Project Director

Job Description

The Department of Child Family & Population Health Nursing has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time Project Director (Research Coordinator 2 NE S UAW Research) position.

Working in a research team under the leadership of the Principal Investigator the Project Director will develop implement and manage data collection protocols for a new NIH-funded RCT. The project will conduct an RCT using an established treatment program to target childhood obesity (vs. control) in 240 prepubertal girls who are at risk for earlier pubertal onset based on BMI percentile 85th and low family income both factors with strong prospective links to earlier pubertal onset. Pubertal onset will be indexed both by hormones and questionnaire-based pubertal staging methods to characterize the onset of the main pubertal development processes. Findings will inform the value and optimal timing of conducting such interventions including whether implementation in the prepubertal period may be most impactful due to the combined benefits of weight loss along with a reduction in risk for earlier pubertal onset and its sequelae.

The Project Director will have responsibility for the day-to-day operations and fiscal oversight of the project. Specifically the Project Directors tasks will include: preparing and submitting Human Subjects IRB materials; developing and implementing subject recruitment procedures; developing and overseeing research protocol procedures; developing and overseeing data entry and data management; hiring and supervising study staff; developing and maintaining spreadsheets and other systems for tracking project expenditures and projecting spending to successfully complete the research; preparing relevant portions of the annual progress report to assist the Principal Investigator with its timely submission; and preparing relevant written reports and data summaries to assist the Principal Investigator with the dissemination of research findings in the context of conference presentations and primary and secondary manuscripts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing implementing and maintaining recruitment and tracking procedures of a primarily low-income racially diverse sample of prepubertal girls and their families.
• Developing implementing and maintaining complex data collection procedures including interview questions health assessments and biological specimen collection.
• Developing implementing and maintaining quality assurance/improvement data management data reporting and fiscal oversight procedures.
• Developing implementing and maintaining training procedures for the study staff to ensure high quality implementation of recruitment and data collection procedures.

Oversee sample recruitment and tracking (20%)

• Oversee planning execution and maintenance of subject recruitment protocols.
• Oversee communications with potential study families to explain the study answer questions and solve problems.
• Oversee monitoring identification and re-engagement with families at risk of dropping out of the study.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategies for sample retention.

Oversee data collection (50%):

• Oversee systems for tracking participant progress through stages of study including phases of intervention/control and assessments.
• Oversee systems for scheduling coordinating and completing baseline and follow-up study assessments.
• Oversee implementation and maintenance of complex in-person data collection protocols as well as performing follow-up tasks.
• Oversee supporting activities related to the data collection protocols including problem-solving scheduling issues and rescheduling etc.
• Oversee the development implementation and maintenance of quality assurance/improvement tasks related to the data collection protocols.

Oversee quality assurance/improvement related to data management/reporting fiscal management/reporting and staff training/performance (30%)

• Oversee and perform data management tasks including data review scoring reduction merging and the construction of data sets for in-depth analysis by research team members.
• Oversee and prepare information needed for IRB modification applications NIH progress reports and scientific presentations and publications.
• Oversee and coordinate weekly staff meetings provide recruitment and data updates to the research team at meetings and through periodic newsletters.
• Oversee and perform fiscal management tasks to maintain appropriate tracking documentation and compliance.
• Oversee and perform staff training and re-training activities to maintain high-quality performance of subject recruitment and data collection tasks.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements such as a license certification and/or registration.

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelors degree in a social sciences or other research-related field relevant to the study (e.g. nursing pre-med public health health psychology epidemiology).
• 5 or more years of relevant work experience involving:
• Excellent interpersonal skills working with individuals from diverse race/ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience working with families/children.
• Experience implementing human subjects data collection protocols especially involving health-focused assessments and the manipulation of biological specimens.
• Excellent problem-solving and organization skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Excellent team-based skills necessary to work in a collaborative research environment.
• Previous experience with blood collection and blood processing.
• Previous experience implementing tools for the assessment of metabolic conditions (e.g. acanthosis nigricans).
• Previous experience managing longitudinal human subjects studies.
• Previous experience using platforms such as REDCap SharePoint NIH Toolbox and SPSS.
• Data analytic skills to conduct descriptive statistics and preliminary data analyses.
• General interest in working with diverse families in areas of health and health disparities with a focus on understanding the developmental underpinnings of life course models of health and disease risk.

Conditions of Employment

• Work hours vary and will include weekends holidays and hours outside of regular business hours at times the study families are available.
• Work will need to be conducted both in a research space on campus and outside the office as required.
• Must be able to carry health and technical equipment required for the data collection (approximately 20 lbs.).

Compensation Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Temporary or Regular

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier return they enjoy outstanding benefits opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race color creed religion national origin citizenship sex pregnancy age marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Services Office at or .

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.