and career development award requests, facilitate review through the department’s Executive Council and communicate outcomes to applicants.

Assist with the design and implementation of research interest groups to promote collaboration and productivity among researchers with a similar focus area.

Help address ad hoc problems related to research administration with departmental leadership (e.g. industry trials management, issues regarding human subject payments, etc.).

Work with the Vice Chair for Research and Vice Chair for Faculty Development on management of the research mentoring program and Springboard to Success program for junior faculty.

Develop and maintain a system identifying different mentoring teams consisting of mentors and mentees.

Help identify potential mentors for each mentee.
Reporting & Communication

Document and report progress of strategic plan and initiatives to multiple stakeholders, including departmental leadership.

Design and maintain systems to record and illustrate key research metrics/outcomes within the department including but not limited to dissemination efforts, grant proposal submissions and awards, as well as self-report assessments related to domains targeted by research strategic plan tactics (e.g. satisfaction with available resources, self-efficacy related to conducting research, etc.).

Maintain the Research Resource Hub (“R Hub”) on the departmental intranet site.

Add information pertaining to conducting research, professional development and mentoring opportunities, collaboration and dissemination.

Perform regular checks of existing information to ensure relevance and functionality.

Broadcast the contents of the R Hub to departmental researchers.

Track usage of the R Hub to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Work closely with the departmental communications specialist to maximize the visibility and broadcasting of departmental research via the departmental website, brochure, and internal newsletter.

Manage the research faculty and staff listservs. Notify research faculty of potential funding opportunities.
Human Resources, Facilities

Manage research staff members funded by the department to assist researchers with unfunded and temporary research activities.

Publicize the availability of these individuals to researchers, and mobilize the staff members as needed.

Assist departmental researchers with meeting their research staffing and space needs, i.e. assisting researchers with finding ideal internal candidates, space assignments, finding work for research staff who are deficient in funding, and helping navigate the hiring process for staff.

Oversee research staff engagement events that cover a variety of topics with respect to conducting research. Lead the research staff engagement committee.
Other

Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s Degree in science or related field.

Five years of research administration and/or project management experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent communication skills, ability to communicate complex information to varied & diverse audiences.

Excellent project management skills, ability to effectively manage competing priorities.

Experience in the following:

Hiring and directing research staff.

Working with research regulatory requirements including IRB applications.

Grants and budget management.

Database development and management; proficiency in excel, REDCap, other survey tools.

Strategizing and managing data collection efforts and reporting.

Professional writing (grant applications, other).

Working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and other backgrounds.

Graduate degree in public health, public policy, public administration, or other relevant discipline.

Familiarity with conducting research and general grants management at the UW.
Application Process: The application process 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 access 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 an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected] .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .

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