Research Project Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY:

As an active member of the UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC Department of Program Evaluation and Research (PEaR) the Research Project Coordinator is responsible for a wide variety of tasks related to coordinating research and evaluation projects including assisting in research project development and design; data collection and management; and research project management coordination and tracking. Research Project Coordinators typically work on multiple research projects simultaneously alongside individuals working on specific projects.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Planning & Execution
  • Develop project timelines and milestones that align with research objectives grant requirements and team capacity.
  • Track progress against deliverables flag risks early and coordinate adjustments with the PI or project lead.
  • Facilitate project kickoffs ensuring roles expectations and workflows are clearly defined.
• Documentation & Compliance
  • Maintain project documentation including protocols meeting notes decision logs and version-controlled materials.
  • Support IRB/IACUC submissions and renewals by the project team ensuring compliance with institutional and federal regulations.
  • Assist with grant reporting including progress summaries budget justifications and data tracking.
• Communication & Coordination
  • Serve as the central communication hub between researchers collaborators administrative offices and external partners.
  • Facilitate scheduling team meetings prepare agendas and distribute action items.
  • Coordinate cross-functional work such as data management procurement and IT support.
• Budget & Resource Management
  • Monitor project budgets track expenditures and ensure alignment with grant or departmental guidelines.
  • Manage purchasing and procurement including lab supplies software licenses and equipment.
• Data & Reporting Support
  • Assist with data organization ensuring consistent naming conventions storage practices and documentation
  • Working with project team members prepare summary reports dashboards or presentations for leadership funders or collaborators.
  • Support quality assurance helping ensure data integrity and adherence to protocols.
• Operational & Administrative Support
  • Optimize workflows identifying bottlenecks and proposing process improvements.
  • Manage project calendars deadlines and shared resources
  • Coordinate travel conferences and dissemination activities including poster or manuscript submissions.
• Other Activities
  • Demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional development.
  • Actively participates in and contributes to departmental and liaison area activities.

This role description is a general description of the essential job functions. It is not intended to describe all the duties the Research Project Coordinator may perform.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Communication Skills

Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals whether it be a colleague patient or patients family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties especially in complex and difficult situations to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.

• Decision Making

Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills critical thinking skills confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time.

• HealthCare Knowledge

Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team as appropriate. This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHECs organizational training. Finally the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate.

• Interpersonal Skills

Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace professionalism and understanding. Within your area of expertise showing respect and showing empathy where appropriate with your colleagues patients and their family at all times even when its most difficult to do so. This is done in part by effective listening being your authentic self showing responsibility and dependability and being patient with others.

• Organizational Values

Adherence to MAHECs founding principles and incorporating them every day. This includes among others having integrity and accountability reverence for other cultures and equitable practices ability to manage change and displaying a clear understanding of organizational dynamics. Doing these things creates a culture where people want to do the best for each other and gives personal ownership towards the goal of helping people in their time of need.

• Problem Solving

Having an analytical mind and ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems that may arise. The wherewithal to think logically through a difficult problem and come to an appropriate resolution for a given issue. This helps to drive continuous improvement by thinking through where we can improve in a novel way. Measures success by understanding where we are currently and where we want to go and then applying those new ideas to affect positive change.

SPECIFIED SKILLS

• Familiarity with research methodologies study design and scientific terminology.
• Understanding of compliance frameworks (IRB HIPAA Good Clinical Practice etc.).
• Computer
  • Expertise with Microsoft Office (Windows Word Excel Access and PowerPoint) and database management.
  • Experience with data management systems such as Excel Smartsheet or REDCap
  • Comfort with project management tools like Asana Azure DevOps Trello Agile Scrum Notion or MS Project.
• Optional skills
  • Familiarity with Attributable Legible Complete Original and Accurate (ALCOA or ALCOA) system
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) or CAPM
  • Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
  • Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) for clinical or human-subjects research
  • Lean/Six Sigma for process improvement roles

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sedentary- Very light energy level: Lift 10 lbs box overhead Lift and Carry 15 lbs Push/Pull 20 lbs cart

• Physical Activity: Occasional (0 - 33% of Workday)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Not Applicable.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelors Degree in a relevant field (e.g. biology psychology public health engineering data science physical science)
  • Experience in evaluation and/or research
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Masters degree preferred for complex or multidisciplinary research environments especially in research administration public health and project management

REQUIRED LICENSES:

• Not Applicable.

SCHEDULE:

Regular attendance on-site is an essential function of this position. Typical business hours are Monday Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (or flexed to best meet the needs of the clients and/or the Division); 40 hours per workweek; weekend holiday or evening coverage is occasionally required. Work hours will need to be flexible in order to respond to special work assignments or evening activities as requested by the team leader.

POSITION COMPENSATION:

$58000 full time full benefits available

At MAHEC we strive to equip all team members with Total Rewards (pay benefits) to honor their service support their health manage their financial security build their career and thrive.

All MAHEC employees and learners will be required to receive the Flu vaccine or have an approved exemption.

MAHEC Talent Management is located at 121 Hendersonville Road Asheville NC 28803. Equal Opportunity Employer.

MAHEC is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Employees who meet federal requirements may be eligible to have remaining student loan balances forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments while working full-time at MAHEC.

If you are interested in this role and you have related experience and qualifications we encourage you to apply or reach out to for support in your job search process. You could be the talent we are seeking for this or other opportunities.